City Council

Thursday, December 4, 2025 7:00 PM Williamsport, PA Council President Adam Yoder brought the Williamsport City Council meeting to order on Thursday, December 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM.at Trade & Transit Center II, 144 W. Third St, Williamsport, PA. This meeting was duly advertised in the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Council members present: Also, Present: Adam Yoder, President Derek Slaughter, Mayor,, President Mr. Willia Eric Beiter, Vice President Valerie Fessler Liz Miele, Councilwoman Sam Aungst, Fire Chief, Adam W Randy Allison, Councilman, Justin Snyder, Police Chief, a Vincent Pulizzi, Councilman Solicitor Nicolas Grimes Jon Mackey, Councilman, Janice Frank, City Clerk Bonnie Katz, Councilwoman Jamie Livermore Absent: Scott Livermore, S&P Bonnie Katz Kris Black Eric Beiter Bill Scott Members of the public Approval of the Williamsport City Council minutes of 11/06/25 approved upon a motion by and second from Mr. n All were in favor with a vote of 5 to 0. Proclamation Anne Nordell President and Council and administration me do want to read into the record Mr. Joseph thePawlak mayor all proclamation for Tran 6 that I'm sure others that we will bring up and present the proclamation . to her. I will just read it first Merrill proclamation whereas where As Anne & Eric Nordell have been growing food forMr. Joe Pawlak our community for nearly 40 years. Mr. Gary Knarr Since he first moved to our area establishing Beech Grove Farm in Mr. theTomearly Cillo eighties and have always cultivated strong C. Dean roots in the Williamsport community with a passion for growing quality organic Dave Young, food. Police ChiefWhere they have continuously Chief He Sol. J. David Smith supported a community driven approach to sustainable fruits in our Janice region, starting and sustaining Frank, City Clerk, absent a vibrant Williamsport market instead of settling for selling their except nil quality produce Todd Heckman, Firein a more Chief , lucrative urban market. Where as they have redefined the Armenian method of true organic farming for the farming community nationwide , News Media nationwide via educating others, not just locally but nationally and are celebrated growing methods and they have contributed to the agricultural world as charter members of the Pennsylvania Association for sustainable agriculture making sure the farming knowledge and knowledge was available for the benefit of others providing for the committee has always been paramount to the approach to forming the Central Pennsylvania food bank being a frequent recipient Members of News Media of his contributions from Beech Grove Farm because as and says "everyone deserves good food". Members of the news media As the market vendor of the family had a vision of what the market could be in working to grow the market with more vendors and people the farm to table / farm to fork idea was new but and enlisted some local chefs to do some demonstrations and in order to promote and showcase the interesting products available and sample some food while highlighting the chefs. Whereas this led to a collaboration with the Williamsport market and the early 2000's allowing students to create demonstrations with donated food from the vendors and influence a continuous passion on the part of the culinary program for local foods and products where and and the goers market help to establish a scholarship in memory of a dear friend to many who also worked at the market. Whereas Williamsport, the Growers Market, our region and our nation have all benefited think to Eric and Tran 6 settling to settle on the small Beech Grove Farm and settle their lives here. So the city Williamsport thanks them for their contributions to building a thriving community and a local food scene to help ensure access to healthy food for all people in our city and region and acknowledge that Eric and transfixed roots run deep. We're all better for it and be it further resolved that this proclamation is set to my hand and sealed this fourth date of December 2025 please come up if we could just thinker for all of her contributions. Mrs. Nordell Thank you. I am very honored. I always felt everybody should have access to high quality local foods. That is 1 reason why we got involved with the Williamsport farmers market over 30 years ago. And we tried to achieve that. And we think the grower’s market has brought together the entire community. Every neighborhood comes to that market from all over and the surrounding communities. We get people from all over but the locals that really support this market and I am so thankful and thankful for the city that have supported us through all these years. Thank you. Mayor: I then to the market for many times with my children as well thank you for all of your contributions. I will turn it back over to counsel any comments from members of counsel? Mr. Allison : What the growers market means to our community, I believe it is beyond the food that is offered, which is excellent. The products there and the care and the expertise that the people have and offer it to us. That I saw more than that. It is a community coming together. It is people meeting each other and getting to know each other and the vendors, and I say we because I have a small part following my wife around there. But the sense we can share about our personal lives and share about the things we are interested in. It is hard to find a lot of times in this day and age. And experience that will bring people together in a positive way. I wish we could manufacture that and sell it across the country. We would be in a much better place for it. And what they have meant to us all by spearheading that we are forever grateful to them for that. And it is my prayer and hope that this keeps on and it is an honor to them and others can step in and do the same thing. Thank you very much. Ms. Miele: I had the - - yes, I