Council approves package of routine resolutions: police hires, ARPA vehicle purchases, Habitat MOU, HUD repayment, insurance renewals and other items

Williamsport City Council approved a series of routine resolutions and purchases at its Jan. 16 meeting, including confirmation of two police hires, multiple ARPA-funded public-works vehicle purchases, authorization of a Habitat for Humanity memorandum of understanding, an agreement for administrative services, HUD repayment, and insurance renewals.

Votes at a glance - Hiring: Council confirmed appointment of two police officer candidates — Dalton Lovell (start date Feb. 3, 2025) and Mason Merrill (academy-dependent start date May 19, 2025). Vote: 6-0. - Police vehicles: Council authorized purchase and upfitting of five police vehicles (Dodge Durango units and upfits) for $254,957.10 (funding: ARPA and vehicle funds). Vote: 6-0. - ARPA-funded public works vehicles/equipment: Council approved purchases including two Ford F-350 Super Duty pickups and one F-600 ($263,559.59), a 25-cubic-yard debris/leaf collection truck (transcript amount: $336,995.55), and an Altec aerial/dump truck for forestry work (transcript amount cited as $245,900.798). All items were approved by roll calls recorded as unanimous (6-0). - Habitat for Humanity: Council authorized an MOU to serve as the responsible entity for an environmental review connected to HOME funds; Habitat will contract with CITICOG and pay for the review as a reimbursable eligible expense. Vote: 6-0. - HUD repayment: Council authorized repayment of $99,896.36 to HUD, budgeted at $100,000. Vote: 6-0. - Insurance: Council renewed various city insurance policies for 2025; stated increases tied largely to newer fire apparatus. Vote: 6-0. - Administrative services and filings: Council authorized a professional administrative services agreement with the agency identified in the packet (transcript: "Setacauga"), accepted public-works minutes for filing, and approved other routine agenda housekeeping. Votes: 6-0.

What council discussed Chief Snyder introduced the two police officer candidates and provided brief biographical information. Council members welcomed the new hires; several members praised the candidates and emphasized safety and support for officers. The motion to confirm both candidates passed 6-0.

Assistant Chief Bolt presented the police vehicle purchase, noting vehicles and upfits were procured via a cooperative contract (CoStarz) and that replacing older, high-mileage units will help maintain fleet reliability. Council discussed fleet-management goals and the practice of standardizing makes and models to reduce parts and maintenance complexity.

Public works staff presented multiple ARPA-funded vehicle purchases and equipment replacements intended to replace decade-old apparatus. Council asked about delivery timelines; staff replied some units are expected in weeks and others later in spring or summer. Council also thanked staff for ARPA compliance work to secure those funds.

Miss Fessler explained the Habitat for Humanity item: because the city’s HOME funds require an environmental review, the city must serve as the responsible entity while Habitat pays for and obtains the report through CITICOG. The council approved the MOU with Habitat and the professional services agreement for CITICOG.

Council also approved a professional administrative services agreement (transcript identifies contractor name in packet as "Setacauga"), a repayment of HUD findings budgeted at $99,896.36, and renewal of insurance policies for 2025; insurance increases were tied primarily to higher premiums for newer fire apparatus.

Procedural notes and next steps Most votes were unanimous (6-0) by roll call. Several items were labeled nonvoting presentations (for example, the treasurer’s collection report) but generated resolutions later in the agenda. Council announced its next regular meeting for Jan. 30, 2025, and went into an executive session following the meeting for litigation and contract negotiation matters.