Tag Archives: Westburn Majors

Harrisburg passes 2024 budget with no tax hike; city finances affected by rising costs and pandemic impact

Harrisburg City Council at a past session.

Harrisburg has solidified a spending plan for the new year, one that anticipates impacts from inflation and the lingering effects of the pandemic.

On Thursday, City Council approved a $109.4 million general fund budget for 2024, which includes investments in infrastructure and public safety.

The budget does not include a property tax increase.

In total, the balanced budget equals $150.7 million, including the general fund budget and the $21.1 million neighborhood services fund budget, among others.

The budget, first proposed by Mayor Wanda Williams in November, specifically prioritizes projects such as street paving, upgrades to city parks and the hiring of several new police officers. The plan also factors in the spending of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money on projects like renovating the Hall Manor pool and funding affordable housing development, one-time funds that boosted this year’s budget number.

Council passed the budget after making a few minor amendments, mostly reducing raises for city employees that they felt were not deserved or adequately explained by the administration. The budget was slated to be approved on Tuesday, but was recessed for further discussion and approval on Thursday. Council voted 5-1 to approve the budget, with council member Shamaine Daniels voting against it. Council member Jocelyn Rawls was not present.

Additionally, in 2024 the city will raise residents’ monthly trash bills by $3.23, making the cost $35.57 per month.

According to city Business Administrator Dan Hartman, the fee hike is needed to offset inflation and continuously increasing expenses such as tipping fees, wage increases, vehicle costs and fuel prices.

Hartman defended the city’s decision to raise rates on Monday after Treasurer Dan Miller held a press conference that morning to state his opposition to the plan. Ultimately, council approved the measure.

“This is something that, while no one wants to have to do it, I think it is responsible to ensure that our neighborhood services fund can continue to operate from a strong position moving forward,” council member Westburn Majors said.

And while Harrisburg’s budget is impacted by rising costs, it is also affected by areas of decreased revenue, so that the city will have to “tighten its belt” in the 2024 budget, Hartman explained during a separate interview with TheBurg.

Several of the city’s sources of income have struggled to recover post-COVID, including revenue from parking, property taxes and business privilege taxes, affecting its 2024 general fund budget.

“You’re dealing with, what does the new economy look like, and how does the city balance what is the old way of taxing through what is kind of our new economy?” Hartman said.

During the pandemic, Harrisburg saw big decreases in cash flow from parking and taxes from businesses as foot traffic slowed and some shops even closed down. In the wake of COVID, the city is still experiencing losses, as people continue to telework, bringing fewer people into Harrisburg to park, shop and dine.

Harrisburg receives revenue from parking from two buckets, both of which have come up drier than usual.

In 2013, Harrisburg signed a long-term lease of its parking assets. Under the lease, the city gets money from taxes on parking. Before the pandemic, in 2019, Harrisburg brought in about $4.2 million from that bucket of funds. In 2020, that number dropped to about $3.4 million and now, as part of its 2024 budget, city officials project about $3.7 million in revenue, a figure that still hasn’t recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

Additionally, the city historically has received a few million dollars a year in “waterfall payments” from parking–a small share of the parking system’s overall revenue–but those payments dropped off during COVID. The city currently receives nothing from that stream of revenue, Hartman said.

Hartman attributes the loss in parking revenue to the effects of the pandemic, specifically as fewer people have swapped in-office work for telework.

Additionally, property tax assessment appeals have become the city’s latest financial headache, as office building owners, also impacted by COVID and work-from-home, attempt to lower their properties’ market values, thus lessening the tax revenue received by the city, county and school district.

“All of this loops around and has a direct effect on our bottom line,” Hartman explained.

The city projects a loss of several hundred thousand dollars in taxes from these properties due to reassessments.

“You can walk outside our building, look in any direction, and you’ll be seeing someone [who has appealed their assessment],” Hartman said.

Even considering the revenue losses, the 2024 budget is balanced.

One area of increased revenue for the city is earned income taxes (EIT), which, over the past several years, has jumped. Due to factors like wage increases, inflation and people getting additional jobs, the EIT the city receives has gone from around $10 million five years ago to around $17 million this past year. The 2024 budget anticipates another $1 million increase.

