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The Williamsport Charter Commission plans to deliberate as early as May 2 to make a final recommendation on a form of city government by June 30.
The seven-member elected group met Wednesday to set the timeline for reaching a recommendation so the electorate can vote on it in November.
It's a decision that is down to two choices, keeping the government as is -- a strong mayor-council, or recommending a change with a council-manager.
The commission continues to conduct interviews with past and present government officials, many of whom have a length of time in public service.
The commission also is interviewing elected city employees and department heads under Mayor Gabriel J. Campana, and the mayor.
A survey sent to the public a month ago has been returned, said Steve Shope, a member of the commission who has done much of the work preparing surveys for distribution and compiling the information.
The results of the survey, which will preserve the confidentiality of those who took it, will be made public on the commission's Facebook page and website at charter-commission.com, Shope said.
Summaries of the interviews will be done to show any trends that developed, according to Patrick Marty, commissioner.
City resident Bruce Huffman, who has an interest in history, asked what led to the decision by the city to switch to a strong mayor-council form of government in 1972. After several studies were done, the council decided on this form when the manager was considered too expensive.
That has been an argument by Campana who said the manager will cost more than his salary of $72,000.
But the late Dr. Randall Hipple, former president of council, said city leaders should be encouraged to review their government operations and hold periodic evaluations of it, according to Marty.
A separate Government Study Commission on Home Rule is holding a public hearing, and invited mayors of Easton and Sharon to speak.
The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. April 16 and is at City Hall.
Several members of the charter commission said they plan to attend.
Individuals at the public hearing may have questions prepared on index cards for the mayors to comment on.