The Thompson Administration’s Update on N4th Street Sinkhole Repair

As released by the Office of the Mayor, City of Harrisburg:

North Fourth Street Sinkhole Incident Update (more…)

Opportunity: The Harrisburg Authority Hiring An Engineer

As posted by the Harrisburg Authority:

The Harrisburg Authority is seeking a Highly Motivated Engineer to be a part of Harrisburg’s Recovery

The Harrisburg Authority (THA), located in downtown Harrisburg, PA, is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Engineer. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, project management, construction administration and oversight, asset management and capital improvement planning, acting as primary contact for contractors, consultants, developers and technical inquiries. This position reports to the Executive Director of THA. Visit www.hbgauthority.com for more information about THA.

Applicant shall possess a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering with environmental emphasis, P.E. licensure, and 15-plus years of project experience with water, wastewater and stormwater planning, design, construction and operations. The applicant shall have the ability to communicate effectively; the ability to effectively manage and work with staff, consultants, Board members, regulators, and government officials; strong organizational skills; and effective leadership skills. Experience in municipal authority and/or municipal government is preferred but not mandatory. (more…)

Crime Stats for the City of Harrisburg January 14th Through January 20th

• 22 criminal mischief/vandalism
• 24 thefts
• 7 robberies
  • 1/14–Kline Village, 7:04 PM
  • 1/17–15th & Berryhill Sts, 8:00 PM
  • 1/19–1st blk Balm St, 11:15 PM
  • 1/19–400 S Cameron St, 8:00 AM
  • 1/19–Agate & Columbia Sts, 7:39 PM
  • 1/20 500 Woodbine St, 12:13 AM
  • 1/20 3rd & Forester Sts, 12:30 AM
• 11 burglaries
• 15 assaults
• 1 shootings
• 1 arsons

Notes: Reports of shots fired. Car driven onto a porch. Driver fled.

compiled by Jan Konkle

UPDATED: Bob Philbin, The Harrisburg Mayor’s Communications Director Is Departing

Updated with link to interview with Bob Philbin below. photo by Natalie Cake via Roxbury News

As released by the Office of the Mayor, City of Harrisburg:

City Communication Director Departing Position

(Harrisburg) – City Mayor Linda D. Thompson announced today that Senior Advisor and Director of Communications Robert Philbin will be departing city government on February 1, 2013. “Bob has done an outstanding job in my administration and I will continue to call upon him to assist the city as necessary in the future.” Mayor Thompson said today.

Philbin said that he will pursue career options while providing pro bono services to the mayor’s office at the mayor’s discretion.

Philbin consulted with the mayor in March of 2011 before joining her staff full-time in June 2011. The Director of Communications position was eliminated from the city budget in January 1, 2012 and he continued to serve as a volunteer until the position was re-instated in the city budget on January 1, 2013.

As originally posted on Roxbury News:

Below is an interview with the City of Harrisburg’s Communications Director, Bob Philbin, who just announced he’ll be departing the City’s employment on February 1st.

When questioned about his resignation, he declared he has a couple of options, but that he’ll be “working as the Mayor needs me. I’ll be consulting pro bono.”

Philbin went onto indicate that he will be working on Linda Thompson’s Mayoral re-election campaign. “I’m certainly not going anywhere,” he said.

by Tara Leo Auchey

photo by Natalie Cake

Opportunity: Call for Entries, Artwork of Kids 14yrs old & younger

As posted by the Midtown Scholar:

Yellow Wall Gallery – Call for Entries: “The Creative Sprouts Art Show”

CALL FOR ENTRIES: “The Creative Sprouts Art Show”

The Yellow Wall Gallery at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore will be accepting entries for “The Creative Sprouts Art Show”. This show is to feature artwork from children ages 14 and under. The theme of the show is “Spring”.

The exhibition will be on display from March 12 – April 14, 2013. A reception will be held on Friday March 15, 2013 starting at 6pm.

HOW TO ENTER 

• Drop off a CD with 3 to 5 images by Friday February 22, 2013
• Local submissions can be delivered Monday-Friday 9am-6pm to the attention of:

Sarah Ludwig, Midtown Scholar Bookstore
1302 N 3rd Street, Harrisburg, PA

• All other entries must be mailed to (postmarked by February 22, 2013)

Midtown Scholar Bookstore
Attn: Lisa Bennett, Yellow Wall Gallery
3401 N 6th Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110

PLEASE INCLUDE WITH YOUR SUBMISSION: 

• Artist’s and Parent/Guardian’s Name, Phone number, Email address
• Titles, Medium and approximate dimensions of artwork

REQUIREMENTS FOR ARTWORK: 

• Must be able to hang on the wall. No floor or shelf sculptures accepted.

NOTIFICATIONS: 

• Accepted artists will be notified by Tuesday February 26, 2013

Questions??
Email Lisa Bennett (Curator, yellowwallgallery@gmail.com) or visit the gallery’s website: sites.google.com/site/yellowwallgallery/

***NOTE***

In sending your submission, you are in agreement with the terms of the gallery. While great care will be given to your submission, the gallery takes no responsibility for any lost, stolen or damaged artwork. The gallery reserves the right to have the final authority regarding acceptance of all work into this exhibition and its placement within the exhibition space of the Yellow Wall Gallery. No works will be for sale at this exhibition, but the gallery will display any contact information (email, website, phone, etc) with your submission so that potential buyers may contact you directly.