started cooking for a living may be 20 years ago. How long have you been selling to my restaurant? That's what I thought. I have memories of Tran 6 going in and out of the basement bringing lettuce from when I was a kid. So in many ways I have had a relationship with her back when I still thought she was Peggy. I used to get you confused. So I was fortunate when I move back to Williamsport and started cooking for a living that we had the established relationship with a local grower at my restaurant. And I was exceptionally fortunate that the local grower turned out to be a grower that frankly grow some of the best produce I've had anywhere in the country. And that is a pretty remarkable thing. We are fortunate in our area how much access to good food we have. I don't know if we ever appreciate that because there are things that go along with that like being a rural community in ways that people find challenging but I think it is wonderful because we have all of these great growers and I cannot really overstate how lucky I have been to get to spend time with and and Eric over the last 20 years. Ihave learned a lot from her and have complained a lot to her and a value that relationship and I certainly hope it continues. And I value the food community within our city that and has helped to build because without that, frankly it would but be near as much fun to be a cook for a living. We can only cook what you have to work with and when you are gifted with the best produce in the country, then that gives you a great starting point and I'm sure Steve can echo that. I'm not the only 1 in Williamsport who buys from her and we are lucky. Thank you. Mr. Yoder Being a transplant not growing up here there are awesome things that drew me not only to Williamsport to come to college but to me back here after living in a lot bigger cities to lay roots and the farmers market is 1 of them. I apologize farmers market has been in But what is amazing to me Councilman Allison reference a sense of community that is there and that is a real draw. Especially for me on the maternal side of my family, agriculture is a big thing. I lived on a farm 5 or 6 years and that farm has been in my family 5 or 6 generations. I really value what I can access at the farmers market for a number of different reasons. The beautiful thing about it for me and my family is at least for me it gives me a semblance of where I am from and the roots I came from in a good way. So I'm continuously grateful for the farmers market and to the Nortel family thank you for your contributions getting it to where it is I hope that it continues and as long as I am sitting here I will be happy to support that growers market. As best as I can it is a true asset for the city as the mayor mentioned it brings people and from a lot of places. And it cultivates the community that makes Williamsport special and that is lacking in a lot of other areas. So extremely grateful to you. Thank you for what you have done for it. We cannot thank you enough. Ms. Miele: As a native I have friends who have moved to other communities throughout Pennsylvania and the country and I don't think there is 1 of them who is not excited to come back and go to the growers market and that is unusual. But my brother for instance makes it to the farmers market every time he comes back from Baltimore. And many of the people that I spend time with here who don't live here anymore say it's the best farmers market they have been to. We are fortunate. The other thing I wanted to mention relates to the food bank. It is December and the food bank is in need. They can make for meals with every dollar that you donate. 'S as we are talk about food access and scarcity in the city coming up twice already tonight I would encourage everyone to make a donation to the food bank they can put your money to good use. Thank you. Mr. Yoder Thank you again and Mayor thank you for spearheading the proclamation. That is well-deserved I believe there are some refreshments in the other room that the Nordel and our friends here in the back that have come to support you are able to partake and to celebrate. Ms. Miele: Anybody who was hungry I have 1 million cupcakes. There are cupcakes if you came here but, in the meantime, Thank you for coming and Thank you for 40 years of good farming here in the community will hold that to you about going some stuff for me next year. Thank you. Limited Courtesy of the Floor There was none. Ordinance # 6516 An Ordinance Amending Article 111, 123, 129, 131 of the Codified Ordinance Term Limits(final reading) The City Clerk read the ordinance. Mr. Yoder asked for a motion & a second. Mr. Pulizzi made the motion and it was seconded by Mr. Mackey. Mr. Mackey: It has been a long road but we are here at the second, second reading the first iteration was vetoed as everybody knows by the mayor we went back to the drawing board and had a lot of good discussions I think. And where we are at now. So again to remind everybody this will set term limits for the treasurer, the controller, city Council and the mayor. The mayor will be to terms, 8 years. That is consecutive so somebody can conceivably take a break for 4 years and come back and run again. City Council, 12, 3 terms 12 years as well as the treasurer and controller and obviously we put that language in this version of the ordinance that will allow a couple of elected officials to still run for a third term if they choose. That is where we are at. Speak now or forever hold your peace. >> Any comments or questions from members? Mr. Yoder I have a couple then we can take the vote. I prepared them so bear with me. John alluded to this speaking now forever holding your peace I think the dialogue that has been taken in place through this drove a lot of the discussion in media and social media and into pockets of the community and I'm glad to see that. Notably when something the council is voting on but I think