Full Transcript

Harrisburg City Council Meeting - 12/29/2025

1:15:28673 summary words · ~3 min readEnglishBy The City of Harrisburg - WHBG20Transcribed Jun 15, 2026

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Summary

The Harrisburg City Council successfully voted 5-2 to override four mayoral vetoes on the 2026 municipal budget, defunding key administration roles to protest the mayor's use of unconfirmed 'interim' appointments.

This meeting highlights an intensifying balance-of-power conflict between Harrisburg's executive and legislative branches over personnel appointment processes and the use of taxpayer funds.

Section summaries

Executive Session and Meeting Call to Order

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Council begins with an executive session to discuss a sensitive personnel matter before officially calling the special legislative session to order at 6:17 PM.

This is standard administrative setup with no active public debate or legislative votes.

Roll Call, Invocation, and Moment of Silence

optional

Clerk Truesdale performs the roll call. Councilman Jones requests a moment of silence to honor community members who passed away over the holiday season, specifically naming local titan Lynwood Salone, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

It offers local community context and memorializes citizens, but contains no legislative action.

Public Comment: Veto Overrides and Ethics Complaints

watch

Residents Ronald Chapel and Robert Williams speak passionately. They urge council members to override the Mayor's vetoes, highlighting issues with department heads working past statutory limits, the use of 'interim' titles to avoid council confirmation, and city funds spent on mayoral ethics attorneys.

Provides vital background on the legal and political controversies surrounding the administrative roles in question.

1:04:36-1:06:30

Amendment 1: Eliminating Building and Housing Interim Director Salary

watch

Council President Hill and Clerk Truesdale introduce the first vetoed amendment to Bill 12 of 2025. Council votes 5-2 to successfully override the mayor's veto, defunding the Interim Director for Building and Housing Development position.

Shows the first of the crucial legislative budget override votes.

1:06:30-1:08:24

Amendments 2 & 3: Defunding Business Administrator and LERTA Administrator

watch

The council moves through the second and third budget amendments. Both votes pass 5-2, overriding the mayor's vetoes and stripping funding for the Business Administrator and the Project Director/LERTA Administrator roles.

Directly documents key administrative positions being defunded by the Council supermajority.

1:08:24-1:10:18

Amendment 4: Defunding Director of Community Engagement and Relations

watch

Council debates and votes on the fourth amendment regarding a redundant Bureau of Police administrative role. After a confusing initial roll call vote, Council President Hill recalls the vote, resulting in a 5-2 override to defund the position.

Captures a moment of procedural correction and the final successful veto override on the budget.

1:10:18-1:14:06

Old Business: Reorganization Meeting Time Amendment

watch

Councilwoman Rolls introduces a motion to temporarily amend Resolution 1 of 2024, changing the time of the upcoming January council reorganization meeting from 12:00 PM to 5:30 PM. The motion passes unanimously 7-0.

Contains important scheduling changes for the incoming council's leadership votes.

1:14:06-1:14:06

New Business, Holiday Wishes, and Adjournment

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Council members wish residents a happy new year, promote a local holiday event featuring DJ MV, and adjourn the meeting at 6:34 PM.

Consists of general holiday wrap-ups and social events with no policy decisions.

Key points

Defunding of Unconfirmed 'Interim' Department Heads — Council overrode mayoral vetoes on budget amendments to eliminate salary funding for several key roles, including the Interim Director for Building and Housing Development and the Business Administrator. Council used defunding as a legislative tool to challenge the administration's practice of keeping unconfirmed officials in long-term interim roles past the 120-day statutory limit.
Public Outcry Against Mayoral Executive Workarounds — During public comment, residents voiced strong support for overriding the vetoes, accusing the administration of using 'interim' and 'acting' titles to bypass legislative oversight and criticizing the use of taxpayer money for mayoral ethics-related legal fees.
Temporary Reorganization Meeting Time Adjustment — Council unanimously approved an amendment to Resolution 1 of 2024 to push back the upcoming January reorganization meeting time from 12:00 PM to 5:30 PM. This change was passed as a one-time, temporary accommodation.

