Williamsport City Council has amended a term limits ordinance rather than override a veto made less than two weeks ago by Mayor Derek Slaughter.

The amendment added in language recommended by Austin White, city solicitor.

The amended ordinance says anyone in elected office, regardless of how many terms they’ve served, will not be barred from seeking re-election — once.

Specifically, this ordinance allows Slaughter, City Councilwoman Bonnie Katz and Controller Margaret “Peg” Woodring to run one more time.

Slaughter, for example, is in his second term and Katz is in her third term.

The previous ordinance that Slaughter vetoed did not permit the mayor to run for more than two consecutive terms and council for more than three as would be for controller and treasurer.

A motion to override Slaughter’s veto of the ordinance died because none on council brought it for a vote.

When council adopted the original ordinance it declined to put in a recommendation by White to include language allowing those in office to run for one more term.

That’s all that was done, said Councilman Eric Beiter.

It does not change the limit of two four-year terms for the mayor and three four-year terms for members of council, controller and treasurer.

Katz and Woodring would not have been able to seek another term if the ordinance that was vetoed became effective if the council had overridden the veto.

Council President Adam Yoder was absent as was Katz for Thursday night’s vote.

In a separate matter, council, without much discussion, voted on a resolution to hire a private firm to investigate City Hall for possible damage inside the historic structure that has been vacated and remains condemned since September 2021.

Councilman Vincent Pulizzi, who proposed hiring the firm, Mid Penn Investigative Solutions Inc., did not describe the type of damage but said he wanted an independent investigation, not one by city police.

The structure is not open to the public and has been the repository for city police records and evidence.

It was closed due to extensive water damage from roof leaks and a pipe that broke and sprayed hot water on several floors that December.