there are pockets of dialogue that are important to at least make sure they are revisited in the record and I want to preface these with 2 points. First, professionally and personally, I admire and respect everyone of you sitting up here, members of the administration. And over the 6 sitting here working together with a lot of issues we have gone through. They are unique and not unique to Williamsport. That respect is forged in the trenches. Nothing is a negative reflection of anybody or any decision-making on this issue. Second, politically think it's important to say this. I will not be a candidate for mayor. So nothing I am saying is about political posturing. There is a compelling practical case through this. There is real reform that establishes term limits moving forward. There is I believe I was excited about this initially a problem of entrenchment we have seen with elected officials across the board. This minimizes that. And with the challenges the city faces I think and will continue to face, with limited political capital and serious financial constraints, there is a strong case for this with prudent governments to take achievable reform rather than holding out for perfection. And I get that but I still have some reluctance and it is that inclusion of this language that allows a few people to run beyond what they would normally be able to because of this ordinance. I think it is problematic for 2 different reasons. I don't think it actually actually I think it creates an equal application. There is an argument there are 2 classes of officials now. A couple now than everybody who comes after and it is rooted in a 30 -year-old Supreme Court case that included a hypothetical argument about political bias. I don't think any of this has been political. This is consistently having bipartisan support affects officeholders of both parties and frankly we have a majority Republican counsel at the moment and it affects more Republicans and Democrats, we could face a lawsuit certainly. But I think the case for equal application is important. And I want to clear the air I don't think there was political bias in this at all. Second, more importantly when we talked about how we govern, I still believe this, it's part of the dialogue we had from the first try, I still believe we need to build a culture in city government of thinking about these governance issues differently. And in my 6 years sitting here when we face risk we revert back to the safe and traditional path even when we have more flexibility than regular third class cities as a third-class charter. And I believe that risk aversion is a root cause of what we are facing now. Budget deficits, federal state investigations, the nickel scandal where a career bureaucrat could accumulate unchecked power because the governing structure enabled it. Want to be clear what I am not saying. Not saying voting yes reflects the lack of principle voting yes reflects a legitimate judgment that the practical reform that we have here are matters more than perfect application. Is not a bad ordinance it is generally good that will improve governments moving forward. I'm not trying to kill it I'm confident it will pass. But I am saying I think the institutional record needs to show that equal application mattered enough to at least be brought forward in the second try to pass this reform even when the reform itself is viable, invaluable. 5 or 10 years from now if this is ever revisited it is working and tweaked maybe somebody looks back and says Yoder was right to the grandfather clause was stupid or maybe he is too rigid. The practical reform of this mattered more that's possible and find either way it's important that both positions are in the record for the future. More broadly, there has been debate whether term limits are bad - - good at all in with the nickel scandal if we need more oversight, not less I think the 7 of us in the 5 that are here in the 2 others that could not make it tonight, clearly think it is a good idea and I am in that camp. That support for me is rooted in the governance issue that is enabled the nickel scandal. The reason why we are dealing with million-dollar fines and audits state and federal investigations being pressured by state and federal authorities, all of that happen because of career bureaucrat was unable to have too much power because the governance system allowed it. 1 person hold multiple jobs were ethics issues were prevalent and the government structure was codified into local laws. Not until the last 2 councils any of that was addressed. We addressed some of those issues from the perspective of at least personal staff. We had better say as counsel and department heads who fills them, what they oversee and how long they can serve but we have not done that from the elected perspective. And why I was excited about and continue to be excited about this reform is we need to do that as Councilman Mackey has said we are not precluding anyone from running in after the term expires but ensuring rakes happen to limit stillness and we are structure these 2 were institutional wisdom can be built technical expertise can be accumulated hopefully we are establishing norms. People may be surprised that 2 and 3 term mayors are a rarity in city government and hopefully this makes that more of a norm that we, I believe do need. And even with the reservations about the language I think it finds a reasonable balance. The underlying principle I think is important rules should apply to those who make them and matters were institutional culture. Not enough to kill the reform but have to be on record to having stood for it. I respect the passing of the ordinance and I appreciate the reform I understand the reason behind the language I just think we need to say it is equal application matters even when it is costly I will end my soapbox with this and then we can take the vote. As we move forward we as counsel and the