Dauphin County Courthouse
A Dauphin County judge has sided with City Council in a lawsuit filed by Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams.
Court of Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Engle on Tuesday dismissed Williams’ lawsuit against council, in which she claimed that council overreached its power when defunding several top city positions as part of the 2026 budget.
On Jan. 8, Williams filed a complaint asking for an emergency injunction and declaratory ruling, in an attempt to reallocate salaries to four city officials, three of whom had been fired because their salaries were zeroed out.
On Tuesday morning, Engle dismissed Williams’ claims, allowing council’s budget decision to stand.
Council’s attorney, Casey Coyle, told TheBurg over the phone that council was “pleased with the outcome,” but that they were “disappointed that precious taxpayer dollars had to be expended in the first place.”
As part of the 2026 budget, council defunded the business administrator role, saying that the interim director had remained in the position without council’s approval, past the allowed time for a temporary employee. They reduced the salary for the interim director of building and housing development for the same reason. They also zeroed out the salary for the project director for business administration/LERTA and for the police bureau’s director of community engagement and relations. Williams vetoed those budget changes, but council overrode the veto.
Coyle said the mayor’s lawsuit was an “analogue” of national discussions of who holds which powers and that it confirmed the meaning of legislative versus executive powers.
In his memorandum opinion, Engle agreed with council that it was within its rights to make budgetary changes to salaries. He spent over three pages discussing the business administrator position, and refuting Williams’ argument that it is a statutory, legally required position.
During an evidentiary hearing on Jan. 21, Williams’ attorney, Renardo Hicks, argued that the business administrator, which acts as a chief of staff for the city, was a mandated position under the Optional Third Class City Charter code, which Harrisburg adheres to. Williams also emphasized the importance of the position in the daily operations of the city.
In his written opinion, Engle said the office is “not specifically mandated as a required department” and that it may be “necessary perhaps, however, the position is not mandatory.”
For all of the positions, Engle said, “The City Council may fund or defund positions it deems necessary, subject to the lawful veto of the mayor and its override […] We do not find here that the budgetary process was in violation of the Charter Law or any other statutory scheme.”
Coyle said that, had the judge ruled in Williams’ favor, it would have “opened a can of worms” on how much council could reduce salaries and where the line would be drawn.
Williams, in her complaint, also argued that, if council wanted to get rid of the business administrator, it should have enacted an ordinance repealing the city code that created the position. Engle ruled against that notion, saying the position is not mandatory.
While much of the discussion during the evidentiary hearing focused on the validity of “interim” positions, Engle declined to state an opinion on that matter.
Williams had argued that interim business administrator Sam Sulkosky and interim director of building and housing development Gloria Martin-Roberts were not under the same restrictions as “acting” department heads, who may only serve 120 days without council approval.
Sulkosky was appointed to his position in October 2024, but council later denied affirming him in his role, leading Williams to make him an interim director. Martin-Roberts was appointed as an interim director in 2024.
Council argued that there is no language for “interim” directors in the city code, with their attorney Casey Coyle calling the concept “imaginary.”
Coyle told TheBurg that council wished the ruling would have cleared up the “interim” versus “acting” dilemma, but he said that council could potentially explore ways to address that with legislation in the future.
“Council is not going to look the other way on this matter anymore,” he said.
In a footnote to his opinion, Engle added an encouragement that council and the mayor work towards a resolution that may refund the positions.
“Our legal opinion, however, does not contemplate the immediate need for any of the four positions to be funded and filled,” he said. “We have little doubt that the failure to properly fill these positions, especially that of the Business Administrator, may soon have severe consequences for City Government. We would urge both parties to engage in immediate and meaningful negotiations regarding their future course.”
Williams was not available for immediate comment Tuesday morning and her attorney could not immediately be reached.
Williams has 30 days to appeal the decision.
Coyle said that Engle’s decision is backed by precedent, which he believes would make it difficult for Williams to argue against in an appeal.
“We hope further precious tax dollars aren’t expended on this,” Coyle said.
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