“This is tanamount to taking your vehicle to a mechanic and you agree upon a price of $500, but soon as he gets your vehicle, he said, 'No, I want $800.'” — Ronald Chapel

“They know that 120 days is a statutory limit or they wouldn't put a interim title to skirt around you guys authority.” — Robert Williams

AI-generated from the transcript. May contain errors.

57:14

Um, Harrisburg City Council hosted an

57:17

executive session prior to the start of

57:20

tonight's special legislative session to

57:22

discuss a personnel matter.

57:25

The time is uh 6:17

57:28

p.m. I would like to officially call our

57:31

special legislative session to order.

57:35

>> Mr. Trudale, could you please call the

57:37

role?

57:39

>> Miss Daniels,

57:41

>> here.

57:42

>> Miss Davis,

57:44

>> present.

57:45

>> Miss Green,

57:46

>> present.

57:47

>> Mr. Jones,

57:48

>> here.

57:49

>> Miss Rolls,

57:50

>> present.

57:51

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

57:52

>> present. Miss Hill

57:54

>> present.

57:56

The invocation this evening will be led

57:58

by Councilman Jones. Um and I will lead

58:01

the pledge of allegiance. Councilman

58:03

Jones.

58:04

>> Yeah. Um I want to ask everybody for a

58:07

moment of silence for a lot of the

58:09

people um in our community in our

58:11

neighborhood some pillars. Um we know

58:14

one notable titan that uh Mr. uh Lynwood

58:17

Salone and there are some other families

58:19

that I can't get out of my head right

58:21

now, but I do want to um ask for a

58:23

moment of silence for a lot of people

58:24

that have lost their lives um over this

58:26

holiday season and a lot of people that

58:29

are struggling in our community. So, if

58:30

you would join me for a moment of

58:32

silence.

58:36

Thank you.

58:38

>> Thank you, Councilman Jones. If everyone

58:40

could please rise for the pledge of

58:41

allegiance.

58:48

United States of America and to the

58:51

stands one nation

58:54

indivisible

58:56

and justice for all.

59:02

>> We do not have any communications this

59:04

evening. I will open the floor for

59:07

courtesy of the floor. Just a few

59:09

housekeeping notes before we begin.

59:11

Please state your name and your address

59:13

for the meeting record. If you don't

59:15

feel comfortable sharing your address,

59:17

please share the vicinity in which you

59:19

live within the city. You will have four

59:22

minutes to share your comments. Mr.

59:24

Trudale has added a timer to the screen

59:27

for your reference. I will begin to my

59:30

right. Is there anyone who would like to

59:32

offer public comment?

59:34

Okay. Seeing and hearing no one, anyone

59:36

in the middle section.

59:39

Okay.

59:46

Good evening, madam madam president and

59:49

honorable members of Harrisburg City

59:51

Council. My name is Ronald Chapel. I'm a

59:54

longtime resident of Harrisburg. My

59:56

address is 2560 Brookwood. I want to ask

1:00:00

you to override the mayor's veto. And I

1:00:04

saying that I think that this is a

1:00:06

honorable and selfless uh thing that

1:00:09

you're doing. It shows that you are

1:00:11

truly concerned with the residents of

1:00:13

Harrisburg and that you're not uh taking

1:00:16

your position for self gain. You know,

1:00:19

many times when people apply for

1:00:21

positions or in case in this case be

1:00:23

reelected to a position, they know full

1:00:26

well what the position pays before they

1:00:28

go in. And then for them to say once

1:00:31

they have uh been granted that position

1:00:34

to say, "Oh, but wait a minute. I want

1:00:37

more money. I think that is wrong. I

1:00:39

think that is wrong. The question might

1:00:41

be asked whether voters of Harrisburg

1:00:44

played. This is tanamount to taking your

1:00:47

vehicle to a mechanic and you agree upon

1:00:50

a price of $500, but soon as he gets

1:00:53

your vehicle, he said, "No, I want

1:00:56

$800."