administration need to continue to be comfortable having these discussions and addressing these issues. Each time we have had the opportunity to address reform it has been vetoed by the Mayor. And is faced public pushback. The first reading of this we didn't have any type of public dialogue with the administration which is unfortunate. And to be frank, not convinced the majority of the public has strong opinions either way on these. But those that do make it more challenging. t does for me and for others. We should still do these things because they are right, they are needed and that is why we are here in these positions to do the hard things that need to be done whether they are grained in my head since I was a kid as you saw tonight. I know the term is growers This will pass tonight it's a good thing for Williamsport to establish term limits going forward, creates healthier rotation of elected officials. Real reform but while it is good we may be crippling the underlying principle that makes term limits valuable in the first place. But even with that I'm grateful for all of you putting in the work on this, the dialogue over for readings. I'm excited to see where this goes over the next 5 or 10 years and how this works and frankly how the future counsel might enhance it or adapt it. Thank you for listening to me. I appreciate it. Mr. Yoder asked for a vote on the ordinance. The ordinance was carried with five yes roll call votes. The vote was 5 to 0. Mr. Allison voted yes, Mr. Mackey voted yes, Mr. Pulizzi voted yes, Ms. Miele voted yes, , and Mr. Yoder voted yes. Mr. Beiter and Mrs. Katz were absent. Ordinance #6517 An Ordinance Amending Article 709, Article 711, & Article 1344 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Williamsport, Lycoming County, (final reading) The City Clerk read the ordinance. Mr. Yoder asked for a motion & a second. Mr. Mackey made the motion and it was seconded by Mr. Pulizzi. Ms. Livermore it is a straightforward reading and I have anything to add is merely putting us in line with the PLC be in forces throughout the state always enforcement inside and outside of the facilities that license them T for any comments or questions. Please call the vote. . The ordinance was carried with five yes roll call votes. The vote was 5 to 0. Mr. Allison voted yes, Mr. Mackey voted yes, Mr. Pulizzi voted yes, Ms. Miele voted yes, , and Mr. Yoder voted yes. Mr. Beiter and Mrs. Katz were absent. Ordinance #6518 An Ordinance Amending Article 189, Way’s Garden Commission, of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Williamsport, Lycoming County. (final reading) The City Clerk read the ordinance. Mr. Yoder asked for a motion & a second. Ms. Miele made the motion and it was seconded by Mr. Mackey. There was nothing more to add and Ms. Miele asked the Mayor to please take control of this and start to change the terms. Mr. Yoder asked for a vote. . The ordinance was carried with five yes roll call votes. The vote was 5 to 0. Mr. Allison voted yes, Mr. Mackey voted yes, Mr. Pulizzi voted yes, Ms. Miele voted yes, , and Mr. Yoder voted yes. Mr. Beiter and Mrs. Katz were absent Bill#1887-25 Ordinance Adopting Various Operating Budgets for the City of Williamsport including the General Fund Emergency & Reserve Funds, Capital Projects Fund, City Hall Operating Fund, Liquid Fuels, Debt Service Fund & Act 13 (first reading) The City Clerk read the ordinance. Mr. Yoder asked for a motion & a second. Mr. Pulizzi made the motion and it was seconded by Mr. Mackey. Ms. Livermore you had before you the ordinance to adopt the operating budget for the City of Williamsport of course we have had to budget sessions where we have addressed a bunch of topics. I will turn it over to you unless you want me to read each of the numbers. Mr. Yoder : You don't need to buy first of off thank you for putting your work and I think the budgets went up Friday at 5 and you are still putting other stuff together related to the budget you have worked pretty hard on this 1 and you've worked hard on what you been involved with I am grateful for the rear time I will speak for everybody we are all grateful for it. : We have had to budget sessions we have openly recognized with this will look like and come to and I will be the 1 to say this, in the past I don't know we have seen the plan to address it in prior budgets and we are starting to see that in this budget. We have gone through a process with PFM spearheaded by the mayor and the administration and that was rooted at the end of the last budget so while there might be additional tweaks we want to do in a second reading to help put us in a better position going into the 2027 budget, this is as good of a starting point for this that I could have imagined for this year knowing where we were coming from after last year's budget in fact a little better than what I expected in a couple of areas. I will open for other comments or questions on the budget but I suspect aside from some tweaks and changes next Thursday I think a handful of us are working through and figuring out, we are in a decent spot over the next couple of years in terms of strategy to get from this point hopefully to a better for school position including some larger initiatives that we are hoping to get off the ground late this year or early next year and that being the big 1 for better positioning of fiscal health. Any other comments or questions from members? I will open the floor. Gordon I think he is on the phone I think you joined just for this if you have questions for him. He is there. Mr. Yoder: Gordon is on Zoom thank you I forgot about that I have said this a couple of times publicly. I continue to be impressed with the job they are doing I get why they were recommended and there was a lot of faith in them. Gordon I will publicly say again I hope they are around at least for another year. I think we need them. I think members of the administration and