Mayor Thompson says Council Bankruptcy Move Going Nowhere
(Harrisburg) – City Mayor Linda D. Thompson has been advised by Acting Solicitor Jason Hess that Council’s actions in approving an engagement letter with an Attorney and in passing a resolution authorizing any Attorney to file for bankruptcy on the City’s behalf were of “no force and effect” because the passage of those resolutions, without having been approved by the Office of the Solicitor prior to introduction, is a violation of City Ordinance 1-201.1(d). Furthermore, the Mayor is advised that such action is “unauthorized” without having the Solicitor’s office first review and approve an engagement letter with outside counsel. Mr. Hess has advised City Council of these opinions by memorandum and during last night’s meetings, however City Council decided to pass the resolutions over Mr. Hess’s objection. Meanwhile, Mayor Thompson said today that she will not approve the hiring of an attorney to pursue bankruptcy at this time, nor will she take any action to file for bankruptcy. “This action clearly violates city law and is indicative of the careless disregard for procedure and process that has come to represent the actions of Council members Brown-Wilson, Williams, Koplinksi and Smith,” Mayor Thompson said. The Mayor said the action is also “hugely unpopular with registered voters in the City of Harrisburg.” A survey conducted this week by ABC27 News of about 1,000 registered voters found overwhelming rejection of bankruptcy as an option for city financial recovery. “The survey found only 15% of registered voters in Harrisburg think bankruptcy is a good idea,” Mayor Thompson said. “And I agree with them.” “I will proceed with the implementation of my recovery plan, and I welcome any constructive ideas members of City Council might bring to the current recovery plan before the Senate and the Governor take action on SB 1151 next week.”