1:00:57

In that case, you might have taken it to

1:00:59

some else. In this case, you may have

1:01:02

elected someone else. So, I think that

1:01:05

is a courageous and selfish thing that

1:01:06

you're doing over writing the mayor's

1:01:08

veto and I ask that you do that. Thank

1:01:11

you.

1:01:13

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else in the

1:01:15

middle section that would like to offer

1:01:16

public comment?

1:01:20

>> Okay, seeing and hearing no one, anyone

1:01:22

to my left?

1:01:25

Seeing and hearing no one, we will Oh,

1:01:27

I'm sorry.

1:01:29

I'm sorry, Mr. Williams. I didn't see

1:01:30

you.

1:01:42

take it off.

1:01:44

Good evening. Um, Madame President Hill

1:01:47

and city council members. My name is

1:01:48

Robert Williams, lifelong resident of

1:01:51

Harrisburg, current resident of Capitol

1:01:53

Heights area of Harrisburg. I'm here to

1:01:57

commend y'all for standing up for the

1:02:02

process

1:02:04

of the department heads

1:02:08

that are in office unlawfully.

1:02:11

I'm also would like to say that this

1:02:15

administration

1:02:17

fails so many processes.

1:02:20

They they don't follow the process of

1:02:22

citizens complaints against police

1:02:25

officers. We have an officer sitting

1:02:27

right here right now and that has three

1:02:30

lawsuits pending against him.

1:02:33

It's just ridiculous. It's just no

1:02:36

process is being followed. We have a

1:02:38

mayor

1:02:39

that we were paying

1:02:43

hundred,000 over 100,000 in legals fees.

1:02:46

What was that process? How did that

1:02:49

happen? How did they get admnified for

1:02:52

something that was ruled a ethics

1:02:54

complaint and not a part of her job? It

1:02:58

was rude, a personal benefit. So, Hawaii

1:03:03

or the city taxpayers paying $31,000 for

1:03:07

ethics attorney for something that was a

1:03:10

personal benefit and not part of her

1:03:13

marital job.

1:03:15

I'm tired of coming to these meetings or

1:03:19

watching them and hearing the legal

1:03:21

department

1:03:24

you tight broke the law.

1:03:27

It's clear they know that 120 days is a

1:03:30

statutory limit or they wouldn't put a

1:03:33

interim title to skirt around you guys

1:03:37

authority.

1:03:39

That's the reason why you change the

1:03:40

title and put oh it's the law says

1:03:44

acting so I'll put an interim so I could

1:03:46

have a impermanent position

1:03:49

and then to state that is foolish on

1:03:51

your behalf. No it's foolish on

1:03:53

administration's behalf. This this

1:03:55

position was defunded last year for

1:03:58

Gloria Martin Roberts. You had a whole

1:04:01

year to find someone. February of 2025.

1:04:06

Samuel Sakowski was denied advice and

1:04:09

consent. You had over 10 months to find

1:04:12

another person. So to blame them when

1:04:14

you had plenty of time to find other

1:04:17

people is utter ridiculousness.

1:04:20

That's all I have to say.

1:04:23

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else that

1:04:26

would like to offer public comment? I

1:04:28

don't want to miss anyone.

1:04:31

Okay. Seeing and hearing none, we will

1:04:34

move forward with our meeting agenda.

1:04:38

Our sole

1:04:40

agenda item this evening is to override

1:04:44

the mayoral veto. Um,

1:04:49

there were four amendments

1:04:52

that were vetoed

1:04:54

by Mayor Williams

1:04:58

to bill 12 of 2025. Mr. Chisel, could

1:05:02

you please read bill 12 of 2025 into the

1:05:06

record?

1:05:07

>> Bill 12, 2025, an ordinance establishing

1:05:10

the budget for the municipal government

1:05:12

of the city of Harrisburg for the year

1:05:14

2026.

1:05:16

Thank you.

1:05:20

Mr. Trudeelle, could you please read the

1:05:23

first amendment that was vetoed?