counsel need them. Thank you Gordon, not only for the contractual work you are doing but I think you have gone above and beyond in a few areas I wish we had you hear the first time we did this to be frank. Gordon My pleasure thank you for having me it has been good working with you and I am optimistic we will continue. Our final report comes out in January see you have not seen the last of us yet. Mr. Yoder: Comments or questions on item number 9 by members? Mr. Mackey: While you're up there I sent an e-mail but can you confirm where in the department you added that extra overtime for public safety? Ms. Livermore I will pull that up. I am sorry. I did resend you a new budget. It is on page, I think 21. That's not true. Sorry. It should be under streets and traffic if I can find it. >> I am on page number 38. My page number 38 does not show streets and traffic. I apologize. In your book it should be under the overtime time line item under streets and traffic. I don't see it. I apologize. Mr. Mackey That's fine. Do you remember the total? >Ms. Livermore I added 25000 I don't remember what it was prior. Ms. Livermore I think it is 60? It was 60? So now it is 85. >We are confident that will cover us until we get the new? Sorry to put you on the spot. >> Sorry my book is not in complete order. Any other questions, comments? Ms. Miele: A quick question my memory was jogged by the 1 about commercial insurance in your e-mail, Jamie. Are we still exclusively with Gallagher for our insurance? Ms. Livermore They are our agent. Ms. Miele Yes but they are different vendors. Ms. Livermore Right now we are currently with Gallagher. Ns Miele : I'm excited to see it is 60000 less. >> That is good with workers comp. >> MIELE: That said it has been a while. Ms. Livermore> Yes I do think Donna and I just talked about that today we will probably do the RFP next year I think it was 2023 it was the first year that I was here there was 1. Ms. Miele: But Gallagher still 1 that contract. Ms. Livermore > I didn't do insurance at that point but I do believe they were before I took over. Ms. Miele: Every 3 years strikes me as an annual thing for the RFPs. Mrs. Livermore> Donna and I discuss that today and we both agreed we will probably do 1 may be first quarter or second quarter of next year to begin the process. Ms. Miele : Great. Fantastic. I do see we built in 50000 for a commission match. Thank you for that. Act 13 funds are not eligible to be used for that. And actually I did not think about that until after the meeting. Ms. Miele: I do think there are a handful of changes to make but not too many and I would personally prefer to have a bit more time to discuss it before we go for it but yes I think it is a decent budget. Thank you for your efforts Gordon although I would underline the fact it is only a decent budget if we can realize increasing our revenues in 2 years time as Gordon highlighted it is a budget that builds what I still consider relatively shaky bridge 22027 where we do find some new revenue sources. And what that means it is on us to find new revenue sources before 27 and the only source we have located that seems capable of meeting that cap is to transition to a municipality in that puts the onus on us to make that happen or risk running a bridge to nowhere which is not a great position to be in. Mr. Mackey > I would just add in agreement with everything that has been said so far I would like to add to the councilwoman's point that finding additional revenue sources but also looking to eliminate inefficiencies internally and finding ways we can keep a hold of more of the city's money. Mr. Yoder : Any other final comments or questions The ordinance was carried in first reading with five yes roll call votes. The vote was 5 to 0. Mr. Allison voted yes, Mr. Mackey voted yes, Mr. Pulizzi voted yes, Ms. Miele voted yes, , and Mr. Yoder voted yes. Mr. Beiter and Mrs. Katz were absent Ordinance of the City of Williamsport, County of Lycoming & Commonwealth of PA fixing the tax rate for all City Purposes for the Year 2026 (first reading) The City Clerk read the ordinance. Mr. Yoder asked for a motion & a second. Mr. Mackey made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Miele Mrs. Livermore Hello again this ordinance is for the 2026 tax rate to fix the 2026 tax rate. The knowledge that we have in there is 17.55 and this was in the budget sessions as well. Mr. Yoder Has said there is a tax increase. None of us like it. All 3 we have openly the past few years have said none of us like tax increases. But linking to a lot of the comments that we made with the budget ordinance and notably the comments of home rule to provide the level of service that we need to operate the city unfortunately we need it. And frankly I will be shocked if there's not another 1 in the 2027 budget to get us through over the bridge strategy that PFM has developed and outlined and is reflected here. I don't like it. I'm planning to vote for it. I think most of us will. I don't want to put word into people's miles. That's a sense I had a couple days ago. Hopefully it's a means to an end. Will circle back on the comments. The path out of this from a revenue perspective went this strategy relies on. Hopefully we can get that going getting that intelligently designed by a good commission and get it passed to where we have more taxing flexibility and more autonomy in the tax laws compared to what Harrisburg gives us so that not only we can hold where we are property taxes get to a point where we can realistically provide some relief down the road. That is a huge win. While I don't know if it is immediately feasible but I do believe it is feasible and we can get there. While I don't like the tax increase, unfortunately the strategy calls for and I support the strategy. And I hope in a couple of years we can get to the point where we don't need to do this. It will be amazing. It will be amazing. Opening the floor for comments from other members. >> MIELE: I am just going to point out that yes it is a tax increase budget and I have spent years advocating for steady small gradual tax increase as a way to lessen the impact to the taxpayer. So I am in agreement with the tax increase and I am glad to see it be a small as it is under the circumstances but to achieve that, we have sacrificed a number of things including $750,000 of funding from the capital works project make it possible for us to buy new equipment in the coming years and as well as a contribution to the emergency reserve fund giving us the better concerned. And they have trimmed money and the bottom line. It is 1.