“That growth has exploded,” Hartman said. “That wage growth has done so much to offset drops elsewhere. But keep in mind, our costs go up every year.”

However, the city will need to figure out how to handle the long-term effects of telework.

Hartman said that Harrisburg has goals to draw businesses into the city and create more housing to boost the city’s tax base.

“That’s how you build your fix, is taking underutilized, underdeveloped areas and redeveloping them,” he said.

In other news, council approved the appointment of Rafiyqa Muhammad, Katherine Scott and Pamela Parson to the Environmental Advisory Council.

Council also appointed Quinton Davis, Adrian Selkowitz, Gia Johnson and Lakichia Carrier to the Citizen’s Law Enforcement Advisory Committee. The new committee was created by council in 2020, but its nine seats were never filled.

Thursday marked council’s final meeting of the year. Council meetings will resume in January.

 

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!    

 

 

Continue Reading

Harrisburg City Council votes down apartment project after developer declines to participate in affordable housing program

Harrisburg City Council at Tuesday’s legislative session

A Harrisburg development project will come to a halt for now after City Council voted it down on Tuesday.

At a legislative session, council voted against a land development plan to demolish existing office buildings on the 2700-block of N. Front St. and construct a 21-unit apartment building. Council voted 5-2 in opposition, with council members Shamaine Daniels and Westburn Majors voting in favor of the project.

Several council members explained that they decided to vote against the project because the developer was not interested in participating in the city’s affordable housing program.

“Our residents would be cost burdened by this property,” council President Danielle Bowers said.

At a previous council work session, representatives of the project, proposed by New Jersey-based EI Realty, said that, due to limitations on how large they could make the building, renting units at affordable rates, as defined by federal standards, would not be financially viable.

“We can’t have affordable units in every project that comes down the pike. It’s not realistic in the financial viability,” said attorney Ambrose Heinz of Stevens & Lee, representing the developer.

After voting against the proposal, council briefly recessed to discuss the vote with the city’s legal personnel. Daniels, who voted in favor of the proposal, expressed concern over the legal ramifications of voting the project down.

The city’s affordable housing program is voluntary and provides incentives to developers to incorporate lower-income units in their proposals. However, according to City Solicitor Neil Grover, this project is in a zoning district that would not qualify for the affordable housing incentives.

“If people follow the rules, you have to approve the plans,” Daniels told TheBurg. “If you want to make someone build affordable housing, you have to actually make them.”

Attorneys representing the project at Tuesday’s meeting declined to comment on the applicant’s next steps.

In other development news, council approved a land development plan for a project at 202 State St. The project’s developer, Harrisburg-based WCI Partners, will convert what is currently an office building into four apartment units.

Council also voted to appoint Jason Graves to the Susquehanna Regional Transportation Authority and to appoint JoAnn Gray to the Zoning Hearing Board.

 

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!  

Continue Reading

Eight Democrats file for three seats on Harrisburg City Council; incumbent Majors opts not to run

Harrisburg city hall (file photo)

Eight Democrats will vie for three seats on Harrisburg City Council, as the petition deadline for the May primary came to a close on Tuesday.

Council President Danielle Bowers and newly appointed council member Robert Lawson both submitted petitions to compete in the May 16 municipal primary. However, two-term member Westburn Majors did not, meaning that the field will include an open seat.

In an interview following Tuesday night’s council meeting, Majors cited “family obligations” for his reason not to seek re-election.

“I’m very proud of the work we’ve done on council over the last two terms to move the city forward,” he said. “I will continue to be involved in the community.”

Other candidates for the three, four-year council seats include:

  • Cole Goodman
  • Lamont Jones
  • Brad Barkdoll
  • Lori Beamer Saulisbury
  • Crystal Davis
  • Leslie C. Franklin

No Republicans submitted candidate petitions for city council.