1:05:28

>> Yes. This is an amendment to the 2026

1:05:30

proposed budget for the Department of

1:05:32

Building and Housing, eliminating the

1:05:33

general fund funding in the proposed

1:05:35

2026 budget under salaries and wages for

1:05:38

the position of interimm director for

1:05:40

building and housing development.

1:05:43

Thank you,

1:05:45

council members. Are there any final

1:05:47

questions, comments, or concerns related

1:05:50

to the uh proposed amendment?

1:05:54

>> You could could lobby just give us an um

1:05:58

a review. A vote yes means what and a

1:06:00

vote no means what?

1:06:02

>> Thank you.

1:06:03

>> A a vote yes means to override the veto.

1:06:06

A vote no means not to override the

1:06:09

veto. Uh the the law requires five votes

1:06:13

of supermajority to override a veto of

1:06:15

the mayor.

1:06:19

>> Thank you. Are there any other

1:06:21

questions, comments, or concerns?

1:06:26

>> Okay,

1:06:28

Mr. Trudeale, could you please call the

1:06:29

vote?

1:06:30

>> Miss Daniels,

1:06:32

>> yes.

1:06:34

>> Miss Davis,

1:06:36

>> no.

1:06:38

Miss Green,

1:06:39

>> no.

1:06:41

>> Mr. Jones,

1:06:42

>> yay.

1:06:44

>> Miss Rolls,

1:06:46

>> yes.

1:06:48

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

1:06:49

>> yes.

1:06:52

>> Miss Hill,

1:06:52

>> yes.

1:06:54

>> The amendment passes by a vote of 5 to

1:06:56

two.

1:06:58

>> Thank you.

1:07:00

Mr. Trudeale, could you please read the

1:07:03

second amendment?

1:07:06

This is an amendment to the 2026

1:07:08

proposed budget for the business

1:07:10

administrator's office by eliminating

1:07:12

the funding in the proposed 2026 budget

1:07:14

under salaries and wages for the

1:07:16

position of business administrator.

1:07:19

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

1:07:21

any questions, comments, or concerns

1:07:23

related to the second amendment?

1:07:27

>> Okay, seeing hearing none, Mr. Trudeale,

1:07:29

could you please call the vote?

1:07:31

>> Miss Daniels,

1:07:33

>> yes.

1:07:34

Miss Davis,

1:07:37

>> no.

1:07:39

>> Miss Green,

1:07:40

>> no.

1:07:42

>> Mr. Jones,

1:07:43

>> yay.

1:07:45

>> Miss Rolls,

1:07:47

>> yes.

1:07:48

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

1:07:50

>> yes.

1:07:51

>> Miss Hill,

1:07:52

>> yes.

1:07:54

>> The amendment passes by vote of 5 to2.

1:07:57

>> Thank you. Mr. Trudale, could you please

1:08:00

read the third amendment?

1:08:04

Yes, this one is to amend or this

1:08:06

amendment is the 2026 proposed budget

1:08:08

for the department of building and

1:08:10

housing by eliminating the funding in

1:08:12

the proposed 2026 budget under salaries

1:08:14

and wages for the position of project

1:08:16

director for business development/erta

1:08:19

administrator.

1:08:21

>> Thank you council members. Are there any

1:08:23

final questions, comments or concerns

1:08:26

related to amendment number three?

1:08:29

Okay, seeing hearing none, Mr. Trusdale,

1:08:31

could you please call the vote?

1:08:33

>> Miss Daniels,

1:08:35

>> yes.

1:08:37

>> Miss Davis,

1:08:39

>> no.

1:08:41

>> Miss Green,

1:08:42

>> no.

1:08:43

>> Mr. Jones,

1:08:45

>> yay.

1:08:47

>> Miss Rolls,

1:08:48

>> yes.

1:08:49

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

1:08:50

>> yes.

1:08:52

>> Miss Hill,

1:08:52

>> yes.

1:08:53

>> The amendment passes by vote of 5 to

1:08:55

two.

