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Sunbury council approves multiple items; police staffing, CDBG allocation and street projects draw most attention
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Summary
At its Aug. 19 meeting, the Sunbury City Council approved a slate of routine and substantive items including appointments, resolutions and funding allocations. Public commenters urged the council not to reduce police staffing; councilors approved a CDBG funding split after debate and moved ahead on multiple street projects and personnel items.
Sunbury City Council voted on a range of routine and substantive items at its Aug. 19 meeting and heard multiple public comments pressing the council on police staffing and city transparency.
Several residents urged the council to preserve or increase police staffing ahead of consideration of Ordinance 35-1, which the agenda describes as reducing the number of police officers. At public comment, Frankie Weiser said, “As a citizen of the community, this is very disturbing to me. I think our police force actually should be more around 20 officers.” Victoria Rosenkranz, another speaker, urged regular updates to the public on operations and criticized the timing of an administrator’s public post, saying it left citizens insufficient time to review the agenda item about the ordinance.
Council members also heard a departmental report from the police chief, who summarized activity through August: “They've made 1,000 traffic stops. They've made 246 traffic citations and 308 warnings,” and reported “5,829 phone calls for service” along with patrol mileage and arrest counts presented to the council. After discussion the council approved placing candidates on an eligibility list for police hiring and authorized staffing steps tied to budgeted positions and possible grant funding; a motion to proceed with creating or using an eligibility list was seconded and approved.
The council spent extended time deciding how to spend its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation. Jamie (city staff) recommended placing $132,116 into curb cuts as “phase 1” and proposed $100,000 toward the fire department. Council debate shifted several times as members proposed alternatives to prioritize fire-department air packs and funding for Stroh Alley improvements. The council settled on a bundle of allocations that were motioned and approved: funds for curb cuts at the wetlands ($25,000), $25,000 for Stroh Alley improvements, an administrative allocation to cover program costs, and the remaining CDBG funds to the fire department for air packs and related needs. The motion to adopt the recommended distribution carried after roll-call consent.
Infrastructure and contract actions moved forward. The council approved applying for or allocating USDA funding for Susquehanna Avenue ($3,200,000 stated in the meeting), authorized a notice to proceed on work on Packer Street, and approved a Packard Street contract with a locally named contractor. Council also approved a part‑time DPW replacement at $15 per hour. Members discussed upcoming closures and milling/paving work and urged residents to observe posted no-parking signs during alley and street work.
On administrative and personnel matters the council: - Passed first reading of an amendment to the Shade Tree ordinance as Bill 2025‑0 (first reading approved). - Approved a contract for NAIC training for code officers (motion approved). - Approved a motion to list a police UTV for sale or municipal use with a reserve of $16 (motion approved). - Approved a request by Masonic District 46 to plant a Liberty Tree at the north end of Memorial Drive and allow the ceremony (motion approved). - Approved a motion to repeal the city-administrator provision in city code on first reading (Bill 2025‑015 first reading approved); councilors discussed replacing the position with separate public-relations and grant-writing roles and said job descriptions would be prepared. - Approved a financial-management plan change naming a new signee in finance and passed two language-access coordinator resolutions (Res. 2025‑017 and Res. 2025‑018). - Named Jeff and Robin as the city’s right‑to‑know officers (motion approved).
Council members also discussed a forthcoming IT transition as the city moves from InfraDAT to InnoTech systems. Councilors and staff raised concerns about aging equipment (police laptops and in-car devices), uncertain ownership of some hardware and software, and potential costs the city will face when InnoTech provides final estimates. Council asked staff to obtain firm replacement and buyout estimates before committing funding; staff said InnoTech expected to provide more detailed cost estimates in the coming weeks.
The council reviewed correspondence from the municipal authority concerning new grease‑trap regulations for some businesses. Council members asked staff and the municipal-authority solicitor to confer with the authority and report back next meeting to clarify whether the authority expects city code enforcement to issue penalties and how compliance hearings or enforcement would proceed.
The meeting concluded with announcements of upcoming community events, including the Art and Curiosity Fest (Sept. 13) and the SRI Sunset Festival (Sept. 20), and a notice that the next council meeting will be Sept. 8 with a preceding budget meeting at 5 p.m.
Votes at a glance (selected motions and outcomes): - Shade Tree ordinance amendment — first reading approved (motion carried on roll call). - NAIC training contract for code officers — approved (motion carried). - Police UTV municipal sale/trade with $16 reserve — approved (motion carried). - Liberty Tree planting at Memorial Drive (Masonic District 46) — approved (motion carried). - Eligibility list / new police hires (budgeted positions; grant contingent) — approved (motion carried). - CDBG project selection and allocation (curb cuts, Stroh Alley, admin fees, remainder to fire department for air packs) — approved (motion carried). - Financial management plan signatory change — approved (motion carried). - Language-access coordinator resolutions (Res. 2025‑017 and 2025‑018) — approved (motions carried). - Repeal of city-administrator code section (Bill 2025‑015) — passed first reading (motion carried). - DPW part‑time hire (replacement, $15/hr) — approved (motion carried). - USDA allocation/application for Susquehanna Avenue ($3,200,000 indicated) — approved (motion carried). - Notice to proceed on Packer Street and Packard Street contract award — approved (motions carried).
Council minutes and staff reports will contain the official text of ordinances, resolutions, and vote tallies.
Ending: Council members asked staff to return with more detailed cost estimates and documentation on IT transition costs, municipal authority enforcement expectations, and final figures for street projects before contract payments or budget amendments are finalized.
