Harrisburg council seeks sole appointment authority for Citizens Law Enforcement Advisory Committee

Harrisburg City Council members discussed Bill 1 of 2025 on Tuesday, a proposed ordinance that would amend Chapter 2-5-15 of the administrative code to give the City Council exclusive appointment authority for the Citizens Law Enforcement Advisory Committee.

Council President Jeannette Bowers read the bill into the record and summarized the proposal, saying the ordinance would change the original committee composition from five council appointees and two mayoral appointees to seven members appointed by the council, each subject to confirmation by a majority vote of council. "The council recognizes there is a significant community interest in strengthening the relationship between the Harrisburg Bureau of Police and the residents they serve and ensuring that the bureau remains accountable to the people of Harrisburg," Bowers said while reading the bill's findings.

The measure was presented as a corrective policy step to allow the committee to be fully seated and begin work; Bowers noted the council had been awaiting two outstanding appointees that previously would have been selected by the mayor. "This amendment offers council the opportunity to make the board complete as well as it allows the board to begin its work," Bowers said.

Council members across the chamber expressed support. Councilman Michael Jones, chair of the Public Safety Committee, said the change is another opportunity for residents to "repair or even build a relationship with the police department." Councilman Luis Rodriguez described personal reasons for supporting a stronger accountability mechanism, recounting an incident in December when he said he was illegally stopped and urging a standing community review panel. Councilwoman Alicia Ross and Vice President Asha Green also voiced support, noting prior work to create the committee and resident interest in establishing ongoing oversight.

Solicitor Grover confirmed the bill would amend the codified ordinance language in Part 5 of Title 2 and read relevant subsections aloud during the session, including a provision asking neighborhood groups for recommendations and a subsection on term expirations and vacancy notifications.

Council President Bowers moved to add Bill 1 of 2025 to the next legislative session agenda for a vote; the transcript does not show the roll-call on that motion.

Why it matters: The Citizens Law Enforcement Advisory Committee was created by Bill 8 of 02/2020 to promote transparency and community oversight of the Harrisburg Bureau of Police. Shifting appointment authority from a split mayor-council arrangement to exclusive council appointment changes which elected officials select advisory members and may affect how the committee is staffed and confirmed.

What’s next: Council moved the ordinance onto the next legislative-session agenda for a vote. The transcript does not record a final vote on the ordinance during the work session.