Harrisburg also has an election for five, four-year seats to the school board. As of the deadline, only four candidates, all Democratic incumbents, submitted nominating petitions. They are:

  • Ellis Rick Roy
  • James Thompson
  • Doug Thompson Leader
  • Terricia Radcliff

For city treasurer, only Democratic incumbent Dan Miller submitted nominating petitions to run for the four-year seat.

For magisterial district justice, long-time incumbent Barbara Pianka did not submit election petitions for District 12-1-02. However, her son, Matthew Pianka, did, cross-filing as both a Democrat and a Republican. Autumn Fair Cooper also filed for the Democratic nomination for the six-year term.

For District 12-1-04, Democrat Mikaela Sloan was the lone candidate to file for that district judgeship. The seat is currently held by MDJ David O’Leary.

In District 12-1-05, incumbent MDJ Hanif Johnson cross-filed for both the Democratic and Republican nominations. He faces competition on the Democratic side from Claude Phipps and Lori Ann Jenkins.

In District 12-1-06, Wendy Grella was the lone candidate to file petitions for the position, cross-filing for both parties. MDJ Joseph Lindsey currently holds that judgeship.

Note: All candidate information is current as of 4:34 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the Dauphin County Bureau of Registration & Elections. The deadline to file was 4:30 p.m. For more information on primary candidates throughout Dauphin County, visit their website.

Maddie Gittens contributed to this story.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Continue Reading

Harrisburg proposes 2023 budget, City Council approves large debt payment

Harrisburg City Council during a legislative session on Tuesday.

Harrisburg’s budget for the new year is taking shape with proposed increases in public safety, infrastructure and special events funding.

On Tuesday, the city administration presented a $74.9 million proposed general fund budget for 2023, one that officials say is the lowest budget in several years.

The spending plan contains no property tax increase.

“Council members, we have the opportunity with this budget to continue to move the city of Harrisburg forward,” said a statement by Mayor Wanda Williams, who was not present at the meeting, read by Dan Hartman, business administrator. “This budget is fiscally sound and responsible for our residents.”

In all, the proposed budget totals $110.6 million, which includes both the general fund and $20.2 million neighborhood services fund budget, among others.

City officials highlighted the emphasis on improving public safety with this year’s funds. The budget proposes an annual 3.5% increase in salaries for city police officers, as well as the funding of 16 new positions in the bureau. With the proposed increases, the police bureau budget would increase by $1.6 million from the 2022 budget.

Infrastructure is another area of focus within the proposed spending plan. The budget would account for upgraded street lighting, ADA accessibility improvements as part of a State Street construction project and renovations to the city’s MLK City Government Center and Public Safety buildings.

Additional funds would go toward purchasing new recycling and trash trucks, covering the cost of city technology upgrades, and hiring a dedicated community events coordinator.

City Council and the administration will go into more detail on each section of the budget during budget hearing meetings scheduled for Nov. 29 and 30 and Dec. 1 and 6, each at 5:30 p.m. Hearings may continue on Dec. 7 and 8, if needed.

In other financial news, council passed a resolution to pay off $12 million of the city’s remaining $20 million in general obligation bond debt, by the end of the year. The $20 million is money that the city owes after defaulting on loans during its financial crisis a decade ago.

“The city and members of this body and everyone involved wants to get the city out from under this debt that we got into,” said council member Westburn Majors. “We really see the light at the end of the tunnel. This agreement […] is a really good step in the right direction.”

While the administration last week proposed paying off the entire chunk of remaining debt all at once, council had concerns about spending down such a large amount of Harrisburg’s fund balance. While Harrisburg will still need to decide when and how to pay off the remaining $8 million of debt, Majors explained that the decision to pay off the $12 million now will save the city millions of dollars that would’ve accrued in interest had it continued with its regular payment schedule.

“We are very happy,” Hartman said, of the payment. “It’s a step in the right direction.”

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, council approved two new appointees to the Capital Region Water (CRW) board of directors.

Williams introduced four appointments at previous council meetings, explaining that it was “time for a change” on the board.

Council voted to appoint attorney Karen Balaban to fill a currently vacant seat on the board with a term set from January 2023 to 2026.