$4 million. Not in the red but we will have lost that from the fund balance by the end of the 26 budget year. So that is to say we made it for $3 million worth of deficit spending by stealing it from places in the budget it could come from in order to implement only half a million tax increase. I mentioned this not because I am advocating for a higher tax increase but so we appreciate the extent to which we cannot continue to do this and operate a financially stable city. We knew we would have a 3 million-dollar deficit going into this budget year. We have met that by spending from reserves. And that is something no 1 can do in the long run because we cannot increase our debt ceiling if it needs to be increased. And we cannot spend more than we take in. That is not something that is not financially feasible for a municipality. We don't print money here. We need to figure out another strategy and figure it out fast. Thank you to Gordon. We have 1 we are moving toward. Mr. Yoder: I will chime in and preface it that we are using a combination of a tax increase and operational cuts. Those are predominantly capital improvements. Then we are using one-time reserves. There are a number of strategies that PFM outlined in public sessions that maybe we make some changes going into a second reading to put us in a better position next year but even if we didn't do that there are going to have to be parts of the 2027 budget and that is a tax increase, attrition, health insurance changes in there are a number of them we need to see in 2027 so we will get a report from Gordon in January that outlines the final official findings of what is going on, what are the strategies we would recommend and I hope this Council accepts that and at least establishes a policy we are on board with this plan we need to see these to show that at least we are doing our part to solve this issue in getting to a better place so I say all of that ahead of the 2027 budget because frankly I expect the 2027 budget I don't want to say uglier but it will be harder. There will be harder things we have to see that none of us will like. Let's get it out there now. Any other comments or questions on the first reading of the tax ordinance? Item number 10. The ordinance was carried in first reading with five yes roll call votes. The vote was 5 to 0. Mr. Allison voted yes, Mr. Mackey voted yes, Mr. Pulizzi voted yes, Ms. Miele voted yes, , and Mr. Yoder voted yes. Mr. Beiter and Mrs. Katz were absent Resolution 9976 Resolution for Various Insurance Needs for Policy Year 01/01/2026 through 01/01/27 The City Clerk read the resolution. Mr. Yoder asked for a motion & a second. Mr. Mackey made the motion and it was seconded with Mr.Pulizzi. Mrs. Livermore This resolution covers the various insurance needs for the city January 12026 through January 1, 2027. There is not a ton of changes here. There is always somewhat of an increase. That workers comp is we do anticipate that being $60000 higher and our agent was able to get it down lower. I did adjust the budget numbers for that extra $60000. Do you have any questions on the insurance? Mr. Yoder: Any comments or questions for Ms. Livermore? . The resolution was carried with five yes roll call votes. The vote was 5 to 0. Mr. Allison voted yes, Mr. Mackey voted yes, Mr. Pulizzi voted yes, Ms. Miele voted yes, , and Mr. Yoder voted yes. Mr. Beiter and Mrs. Katz were absent Resolution #9977 Real Estate Reduction The City Clerk read the resolution. Mr. Yoder asked for a motion & a second. Mr. Mackey made the motion and it was seconded by Mr. Allison. Mr. Yoder we have a real estate reduction I'm actually going to ask to be helped through the next 3. I missed the last meeting you are at but I don't want to say it is awkward but it is full circle to see you sitting there when I remember being in this seat and 2019 watching the budget sessions and sitting in the treasurer's office and you welcoming us to the Council. To see the process you have gone through to professionally position yourself is awesome. I'm proud to see you sitting here as our solicitor tonight and I'm thankful you are are where you are at to serve the city. We are better for and I am glad we are not losing you. Mr. Grimes That was much nicer than just awkward. Mr. Yoder: Full circle is the right word and I am happy. Mr. Grimes I am happy to put on my treasurer hat back on. Mr. Yoder : Walked us through the real estate reduction. Mr. Grimes The first 1 here is real estate reduction for repository sales and this is something you are required to reduce the amount if you accept that repository did. The county has 2 tax sales and if a property does not sell at either tax sale goes into the repository list means we are done with the bidding nobody once it and it sits here and we can accept any bid. Generally people want to get it out of the counties hands and get a buyer for the property. So what happens when there is a repository bid that has to be accepted. But what happens is that changes the assessed value of the property to whatever the repository bid and whatever it is. I will go through each of these because you have the list but for the first 1 for example it was a repository sales somebody bid $910 so the property has likely sat vacant and 2 tax sales