Harrisburg mayor Eric Papenfuse and business administrator Marc Woolley appeared in the mayor’s briefing room on Monday.
Mayor Eric Papenfuse announced on Monday that Harrisburg has hired a new business administrator, concluding a two-year search to fill the grant-funded position.
Marc Woolley, an attorney who has worked as general counsel at the Hershey Trust and the Pennsylvania Housing Authority, began his first day of work with the administration this morning. He will direct the city’s Department of Administration and help the mayor manage the city’s budget and finances.
One of Woolley’s major responsibilities will be helping the city determine its next steps in the Act 47 process, a state program for financially distressed municipalities. His $115,000 salary is funded for three years by an Act 47 grant from the state.
Papenfuse said on Monday that he had been performing most of the duties of business administrator to date. He hopes that filling the position will allow him to focus more on strategic planning and community outreach.
Woolley joins city hall just in time to for budget negotiations, which will ramp up in November. Speaking from the mayor’s briefing room on Monday, Wooley said that he’ll spend the intervening weeks acclimating himself to his new role and getting to know the city’s current budget and financial recovery plan.
Papenfuse praised Woolley’s “reforming spirit” and broad experience in public and private administration.
“Marc Woolley brings significant experience in public housing, compliance and financial management that will be a real plus for our city and its residents,” said Papenfuse. “He is enthusiastic about bringing his considerable intellect and talents to help us continue to move our city into a more prosperous future.”