Additionally, they voted in favor of Nathan Davidson, a state House of Representatives employee, replacing current CRW board member Crystal Skotedis, whose term has expired. Davidson will serve from January 2023 to 2027.

Council voted down two other appointments to the board, Deborah Robinson, special assistant to the city business administrator, and former city engineer Joseph Link. Council President Danielle Bowers explained her vote against the appointments, saying she would like to see “new, fresh faces” on the city’s boards.

Current CRW board members Marc Kurowski and Andrew Enders will continue to serve, although their terms have expired, until reappointed or replaced.

Finally, council approved a plan by nonprofit Shalom House to transform their building at 1510 Market St., a former church, into a 14-room supportive housing facility for women and children in need.

 

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

 

Continue Reading

Harrisburg City Council ponders options for paying off the city’s remaining debt

Harrisburg City Council at a legislative session on Tuesday.

Harrisburg is weighing a plan to pay off its remaining debt, which would make the city debt free for the first time in decades.

On Tuesday, Harrisburg City Council discussed a proposal by the city administration to retire the remaining $20 million in general obligation bond debt, all at once, to bond insurer Ambac Assurance Corp.

The $20 million forbearance liability is money that the city owes after defaulting on loans, originally issued in 1997, during its financial crisis a decade ago.

In September, Harrisburg made its final payment on additional general obligation bonds, also incurred under the administration of former Mayor Steve Reed. The remaining forbearance liability represents the outstanding debt on Harrisburg’s books.

At the end of October, Harrisburg had a nearly $35 million fund balance, according to Brian McCutcheon, accounting manager for the city. If the debt were paid off, he projected that the city would end 2022 with around $14 million in the bank—an amount that, he said, would represent a sufficient cash reserve.

However, council members expressed concern with spending such a large chunk of money at once, without knowing for certain what the find balance will be at the end of the year.

“I think all of us in this room support taking care of this debt as quickly as possible,” said council member Westburn Majors. “But taking a little more of a conservative approach would make sense to me.”

McCutcheon and other city officials stressed that the longer the debt goes unpaid, the more the city accrues in interest. By 2029, when the debt would be paid off if the city continued its regular payment schedule, Harrisburg would owe another $4 million in interest, he explained. Currently, the city’s interest rate is set at 5% after a refinancing deal made with Ambac in 2021. That rate will jump back up to 6.75% in November 2024.

“We might as well pay it off now,” said City Treasurer Dan Miller. “We have the funds to pay our bills, to pay our payroll and to make it through the year. It’s much better for the taxpayers.”

Council also discussed alternative options, such as paying off a smaller portion of the debt over a longer time period.

In the end, council decided to table the issue and bring it back on the agenda for a vote in the coming weeks.

In other news, council approved the reauthorization of the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District, a nonprofit that promotes businesses, cleans and provides services in downtown Harrisburg. The organization was originally founded in 1999. On Tuesday, it was reauthorized for another five years, through 2027.

Additionally, council voted in favor of continuing an intergovernmental cooperation agreement with Swatara Township to use its composting facility for another two years at a rate of $50,000 annually.

Council also recognized longtime Harrisburg High School-John Harris Campus basketball coach Kirk Smallwood, naming Nov. 15 “Kirk Smallwood Day” in his honor. The coach retired in May as the winningest coach in the history of the district.

 

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Continue Reading

Harrisburg City Council presents “Unsung Hero” awards to local activists, volunteers

“Unsung Hero” awardees (from left) Cynthia Watkins, Eugene Spells and Rafiyqa Muhammad (Angel Fox was not present)

Several Harrisburg activists and volunteers were honored by Harrisburg City Council on Tuesday night.

At a legislative session, council members named its four recipients of the 2022 “Unsung Hero” award, which recognizes city residents who have volunteered their time to make the community better.

“Each of these people truly embody what it means to be an ‘Unsung Hero,’” said council President Danielle Bowers in a statement. “Our city wouldn’t be able to function without the work they do, most, if not all of the time, behind the scenes. We want to make sure that everyone sees how much we appreciate them.”

Angel Fox, Rafiyqa Muhammad, Eugene Spells, and Cynthia Watkins received the awards.