changes from $8400 down and $910 because that is the bid that was accepted and that is the same for each of these. . The resolution was carried with five yes roll call votes. The vote was 5 to 0. Mr. Allison voted yes, Mr. Mackey voted yes, Mr. Pulizzi voted yes, Ms. Miele voted yes, , and Mr. Yoder voted yes. Mr. Beiter and Mrs. Katz were absent Resolution # 9978 Real Estate Interim Exoneration The City Clerk read the resolution. Mr. Yoder asked for a motion & a second. Mr. Mackey made the motion and it was seconded by Mr. Pulizzi. Mr. Grimes >> I don't know the whole history of this property but everybody here is familiar with the ordinance. We just went through that recently and that is the abatement of taxes based on new construction. The base of whatever the property was is still taxable that there is a diminishing schedule of real estate tax reduction just for the improvement of those properties. It is the property approved and it is an increase of the assessed value due to the new construction of qualified. In certain circumstances if there's new construction on the property and interim bill will be issued so the bill and March goes through the end of the year through December. But if you build 100,000-dollar edition in July, then the city will need to recapture from July through the end of the year because your 40 then build. This was a property that was improved but then a 4 month interim but the prior builder not capture. That Bill has to be issued if it is part of the tax duplicate. But in this case because it was all new additional development which all qualifies it is a full abatement on this additional assessed value. Essentially what it is saying is the property owner -- -- owner develop $15000 of the property under the program and now in your number 1 it is exonerated under the program that was approved. . The resolution was carried with four yes roll call votes. The vote was 4 to 0. Mr. Allison voted yes, Mr. Mackey voted yes, Mr. Pulizzi voted yes, , and Mr. Yoder voted yes. Mr. Beiter and Mrs. Katz were absent, Ms. Miele walked out of the room. Resolution #9979 Resolution to Approve CGB AV DATACOM Solutions to Provide Technical Support & livestream The City Clerk read the resolution. Mr. Yoder asked for a motion & a second. Mr. Mackey made the motion and it was seconded by Mr. Pulizzi. Mr. Yoder Extension of another year for an agreement over the last 2 years who has done our meetings, technical support so we can live stream to the public so they can be more informed about what we are voting on and what is going on in the city. The document is not loading on Dropbox for me but realistically the same terms and conditions and the same pricing. Nothing is changing from that regard. I will say before any comments or questions we continue appreciate you doing this. You are easy to work with. And I am grateful for that and for your expertise. The resolution was carried with five yes roll call votes. The vote was 5 to 0. Mr. Allison voted yes, Mr. Mackey voted yes, Mr. Pulizzi voted yes, Ms. Miele voted yes, , and Mr. Yoder voted yes. Mr. Beiter and Mrs. Katz were absent Resolution # 9980 Resolution to Approve the Advertisement for Sale of Personal Property The City Clerk read the resolution. Mr. Yoder asked for a motion & a second. Mr. Pulizzi made the motion and it was seconded by Mr. Mackey. Mayor Slaughter This is just an advertisement for the notification of sale sitting behind the patrol that has been there for a long time it had some interest recently. So we worked with attorney Hauser on the best way to go through this process and this is the process he said would be the easiest and the best so this is just a resolution to advertise. I believe it has to run for 10 days. And then people can submit, not submit and go from there it is just for that railcar that has been sitting there. This is just notice of advertisement. Not the sale. Mr. Yoder : Any comments or questions from members? Hearing or seeing none. The resolution was carried with five yes roll call votes. The vote was 5 to 0. Mr. Allison voted yes, Mr. Mackey voted yes, Mr. Pulizzi voted yes, Ms. Miele voted yes, , and Mr. Yoder voted yes. Mr. Beiter and Mrs. Katz were absent Resolution # 9981 Resolution Between the City of Williamsport & UPMC for Installation of Bicycle Safety The City Clerk read the resolution. Mr. Yoder asked for a motion & a second. Mr. Mackey made the motion and it was seconded by Mr. Pulizzi. Ms. Livermore, I am presenting this on behalf of Scott Williams. This is essentially the MOU between the City of Williamsport and UPMC. We are 1 year out from last year's budget session when Councilwoman Miele made a suggestion to put something in the city budget to explore a bike lane program. And Councilman Beiter said perhaps it would explore the use of funds to do that instead of city budget funds so we have done that. And we are developing this project as part of doing so this MOU is before you. I will give you a little bit of background of the project. We are installing pavement markings and science on for miles of low-volume city streets connecting neighborhoods on the east side to shop Park, Brandon Park and the pedestrian bridge over 180 at water Tower Square. We will be coordinating this program to complete at the time the mountain bike project comes to an end. We are coordinating those projects. The Township is completing a pathway called Millers run Greenway that will run parallel to Northway Road. They are doing that to connect their parks and schools as well. So the most direct connection between Millers run Greenway and shop Park is through the UPMC campus. So Mayor slaughter and Scott Williams has been meeting with UPMC and representatives to discuss the best way to accomplish this. And also looking at a signage program and then all of the work we are doing will just be on city-owned streets with CDBG many and a portion is on that UPMC campus so the MOU basically