1:08:56

>> Thank you. Mr. Trudale, could you please

1:08:58

read the fourth amendment?

1:09:04

>> This amendment pertains to the 2026

1:09:06

proposed budget for the Bureau of Police

1:09:08

by eliminating the proposed funding in

1:09:10

the 2026 budget under salaries and wages

1:09:13

for the position of director of

1:09:14

community engagement and relations.

1:09:18

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

1:09:19

any final questions, comments, or

1:09:21

concerns related to the fourth

1:09:24

amendment?

1:09:25

Okay. Seeing

1:09:26

>> I just wanted to ask um this would be uh

1:09:30

the CSA current director's position um

1:09:34

in the conversation as to the redundancy

1:09:36

because they kind of report to Captain

1:09:38

Widner at the same time. That's the role

1:09:40

that we're talking about right now.

1:09:41

>> Yes, that's the correct role. You're

1:09:43

welcome. Any other questions, comments,

1:09:45

or concerns? Okay. Seeing and hearing

1:09:48

none, Mr. Trudale, could you please call

1:09:50

the vote?

1:09:51

>> Miss Daniels?

1:09:53

>> No.

1:09:55

Miss Davis,

1:10:00

>> no.

1:10:02

>> Miss Green,

1:10:04

>> no.

1:10:06

>> Mr. Jones,

1:10:07

>> yay.

1:10:09

>> Miss Rolls,

1:10:10

>> yes.

1:10:12

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

1:10:13

>> yes.

1:10:14

>> Miss Hill,

1:10:15

>> yes.

1:10:17

>> The amendment fails by vote of four to

1:10:18

three.

1:10:19

>> Sorry, I meant to say yes. Can I change

1:10:21

my vote or is it too late?

1:10:24

I it's up to the presiding officer. You

1:10:26

want me to recall it?

1:10:28

>> Yes.

1:10:28

>> Yes. Mr. Trudale, could you please

1:10:30

recall the vote for amendment number

1:10:32

four?

1:10:34

>> Miss Daniels.

1:10:38

>> Uh, I couldn't hear what you said. What

1:10:41

happened?

1:10:42

>> Sorry. We are recalling the vote for

1:10:44

amendment number four. Can you please

1:10:47

read amendment number four just for

1:10:48

everybody's reference again?

1:10:50

>> Sorry.

1:10:50

>> That's okay. So, this amendment is to

1:10:52

the 2026 proposed budget for the Bureau

1:10:54

of Police, eliminating the proposed

1:10:56

funding in the 2026 budget under

1:10:58

salaries and wages for the position of

1:11:01

director of community engagement and

1:11:03

relations.

1:11:05

>> Thank you. Are there any questions

1:11:08

before we recall the vote? Any final

1:11:10

questions, comments, or concerns?

1:11:13

>> Just an apology.

1:11:14

>> Okay. Apology accepted. Mr. Trudeale,

1:11:18

could you please call the vote? Miss

1:11:20

Daniels,

1:11:21

>> no.

1:11:23

>> Miss Davis,

1:11:24

>> yes.

1:11:25

>> No.

1:11:27

>> Miss Green,

1:11:28

>> yes.

1:11:31

>> Mr. Jones,

1:11:32

>> yay.

1:11:33

>> Miss Rose,

1:11:34

>> yes.

1:11:35

>> Mr. Rodri Rodriguez,

1:11:37

>> yes.

1:11:38

>> Miss Hill,

1:11:39

>> yes.

1:11:39

>> This amendment passes by a vote of five

1:11:41

to two.

1:11:42

>> Thank you,

1:11:46

council members.

1:11:48

Is there any old business for

1:11:50

discussion?

1:11:52

>> Yes, I would like to discuss uh

1:11:54

resolution one of 2024.

1:11:56

>> Councilwoman Ross.