The “Unsung Hero” award was last presented in 2019 and returns this year after a pandemic hiatus.

Fox, nominated by council member Jocelyn Rawls, is the district director for State Rep. Patty Kim (D-103) and owns Fox’s Wash & Go laundromat on Market Street. Fox also founded the nonprofit, Tears for Tarina, to help bring awareness and provide assistance to victims of domestic violence.

Muhammad, nominated by council member Shamaine Daniels, established Ngozi, Inc., a nonprofit that provides training and cultural, nutritional and economic education to the African American community. She also provides programming at the Camp Curtin YMCA community garden and serves on state and city environmental advisory boards.

“I’m excited,” Muhammad said. “It’s an honor to be recognized.”

Spells, nominated by Bowers, is the principal at Camp Curtin Academy. He has worked in the Harrisburg School District for 25 years and has been the principal at four other district schools. He has also coached little league football in the city and served as Basileus of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Kappa Omega Chapter.

“I think you do so much, and you want to see youth in the community be successful, but you don’t always stop and think about all the hours you have put in,” Spells said. “Just to be recognized for your work in the community is really heartwarming.”

Watkins, nominated by council member Westburn Majors, worked as a long-time employee for the Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus. Most recently, she served as an administrative assistant for PA Legal Services, ARC of PA and Harrisburg Uptown Neighbors Together (HUNT), among other positions.

“I just do what I do and don’t think about it,” Watkins said. “This feels wonderful.”

 

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Continue Reading

Council considers proposed Harrisburg public safety budget, which would increase police recruitment efforts

Harrisburg City Council held a budget hearing on Tuesday.

With little remaining time to approve a new 2022 budget, Harrisburg City Council met on Tuesday to question the proposed spending plan, specifically the category of public safety.

During the first of three budget hearings, the city administration explained amendments to their proposed spending plan, including additional funding to the police bureau.

Business Administrator Dan Hartman introduced the proposed plan last week, boasting a balanced $69.9 million general fund budget, $10 million less than 2021’s budget. At Tuesday’s meeting, he bumped that number up to $71.2 million.

That change primarily accounts for the decision to fund several new, or previously vacant and unfunded, positions within the police and fire bureaus.

The new proposal includes six new funded firefighter trainee positions and one new deputy chief of training. In the police bureau, there would be eight additional budgeted police trainee positions, which Hartman said they had originally pulled funding from because they didn’t believe they would be filled. The amended proposed budget also added a fleet manager role and extra funds for officer training.

While the police bureau has struggled with recruitment and retention, Commissioner Thomas Carter, who was present at the meeting, explained a plan to bolster those efforts.

The bureau, for instance, plans a significant boost to its advertising budget, which the city believes will help the bureau fill those extra budgeted positions.

“I think we’ve stepped up our recruiting game significantly,” said Deputy Chief of Police Dennis Sorensen.

However, council members had questions about how much the advertising would help.

“Throwing money at the situation clearly isn’t going to get more people involved, and advertising isn’t going to get more people involved in law enforcement,” council member Westburn Majors said. “What does this advertising look like? Are we talking to individuals about the process of becoming a police officer?”

The budget also includes several new positions that would possibly be funded using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars.

Currently, Harrisburg has six community service aides (CSAs) in the police bureau who work with officers to assist with quality-of-life issues and interact with residents. The budget plan proposes funding six more CSA positions.

Council President Danielle Bowers pushed for information on the success of the CSA program.

“Has the program been evaluated?” she asked. “We need something in writing stating that this program is, in fact, successful. Something needs to be evaluated, for me, before hiring six new people.”

Hartman explained that they are not making any concrete decisions on funding the positions or allotting ARPA dollars, but rather, presenting a “buffet table” of options to council. In the end, council will be the one to vote on how ARPA money is spent.

Overall, the proposed police budget is $19.5 million. The budget last year was $21.5 million, though, due to open positions and other issues, all that money was not spent. The fire bureau’s budget would sit at $10.3 million, not a significant change from last year.

