Eric Beiter

The agenda for the meeting included an invocation, flag salute, and roll call. Key discussion items involved a presentation from SEDA-COG regarding work on the Levee Kramer. Significant action items focused on appointments to the Williamsport Water & Sanitary Authorities and the Williamsport Parking Authority. Other matters included first readings for Ordinance Transfer #1 and an ordinance authorizing the release of certain mortgages related to HOME & CDBG Program funded rehabilitation projects. Several resolutions were planned, covering contracts for professional consulting services with SEDA-Council of Governments, MOUs/Agreements with River Valley Transit Authority, Williamsport Area Little League (WALL), and Barry Isett, as well as approvals for a Letter of Understanding with PA Dept. of Community & Economic Develop. Further resolutions addressed agreements involving the Williamsport Bureau of Fire, awarding construction inspection services for Levee Pump Stations Electrical Upgrades, appointing a design engineer for primary levee projects, adopting a Sewage Plan for the Bloomingrove Road Project, and authorizing the purchase of specialized mowers. Additional items included the approval of a Substantial Amendment to the Fiscal Year Annual Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant Program and awarding an agreement for engineering services for improvements at Sojourner Truth Ministries, and securing ADA consulting services. The agenda also included filing existing committee minutes and reports, and concluding with announcements regarding future meetings.

The meeting, identified as the second work session for the 2026 budget, covered agenda items focusing on budget proposals. Key discussions involved the 2026 budget for the Department of Community and Economic Development, which highlighted streamlining processes like LERTA, working on bike lanes, developing a downtown strategic plan, receiving a bird town designation, rewriting home program policies, and relaunching the city's emergency rehab program. The department outlined a strategic plan involving GIS software usage for data assessment across various city services (codes, fire, police) to guide strategic investments. The proposed budget for this department showed a 7.47% increase, largely attributed to salary lines, and included subscriptions for Adobe and GIS software. The Public Works budget discussion addressed a 0.96% increase for the office of directors, citing higher operating costs for City Hall and a 2% increase for Atills. Furthermore, street resurfacing and brick street expenditures were reduced to zero, offset by additional funds received from the CDBG department for paving. Council members also discussed park improvements, specifically the need for uniform standards for lighting, restrooms, and signage across all parks, and the status of bike lane connectors between Brandon and Shaw, and through the UPMC campus to Loyal Sock.

The meeting commenced with an invocation and flag salute. A key item involved the approval of the City Council meeting minutes from November 17th, 2025. Council representatives and a State Representative recognized Chief Samst for his service upon his upcoming retirement from the Williamsport Bureau of Fire, detailing his career progression and education. The Council also addressed resolutions pertaining to CDBG and HOME Investment Partnership Programs, approving substantial amendments for fiscal years 2019 through 2024, involving repayments and reallocations of funds related to various city projects including funding for a rescue boat and emergency rehab programs. Furthermore, an agreement with CEDACOG for professional and administrative services related to the $8 million federally earmarked Levy Reconstruction Projects was authorized, focusing on grant management and compliance to avoid fund repayment. A Certificate of Appropriateness request for property renovations at 124 East 4th Street was reviewed, discussing the ongoing multi-phase renovation project. Finally, a resolution was passed authorizing the transfer of three city-owned properties (Trade and Transit 1, Trade and Transit 2, and the Church Street parking deck) to the River Valley Transit Authority (RVTA), contingent upon continued use for transit purposes.

The primary focus of the meeting was the reorganization proceedings, which included an invocation and roll call establishing a quorum. Key actions involved the swearing in of a newly elected council member and subsequent nominations and voting for new leadership positions. Council President Eric Ber was nominated based on his sound judgment and institutional knowledge, and the nomination passed unanimously. Councilman Vincent Pizzy was subsequently nominated and elected as the new Vice President, following his work leading union negotiations and renegotiating payment in lieu of tax (PILOT) agreements with local nonprofits. The newly elected president concluded the meeting by thanking his colleagues and expressing a commitment to leading the council toward prosperity and sustainability.

The City Council meeting addressed several items, including the approval of minutes from the January 8th, 2026 meeting. A key discussion centered on the Community Development Block Grant Emergency Rehab Program, where the council was asked to reject all received quotes for owner-occupied housing rehabilitation due to insufficient or non-compliant bids, lacking detailed construction specifications. The resolution proposed allowing the city to take necessary action to secure reasonable quotes, potentially by retaining inspector services. Furthermore, the council considered a substantial amendment to the HOME ARP Allocation Plan. This amendment proposed reallocating funds originally designated for non-congregate shelter development and affordable rental housing, as initial proposals were unfeasible under HUD regulations, to additional supportive services for STEPPP, including housing counseling, mental health, rental, and transportation assistance.