1:11:57

>> Thank you. I would like to make an

1:12:00

amendment to resolution one of 2024. Uh

1:12:04

I would like to move to amend resolution

1:12:06

one of 2024 which spec um which is a

1:12:10

rule number one a of one by changing the

1:12:14

time for the assembly of council to

1:12:17

organize and elect a president and vice

1:12:20

president of council on the first Monday

1:12:22

of January from 12 noon to 5:30 p.m. for

1:12:26

the upcoming reorganization meeting

1:12:29

only. So that I have a motion on the

1:12:32

>> move second. Oh, you have multiple.

1:12:34

Thank you. Um, do you have a desire to

1:12:37

suspend the rules for discussion or is

1:12:39

everybody fine and clear that we are

1:12:41

amending the council rules?

1:12:44

>> The amendment for the one time change.

1:12:45

Correct. Correct.

1:12:46

>> This is temporary.

1:12:48

Thank you for saying it.

1:12:50

>> Okay. So, there is a motion on the

1:12:52

floor. It has been properly seconded.

1:12:55

>> Any questions? Yes.

1:12:57

>> Yes. Yes. President Hill. Uh, I couldn't

1:13:00

hear. What is the uh the motion?

1:13:05

>> Okay, one second. I will ask

1:13:07

Councilwoman Ross to read it again for

1:13:09

you.

1:13:09

>> Can you hear me? Uh Councilwoman Davis.

1:13:15

>> Yes, I can hear you a little better now,

1:13:17

Councilwoman.

1:13:18

>> Okay, I'll speak louder into the mic,

1:13:19

too. So I would I move to amend

1:13:23

resolution one of 2024

1:13:26

which is rule number one A by changing

1:13:29

the time for the assembly of council to

1:13:32

organize and elect a president and vice

1:13:35

president of council on the first Monday

1:13:38

of January from 12 noon to 5:30 p.m. for

1:13:42

the upcoming reorganization meeting only

1:13:45

and this is temporary.

1:13:49

>> Okay. Thank you. I

1:13:53

>> Thank you.

1:13:54

>> Okay. Are there any other questions,

1:13:56

comments, or concerns?

1:13:59

Okay. Seeing and hearing none, Mr.

1:14:00

Trudale, could you please call the vote?

1:14:03

>> Miss Daniels?

1:14:05

>> Yes.

1:14:06

>> Miss Davis?

1:14:08

>> Yes.

1:14:10

>> Miss Green?

1:14:11

>> Yes.

1:14:12

>> Mr. Jones?

1:14:13

>> Yay.

1:14:14

>> Miss Rolls?

1:14:15

>> Yes.

1:14:16

>> Mr. Rodriguez?

1:14:17

>> Yes.

1:14:17

>> Miss Hill?

1:14:18

>> Yes. The motion passes by vote of seven

1:14:20

to zero.

1:14:21

>> Thank you. Is there any other old

1:14:23

business? Council members.

1:14:26

Okay. Seeing hearing none, any new

1:14:28

business?

1:14:31

>> Um just to wish everybody a happy new

1:14:32

year.

1:14:33

>> Yes. Yes. And I was going to say there

1:14:35

is going to be a New Year's Eve um party

1:14:38

or neo disco party here uh on Wednesday.

1:14:44

I don't know exactly what time it

1:14:45

starts, but I know DJ MV is supposed to

1:14:48

be here, whoever listens to the

1:14:50

breakfast club in the morning. So,

1:14:53

>> and I just wanted to thank all the

1:14:54

residents and administration media that

1:14:57

came out for today's meeting. Although

1:14:59

it is in the cold heart of the holidays,

1:15:01

it's essential nonetheless. So, happy

1:15:03

holidays. I wish everyone a happy new

1:15:04

year and uh let's continue to move move

1:15:06

forward. Thank you.

1:15:08

>> Thank you. I hope everyone has a safe

1:15:10

and happy new year. I can't believe 2026

1:15:13

is days away. Be safe everyone. The time

1:15:16

is 6:34 p.m. I will entertain a motion

1:15:20

to adjurnn.

1:15:21

>> Motion to adjurnn.

1:15:23

>> Okay. Thank you very much. We stand

1:15:25

adjourn.

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