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Mayor Derek Slaughter says he is prepared to use $450,000 of an $850,000 City Hall renovation account to lower the cost on city taxpayers in his proposed $29 million 2021 budget.
But an executive at the Center for Independent Living, 24 E. Third St., an agency advocating on behalf of the disabled, said she wonders if removal of half of that account might mean further delayed accessibility upgrades to City Hall.
"Access to City Hall is a civil right for Williamsport city residents with disabilities and we would hope that should be a priority for the administration and council," said Misty Dion, the CEO of the Center for Independent Living-Roads to Freedom upon learning about Slaughter's intention.
"Our people are the most at-risk and it becomes even more necessary we have safe access and not have it go through the police department," Dion said regarding the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on those advocated for by the Center for Independent Living-Roads to Freedom.
Dion noted how many of the individuals who are disabled have pre-existing conditions that can make them more susceptible to the dangers of this virus and other diseases. The police department access would require the public to enter the building at the rear of City Hall as shown on the draft plans for renovation done by the city codes administrator Joseph Gerardi and Jon Sander, city engineer.
The draft plan indicated a ramp access on the west side of City Hall linked to the existing rear entrance ramp, not the original and more costly ramp that matched the stone and slate, envisioned in the prior administration entering the building via West Fourth Street side and sidewalk in front of City Hall.
Council finance committee is expected to take up the issue at its meeting at 1 p.m. today, according to Council President Randall J. Allison.
The needs to rehabilitate City Hall far exceed the amount in the account, officials said.
At least $3 million dollars in heating and ventilation and air conditioning updates are required; $800,000 potentially on roof repair/replacement; $250,000 on disability accessibility upgrades to bathrooms and other areas of City Hall; $220,000 for elevator improvements (not yet needed); $150,000 for a ramp access; and $50,000 for a masonry. The projected costs and project lists were recently presented to the council ad hoc City Hall Building committee.
But with taxpayers struggling and impact of COVID-19 on business privilege and mercantile tax revenue certain to strike next year, Allison said reviewing the use of half of the large account is the direction the committee would like to take.
"Our plan is to have it go through finance committee for review," Allison said. "It would bring the proposed tax millage increase to about 0.5 mill."
Slaughter also made the following statement: "As we continue to get the finances in order we have discovered $850,000 in the City Hall account of which we can pull out $450,000.
"This would equate to a little over a half a mill of additional savings," he said. "The administration and council are working hard to find every dollar we can."
"As stated before, the administration is working closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to create better systems that will save money.
"Moving forward this process is fluid and the administration will continue to look for savings.'
The account was obtained through a prior administration use of part of a bond the city took out and some general fund. It was never voted on for use prior to the election of Slaughter as mayor in 2019.
Slaughter said there would be $400,000 left in it.
Councilwoman Liz Miele, council vice president and chairwoman of the finance committee, said the 0.5 mill increase proposed would be acceptable to her. While she declined to speak for others on council, she encouraged the administration and council to look further at its meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
A half-mill tax increase would equate to $50 more on a tax bill on a property assessed at $100,000.
Slaughter originally presented council with a budget calling for 2.5 mills of tax increase prior to Thanksgiving and council with the assistance of the administration whittled the tax increased proposed to about 1 mill proposed.
He said the city administration continues to review the needs of City Hall and that includes accessibility for all of the disabled community.
City officials declined to go on the record with any response to the Center for Independent Living due to ongoing litigation prohibiting them from making public statements.
Slaughter, too, said he was not able to comment on negotiations regarding the proposed budget with the state Department of Transportation. When he was permitted, he said he would provide those details.
Currently due to the surge in COVID-19, the city continues to hold its meetings remotely using Zoom technology, which are accessible by going to the city website following the prompts and then watching the meetings on YouTube, which can be rewatched whenever.
The city website also recently began to put its council transcript on the website for viewers.