Drawing credit: George Vander Sluis (more info: Library of Congress)

Harrisburg City Council Legislative Session Agenda for January 22nd

H A R R I S B U R G   C I T Y   C O U N C I L
LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Tuesday, January 22, 6pm – 7pm

A G E N D A

CALL TO ORDER 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
INVOCATION/MOMENT OF SILENCE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

COMMUNICATIONS
COURTESY OF THE FLOOR
APPROVAL OF MINUTES

• Approval of the Legislative Session Minutes of January 8, 2013.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

• Report by Chair Koplinski on the Budget & Finance Committee meeting of January 14, 2013.

• Report by Chair Reid on the Public Works Committee meeting of January 14, 2013.

• Report by Chair Wilson on the Community & Economic Development Committee meeting of January 16, 2013.

ORDINANCES FOR FIRST READING

ORDINANCES FOR AMENDMENT

• Bill 21-2012 - An ordinance amending Section 5-717.99 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Harrisburg titled “Enforcement and Penalties” by increasing the administrative penalty and setting forth a standard interest rate for delinquent payments of the Business Privilege and Mercantile taxes owed to the City of Harrisburg.

ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE

• (AS AMENDED) Bill 21-2012 - An ordinance amending Section 5-717.99 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Harrisburg titled “Enforcement and Penalties” by increasing the administrative penalty and setting forth a standard interest rate for delinquent payments of the Business Privilege and Mercantile taxes owed to the City of Harrisburg.

RESOLUTIONS

• Resolution 42-2012 - A Resolution to approve the marketing plan for the sale of the property commonly known as 28-40 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 (the “Property”) for the maximum proceeds to a person or entity with a viable business plan that includes implementation of a redevelopment strategy for the Property by utilizing the services of a Pennsylvania licensed real estate agent who is in good standing with the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission.

• Resolution 43-2012 - A Resolution to approve the marketing plan for the sale or lease of the property commonly known as 157 Paxton Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101 (the “Property”) for the maximum proceeds by utilizing the services of a Pennsylvania licensed real estate agent in good standing with the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission.

• Resolution 1–2013 - A Resolution confirming the re-appointment of Mr. Westburn Majors to serve on the Harrisburg Authority.

• Resolution 4-2013 -A Resolution approving the Sixth Proposed 2012 Budget Reallocation.

• Resolution 5-2013 – A Resolution appointing Rafiyqa Muhammad to serve on the City of Harrisburg Environmental Advisory Council.

• Resolution 6-2013 – A Resolution appointing William Cluck, Esq. to serve on the City of Harrisburg Environmental Advisory Council.

OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS

ADJOURNMENT

The First Official Harrisburg City Council Candidate

There are four Harrisburg City Council seats open for election in 2013. The open seats are President Wanda Williams, Vice President Eugenia Smith, Kelly Summerford, and newly appointed Bruce Weber. Weber has already publicly announced he will not seek election to continue on Council.

Of the three incumbent Councilors, not one has yet made an official announcement of running, however, it is generally assumed Williams, Smith, and Summerford will all campaign for another term. Summerford and Smith were both first elected in 2010, and Williams has been on City Council since 2004.

Today, the first official announcement was made—Ben Allatt will run for City Council, a decision he made public during the Capital Region Stonewall Democrats fundraiser “Raise Your Glass” at The LGBT Center of Central PA on Sunday, January 20th. He has not previously held an elected position in the City of Harrisburg.

See Ben Allatt for City Council website here.

To see the Dauphin County Bureau of Elections timetable up to the Primary Election on May 21st, see Roxbury News ”2013 Election: Important Dates.” For those seeking office, petitions can be circulated between February 19th and March 12th.

For general information about running for office, see here.

Crime Stats for the City of Harrisburg January 7th Through January 13th

• 19 criminal mischief/vandalism
• 26 thefts
• 11 robberies ***Some of the robbery victims were assaulted***
  • 1/7–12th and Reily Rd, 8:35 PM
  • 1/8–1900 Rudy Rd, 9:30 PM
  • 1/8–1100 Herr St, 9:36 PM
  • 1/9–19th and Swatara Sts, 3:40 PM
  • 1/9–200 S 15th St, 6:54 PM
  • 1/10–1400 Berryhill St, 12:27 AM
  • 1/11–1st blk N 15th St, 8:10 PM
  • 1/12–1500 Vernon St, 3:00 AM
  • 1/12–400 S 15th St, 3:28 AM
  • 1/12–300 N 2nd St, 10:49 PM
  • 1/13–Green and Hamilton Sts, 3:48 AM
• 6 burglaries
• 14 assaults
• 3 shootings
• 1 prostitution

Notes: reports of shots fired

compiled by Jan Konkle

City of Harrisburg Launches a New Police Chaplain Program

On January 11th, sixteen volunteer chaplains took an oath to serve citizens of the City of Harrisburg. The newly launched program aims to provide on the scene assistance and support to crime victims, police officers, and families.

City of Harrisburg Hired Seven Police Officers

With the hiring of seven new police officers made possible by a grant, the City of Harrisburg now has about 142 officers on the force. That’s still a bit away from the 180-190 ideal number the Bureau of Police would like to have. The total number includes not only uniformed officers, but also personnel.