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Council advances confirmation of Samuel F. Sokowski as Harrisburg business administrator
Summary
The administration committee moved Resolution 9 to the legislative agenda to confirm Samuel F. Sokowski as the city's business administrator; Sokowski outlined priorities including procurement review, ARPA tracking and police-pension procurement.
The Harrisburg City Council administration committee advanced a resolution to confirm Samuel F. Sokowski as the citybusiness administrator, moving the matter to the legislative session for a formal vote.
Samuel F. Sokowski introduced himself and described a municipal career spanning borough and city management roles as well as county government and state service. He told the committee he holds a bachelor's degree in finance and accounting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a graduate certificate as a certified public manager from Millersville University. "I have over 20 years experience," Sokowski said, summarizing municipal, county and state roles along with nearly two decades as a financial adviser.
Sokowski told council he lives in Harrisburg and outlined several near-term priorities if confirmed: a comprehensive review of the city's procurement policy, tracking of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds across departments, the potential rebidding of the police pension contract, and continued work on an accounting-system implementation that resumed after staffing vacancies caused delays. He also named broader city projects he intends to monitor, including the Broad Street Market and affordable-housing efforts.
On internal controls, Sokowski said he had previously filed a state ethics complaint in another municipality after being asked to break the sunshine law, and emphasized his view that public managers must maintain integrity. "I have a very high level of confidence and integrity. I'm willing to walk away from a job and to do something I don't agree with," he told the committee.
Council members asked about Sokowski's varied prior tenures and how he would preserve institutional knowledge; Sokowski said confidentiality and documentation were priorities and described delegating and directing staff where appropriate. Vice President Green noted she values leaders who live within city limits; Sokowski said he does live in Harrisburg.
President Bowers moved Resolution 9 to the councillegislative session agenda for a formal vote. The work session did not include a final confirmation vote; that will occur in the next legislative meeting.
The administration committee advanced the resolution for a formal vote at the next legislative session; no final vote was taken at the work session.