The next two budget hearings will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 9, and Thursday, Feb. 10, each at 5:30 p.m. On Thursday at 5:15 p.m., council will hold a special legislative session to vote on amending the proposed budget.

Support quality local journalism. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Continue Reading

Brotherly Bonding: Chosen Friends Masonic Lodge provides sense of belonging for Harrisburg men, while caring for the community

Members of Chosen Friends Masonic Lodge No. 43

Clarence Stokes wants to clear up what he sees as a common misconception about freemasonry—it’s not a secret society!

Over the centuries, since its origin, the fraternal organization often has been perceived as mysterious. That’s given outsiders plenty of room to concoct conspiracy theories around the rituals and intentions of the group, some of which you may have heard.

While Stokes acknowledged that, in the past, masons mostly kept to themselves, things are different now, he said.

I can report that I didn’t have to repeat a chant or participate in any rituals in exchange for an interview with some local masons. We just jumped on a Zoom call.

Stokes and Jason Brown were eager to tell me about the masonic organization that they are members of—Chosen Friends Lodge No. 43. It’s a fraternal organization, they said, that has been the opposite of secretive, but present and active in the Harrisburg community.

“The history of this lodge is really the history of Harrisburg,” Brown said. “Our history is not separate from the community; it’s part of it.”

 

Leaving a Legacy

The lodge’s legacy is deeply tied to Black history in the nation and city. It’s part of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, a branch of freemasonry created by Prince Hall, a man who was one of many African Americans historically excluded from white lodges.

The first Prince Hall Lodge, then called the African Lodge in Boston, received certification as a masonic lodge in 1784. However, when several white lodges in the state joined to form a “Grand Lodge,” it was excluded, according to the book “History of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.” The Prince Hall Lodge formed its own “Grand Body” and opened lodges in Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and New York.

Chosen Friends got its start in Harrisburg in 1882. Over the years, it became a place for Black men to gather and form a network. From its early days up to today, politicians, lawyers, business owners, pastors, truck drivers, educators and other professionals have joined the ranks.

“It gave men of color some sense of importance amongst themselves,” Brown said. “It was a place of belonging.”

According to Brown, abolitionist and U.S. Colored Troops soldier Jacob Compton was the first Worshipful Master of Chosen Friends. John P. Scott was also a member and grand master of the statewide Prince Hall Lodge. Scott was the Harrisburg School District’s first Black administrator as a principal, and Scott Elementary School was later named for him.

Other historical figures from the lodge can be found memorialized as part of the Commonwealth Monument, recently installed on the state Capitol grounds. The bronze monument recognizes Black history in Harrisburg and includes a statue of Compton and other activists. Inscribed on it is a list of former residents from the Old Eighth Ward, a majority Black and immigrant neighborhood that was demolished to expand the state Capitol grounds. Several former lodge members are included in the list.

In the present day, the members still represent professions from across the board.

Harrisburg City Council member Westburn Majors has been a member of Chosen Friends Lodge for around seven years. He joined after witnessing his uncle’s experience as a mason and seeing how much the lodge meant to him.

“Guys that I looked up to were part of the lodge,” Majors said. “It was something I was always interested in.”

What Majors found when he joined was a place for fellowship and connection. Majors lost his father in 2008, but, through Chosen Friends, he gained a group of mentors that he could go to for advice and counsel. With them, he often discusses work, faith and family, he said.

“These connections to these guys are invaluable,” Majors said. “There’s a lot that can be learned by sitting and learning from previous generations.”

 

Friends Forever

It’s not uncommon for Brown’s kids to see their dad talking to a stranger. They’ll ask who it was and Brown always responds the same way— “he’s my brother.” “But you just met him!” they’ll say.

There could be racial, cultural, religious or political differences, but a mason is a mason, and masons are brothers.

“It’s pretty unique,” he said. “You have a friend wherever you go.”

Not only is Chosen Friends a brotherhood, but the lodge has been instrumental in serving the community.

From 1891 to 1982, the lodge ceremoniously laid 16 cornerstones in the construction of buildings in Harrisburg, a traditional practice in masonry that symbolizes stability and strength. All of these buildings were local churches, with the exception of the Camp Curtin YMCA in Uptown Harrisburg.

