Lancaster Council adopts administrative code, establishes Board of Appeals and abolishes elected treasurer; interim police chief appointed

Lancaster City Council passed a package of administrative reforms and a personnel resolution at its Dec. 16 meeting, approving three ordinances to reorganize city administration and consenting to an interim police chief.

Council approved Ordinance 16-20-25 to create the City of Lancaster Board of Appeals, legislation designed to centralize hearing of appeals of city actions. Councilor Hirsch said he had heard apprehension about the consolidation and asked that staff provide a report in one year on how the change is working; the council president agreed to reexamine the consolidation after a year. The ordinance passed on a roll-call vote with recorded 'Aye' votes from Mister Med, Mister Glees, Miss Craig, Mister Hirsch and President Baquet.

The council also approved Ordinance 17-20-25, which amends multiple chapters of the city code to implement the Home Rule Charter's direction to abolish the elective office of city treasurer and transfer the treasurer's duties to the Department of Administrative Services. Council described the item as a cleanup of city code following the electorate's adoption of the charter.

In a related action, Council adopted Ordinance 18-20-25 establishing the administrative code, setting timeframes for implementing ethics complaint procedures and public registry requirements for appointments to boards and commissions, and providing direction on internal promotion procedures within the bureau of police pending implementation. Councilors and staff were thanked for multiyear work to finalize the code following the charter transition.

Separately, the council consented to Resolution 82-20-25, approving the mayor's appointment of Randall Zook as interim chief of police after Chief Mendez's retirement effective Dec. 19. The mayor and council announced a public meet-and-greet for the three finalists for permanent chief on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers. Councilor Ahmed thanked Captain Zook for stepping into the interim role.

All three ordinances and the resolution passed on recorded roll-call votes during the meeting. Council President noted that the administrative code and related ordinances finalize work begun with the recent Home Rule Charter and directed staff to ensure the changes are implemented as written.