Greater Harrisburg's Community Newspaper January 2010 - theBurg

City Hall
Thompson Sworn In;
Events Scheduled
Linda Thompson takes the helm
of Harrisburg’s government on
Jan. 4, the city’s first new mayor in
28 years.
The swearing in is slated for 9
a.m. at The Forum, N. 5th and Walnut
streets. In addition to the ceremony,
several related events are scheduled,
including:
• Family Day, Jan. 2, 10 a.m.–noon,
Strawberry Square. Free.
• Interfaith Ecumenical Service, Jan.
3, 4 p.m., Goodwin Memorial Baptist
Church, 2447 Green St. Free.
• The Mayor’s Ball, Jan. 4, 7–11
p.m., The Pennsylvania Farm Show
Complex. Tickets: $100 per person.
• Business Leaders Luncheon, Jan. 5,
noon–2 p.m., The National Civil War
Museum. Admission: $75.
• Mayor’s Meet and Greet of City
Employees, Jan. 6, 4:30 p.m.
Council Restricts
Calling While Driving
Drivers entering the city will have
to put down their cell phones while
operating their vehicle or risk being
fined up to $1,000.
The City Council in December
unanimously approved an ordinance
banning the use of cell phones while
driving. Drivers still may talk on a
phone using a hands-free device.
“When you use your cell phone,
you’re distracted,” Councilwoman
Gloria Martin-Roberts said.
Fines are as follows: $100 first
offense; $250 second offense; $500
third offense; $1,000 fourth offense.
The penalty doubles in school and
work zones.
For the council, the issue was
public safety. In 2009, two people
were killed because of drivers
talking or text messaging on cell
phones. The law goes into effect in
early February.
State and federal bans on cell
phones would supersede the city’s
ordinance. The General Assembly is
now considering a law.
City Passes Budget;
Mayor to Revisit Plan
Mayor Linda Thompson will open
her predecessor’s $64.7 million
budget that the City Council
adopted by a 5-2 vote in December
to determine how the city can begin
to meet its fiscal obligations as she
begins her administration.
The budget does not call for
a tax increase, even though tax
revenues are down because of
the economy and the city faces
burgeoning debt from the Parking
Authority and the Resource
Recovery Facility, or incinerator.
Thompson, in one of her last
acts as council president before
taking the helm as Harrisburg’s 37th
mayor, voted against the spending
plan of former Mayor Stephen Reed.
“I don’t know where the booby
traps are in this budget,” she said.
Reed included in his budget a
$215 million revenue projection for
addressing the city’s debt by leasing
the parking garages, a proposal
Thompson has rejected in favor of
leasing City Island.
The council adopted the budget
with an amendment granting
Thompson permission to open the
former mayor’s budget to ensure
proper allocation of resources.
The council also vowed to audit
severance packages given to a
handful of departing city workers, if
that severance exceeds $75,000.
New Chiefs for City
Police, Fire Bureaus
Capt. Richard Pickles assumed the
position of police chief in early
December, replacing Charles Kellar,
who retired after 23 years.
Also, Harrisburg Fire Chief Daniel
Soulier stepped down in December,
after serving briefly following the
retirement of Donald Konkle, who
left in January 2009.
Mayor Thompson is expected to
select a new fire chief this month.
In other personnel news, 10 new
Harrisburg police officers have been
hired. These officers should allow
new walking patrols to expand, said
former Mayor Stephen Reed.
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