outlines the relationship between us and UPMC you have in front of you see you can see the expectations of the city and UPMC. Mr. Yoder : Thank you very much. Any comments or questions from members? Ms. Miele: What is the city ordinance city code 51108 shall take reasonable efforts to enforce ordinances including 511.08. >> I believe that is a city ordinance about bike operation and safety in the city. >> MIELE: I was hoping it was that. I was also possibly hoping that we could discuss or implement a plan to better enforce bicycles city -- safety in the city. . To understand, not necessarily the bicycle that there was an injury to someone on may be a motorcycle? That was a motorcycle however. That is good. I know I have been saying this for a while. If the state will not do a better job of legislating, a lot of it has been legislated but we are not enforcing things like lights on bikes and E-bikes, helmets. And we need to figure out a mechanism. Because the enforcement goes both ways. There are a lot of drivers with great animosity towards cyclists. Mrs. Livermore With the officers that we do have they actually do address a wide of the bicycle issues. Specifically not at night see what the officers quite often stopping and reinforcing our laws to make sure we do have bike safety. Again, we do have a Police Department that is running from call to call. As they do have that. Plus there are officers on bikes that are out addressing these concerns and issues. Especially in the summer months. Ms. Miele : Thank you I'm glad to hear that. We will continue to do so. Ms. Miele: It does cut both ways. Yes those who are cycling without proper protection but the bigger threat obviously is the people in the cars. So if they are moving too quickly on city streets or going over the speed limit. 'S what I am asking is that coordinates with the police but I'm also thinking it doesn't need to exclusively come from the police that we as a city need to develop and implement a bike safety program that works may be in concert with the schools to teach about bike safety because a number of times I see them biking down city streets and kids biking up the middle. You know what I mean. There are a bunch of moving parts in this plan. It doesn't just fall on the police. >> I wholeheartedly agree. >> Honestly I would love to help spearhead an education program with that with the other entities. Ms. Miele : Before we hit peak bike season lets down the school district. >> And community groups and other folks. Ms. Miele: I think yes if we broaden that and try to get fire tree or at least you could begin generating -- -training the next generation of cyclists to do a better. >> I think we have had partnerships with healthy kids. I cannot think of the actual acronym but they do bike Derby and bank helmets and we have worked with them in the past and we can work with the Pennsylvania Department of transportation that comes in to help with that. They give out free bike helmets at a lot of events we can also make sure and reflectors and other bike safety materials. We have partners we can collaborate with. >> MIELE: So we have connections established. >> We have done it 20 in the past we are happy to continue. Ms. Mielle: I cannot imagine what a pain in the butt it is as a cop to address summer with no bike light. No problem addressing it if it keeps them from getting hurt. Ms. Miele: Exactly. Ms. Miele A reminder we did sign our contract for the federal safe streets and also not just focused on vehicle safety but also pedestrian and bike safety. We are hoping for some great recommendations to come out of that as well. >> MIELE: Fantastic T for any other comments or questions? Accept for filing WMWA & WMSA 09/25 July Controller\s Report Mr. Yoder asked for a motion and second to accept for filing. Mr. Pulizzi made the motion and it was seconded by Mr. Pulizzi. The minutes were accept for filing with five yes roll call votes. The vote was 5 to 0. Mr. Allison voted yes, Mr. Mackey voted yes, Mr. Pulizzi voted yes, Ms. Miele voted yes, , and Mr. Yoder voted yes. Mr. Beiter and Mrs. Katz were absent Announcements The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting will be held on Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM, Trade & Transit II 144 West Third St, 3rd t floor, Williamsport, PA. That will be the last scheduled meeting for the year. Upcoming Meetings: Monday, Dec. 8 7:00 PM Treasurer Interviews Thursday, Dec. 11 7:00 PM City Council Meeting Monday, January 5 7:00 PM Re-Organizational CTL* Thursday, January 8 7:00 PM City Council Meeting Comments: a. Members of the Public b. Council Comments c. Administration Mayor: The Christmas market I just want to announce that it starts tomorrow. 1:00 p.m. through 7:00 p.m. and Saturday 11:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m.. There are lots of vendors. Kids activities and all of that. And between 5 and 6 the kids can make lantern and then we will walk from the German Christmas market to light the Christmas tree. it should be a good time and a lot of fun. A lot of work has gone into it. The first committee foundation supported that with a grant. It looks great. The huts are up and it looks like a German market. It is cool to see. We invite everybody to come out to that. And the Newberry tree lighting Wednesday at 6. Council usually comes to that. This coming Wednesday at 6:00 o'clock p.m.. Thank you. Mr. Yoder : I will do an additional plug for the Newberry tree lighting. They light the tree, we are grateful for the help on the corner of third and I'm forgetting the other street. Seeing a couple of Chris Moore -- -- Christmas carols. Superfine and then they have an excellent Santa in the lobby. It is a blast. Check it out. All right. d. News Media Adjournment Meeting adjourned upon motion by Mr. Pulizzi and a seconded by Mr. Allison . Meeting adjourned at 8:13 PM with unanimous ayes. Submitted by: Janice M. Frank City Clerk