Community service is what drew Stokes to become a mason. His mentor, a member of Chosen Friends, was always out in the community helping others.

“I love service and giving back to people that are less fortunate,” Stokes said.

The lodge has participated in holiday giving, adopt-a-highway and adopt-a-school programs. They’ve partnered with organizations like the American Literacy Corporation and the Boys and Girls Club. They’ve also hosted their own events like a daddy-daughter dance and a Thanksgiving meal distribution.

When Chosen Friends members meet in-person, it’s at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Harrisburg. During the pandemic, events and monthly meetings were scaled back and mostly moved to virtual platforms. But for members like Majors, even the online connection was enough to combat isolation.

At the same time, freemasonry is dealing with another big problem—it’s losing its members. According to an NPR article, in recent years, masonic membership nationally has declined by around 75% from a high of over 4.1 million members in 1959. The decline is part of a national trend away from membership in places like Elks lodges, civic clubs and even the Boy Scouts, among other social, civic and fraternal organizations.

According to Brown, in the 1970s and ‘80s, there were close to 200 members of Chosen Friends. However, in the past several years, the lodge drew around 50 members.

Recruiting younger men has been a challenge, Stokes explained. Members’ ages range from the 30s to 90s, but most fall more in the middle to upper end of the scale.

Stokes, though, was positive about membership at the lodge. He wasn’t worried about its future.

“It has been a challenge with the younger generation,” he said. “But we have withstood the times.”

Brown credits Chosen Friends’ longevity with its ability to leverage connections in the community. This was true for Stokes, Brown and Majors, who all found Chosen Friends through the mentors and role models in their lives. If Harrisburg masons can continue to do that for the next generations, they believe the lodge has a bright future.

“We are an important part of the community,” Stokes said. “We are not just a secret society of men dressed in black suits. We take good men, and we make them better.”

For more information on Chosen Friends Lodge No. 43, visit their Facebook page or email chosenfriends43@gmail.com.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Continue Reading

Harrisburg City Council approves new comprehensive plan, ending years-long drafting process

An outdated Harrisburg planning document has finally been updated and replaced following a seven-year-long process.

On Tuesday, Harrisburg City Council approved a new comprehensive plan, capping years of effort to bring the plan into the 21st century.

The resolution passed 6-1, with council member Danielle Bowers voting against it.

“I appreciate all the work of everyone on this council, and I’m glad we are at least able to get something on the books so that we can start moving forward,” council member Westburn Majors said.

The previous comprehensive plan was created in 1974, serving more than double its intended lifespan of 20 years.

In 2014, Harrisburg began to discuss creating a new plan, but was faced with years of delay. A dispute between the city and a former consultant hired to draft the plan prolonged the process, as did extensions to the public comment period.

The 246-page document is meant to help guide growth and development in the city. It includes topics such as land use, housing, mobility, parks, energy and cultural resources.

Over the years, the city held numerous public hearings and meetings on the comprehensive plan, generating comments from community members.

Bowers explained her vote against the plan, saying that it was not accessible enough and lacked sufficient up-to-date public commentary.

“I don’t understand how a document is supposed to accurately reflect a city today when a majority of the public engagement is already dated and occurred five or six years ago,” she said. “I do not believe this document works for the city of Harrisburg.”

Other council members agreed that the plan could use improvements, but stated that it is a “living document” and could be updated on a regular basis in the years to come.

“This isn’t the best, but it is way better than a 40-plus-year-old document,” Majors said.

View Harrisburg’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan, here.

Support quality local journalism. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Continue Reading

Harrisburg mayor proposes using federal funds on new pools; council members ask to be included in planning

Mayor Eric Papenfuse held a press conference at the Hall Manor pool on Thursday.

As Harrisburg finds itself swimming in federal COVID relief money, the mayor has some plans for how to use it.

At a press conference on Thursday at the Hall Manor Pool, Mayor Eric Papenfuse announced his proposal to use a portion of the city’s allocated American Rescue Plan money to rebuild Harrisburg’s two public pools.

