Dauphin County courthouse
Harrisburg’s mayor and City Council are slated to head back to court, putting a recent legal battle back on the table.
The Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas on Monday set a March 20 court date for Mayor Wanda Williams and council to appear in regard to a recent complaint by council alleging that Williams is in contempt of court.
On March 6, council filed a motion accusing Williams of not adhering to a legal agreement that the two legislative bodies came to in February. The agreement seemingly closed a legal battle that began with a lawsuit by Williams alleging that council acted outside its power by defunding several top city positions as part of the 2026 budget.
While Judge Jeffrey Engle sided with council earlier that month, shortly after, council and Williams agreed that council would re-fund several positions. Also in the stipulation, Williams agreed to get council approval for every department head hired in the city, a requirement that she and previous mayors had occasionally circumvented by giving directors “interim” titles.
However, in council’s recent contempt filing, they claim that Williams has not held up her side of the deal and has kept a director on staff without council approval.
Gloria Martin-Roberts, director of Harrisburg’s Department of Building and Housing Development, has served as an “interim” director since mid-2024, well past the 120 days in which directors can serve without council consent.
Council said that Martin-Roberts still remains in her position.
In council’s filing, it says that Williams told council that she would not bring Martin-Roberts before council for a vote, instead saying that she believed Martin-Roberts was “grandfathered” into her position.
Council’s attorney Casey Coyle said, in a letter to Williams’ council, that “grandfathering in” positions was not within the stipulation.
Council requested that, as a penalty, Williams be fined $1,000 every day that she is in non-compliance, paid out of her own pocket, with potential jail time if she does not comply within a 30-day period. Council also asked that Williams reimburse the city for her attorney fees as part of the ongoing litigation.
In a press release on Sunday, city Communications Director Mischelle Moyer said that the city was “surprised and disappointed” by the filing. Moyer said that council and Williams had several constructive conversations recently, during which she said that she would bring Martin-Roberts before council for a vote.
Moyer said that council members and Williams met last Monday and were scheduled to meet last Friday, but did not because the contempt motion was filed before the scheduled meeting.
“The residents of Harrisburg deserve a government that works together to solve problems,” said Williams, in a statement. “I have been clear that I am prepared to bring this position before City Council for a vote so that the matter can be addressed transparently and through the proper legislative process. Litigation should never replace communication when we have the ability to sit down and work through our differences.”
In Monday’s court order, Judge Engle said that Williams has 30 days to file her response to council’s motion and that an evidentiary hearing will take place March 20 at 1:30 p.m.
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