Harrisburg City Council held a brief reorganization meeting on Monday.
Three City Council members and the city treasurer were sworn into office on Monday, as Harrisburg kicked off its next two-year legislative term.
At a city hall ceremony, District Justice Sonya McKnight administered the oath of office to returning council members Westburn Majors, Dave Madsen and Danielle Bowers and to Treasurer Dan Miller.
The swearing-in followed brief comments by Mayor Eric Papenfuse, praising each office-holder.
“These individuals, who I know personally, I believe represent the best of Harrisburg,” he said.
The officials, all Democrats, were elected in November to four-year terms following primary victories in May. Majors, Madsen and Miller all were re-elected, while Bowers won her first election following appointment to council.
A council reorganization followed, with members re-electing Wanda Williams as City Council president by a 5-2 vote, with council members Danielle Bowers and Shamaine Daniels voting against the nomination. Councilman Ben Allatt was unanimously re-elected vice president of the seven-member body.
“This is a responsibility I do not take lightly, and I promise to represent this body with the utmost transparency as we move forward,” Williams said.
Following the meeting, Williams said that her priorities for the year included enhancing economic development and ensuring that the city remained financially stable.
“I want to make sure that we remain on the same financial road to recovery,” she said.
The city starts the year with a $120 million budget, after running a budget surplus in 2019 for a seventh straight year. The new budget includes a pay boost for many city police officers and a plan to accelerate some debt payments. It also funds several capital projects during 2020.
The following pictures are from Monday’s swearing in ceremony:
Dan Miller
Danielle Bowers
Dave Madsen
Westburn Majors