“Those pools have served the city well for five decades, but they are now officially beyond their useful life,” Papenfuse said. “The American Rescue plan funds […] are designed to help people who need help the most. This is the perfect use for those funds.”

Papenfuse said that he intends to use $13 million of the city’s rescue plan funds to renovate both the Hall Manor and Jackson Lick pools, which are both over 50 years old.

In total, Harrisburg is set to receive $48.8 million in American Rescue Plan funds. The city has received half of the total funds already and expects to receive the rest next year.

Papenfuse said that rebuilding the pools will provide a form of safe recreation for children and families in Harrisburg.

The city is currently soliciting feedback from residents on what they would like to see incorporated into the designs of the pools, however, Papenfuse already has some ideas.

Proposed plans for the Hall Manor pool

Proposed plans for the Jackson Lick pool

Harrisburg has worked with engineering firm Brandstetter Carroll Inc. to draw up plans for the pools that include water slides, splash pads, lazy rivers, picnic pavilions and lap pools, among other features. Pool houses will be reconstructed, as well.

“The constant feedback from the community has been just how important the pools are to our civic life,” Papenfuse said. “The community would like to see these pools reinvigorated for the next generation.”

He added that, for the past eight years, the city has conducted various studies on the pools. While there has been demand for the pools, the city has never had the funds to reconstruct them, but rather, patched and repaired wherever they could over the years, Papenfuse said.

Both pools have been closed for the majority of the past two years due to COVID. The Jackson Lick pool only opening briefly this past August, after facing a shortage of lifeguards. Parks and Recreation Manager Kevin Sanders said that he thinks finding staff will continue to be an issue even after the reconstruction.

Papenfuse said that the construction would take about three years to complete and that they would stagger work on the pools so that one is always open.

Admission to the pools would be free during construction and for at least a year after, Papenfuse said.

The new pools, Papenfuse said, would last for years to come.

Under the rescue plan fund guidelines, there are rules for how the money can be used. Papenfuse said that this project complies.

“The pools are going to benefit some of the folks who were affected by COVID the most,” he said. “It’s about racial equity; it’s about social justice.”

Harrisburg’s City Council would need to approve the plan, which Papenfuse said he will propose as part of the 2022 budget. He said that he has spoken with members of council about his plan.

“I think they will be very supportive,” he said.

City Council member Westburn Majors said that he had a brief conversation with Papenfuse last week, but that overall, communication with the administration has been lacking.

“It’s extremely frustrating that the first time we formally hear about the plans, it’s at a press conference,” Majors said when reached by phone. “Since the rescue plan money got passed, I have repeatedly asked for the administration to have a conversation with council.”

Majors said that, historically, council has been supportive of renovating and keeping the pools, even when the administration has pushed replacing the pools with splash pads.

“I don’t think anyone is opposed to looking at pools as an option,” he said. “But I want to have a larger conversation. Everyone should have a stake in how this is spent.”

Several other council members have voiced concern about the lack of communication, as well. Most recently, council member Danielle Bowers publicly shared her sentiments towards Papenfuse at a legislative session on Tuesday.

“We are ready and waiting to meet with you to discuss a spending plan for the American Rescue Plan funding that makes sense for the longevity of the city,” she said. “My colleagues have politely inquired about the mayor’s absence and have received radio silence.”

In addition to the pool proposal, Papenfuse has also discussed using about $12 million more in the federal funding to create a guaranteed income program. Under that initiative, the city would provide monthly payments to possibly thousands of qualifying low-income families for a multi-year period, he said.

In addition to the online survey, residents can comment on the pool proposal at various outreach opportunities throughout the city.

The dates for outreach pop-ups are listed below:

  • Oct. 14, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Broad Street Market
  • Oct. 15, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Broad Street Market
  • Oct. 16, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Broad Street Market and from 1 to 4 p.m. at Capital Rebirth’s Superhero Day on City Island
  • Oct. 23, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Broad Street Market and from 1 to 5 p.m. at Southside Fiesta-Hall Manor Apartments

To complete the pool survey, click here.

Support quality local journalism. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

 

Continue Reading