A yes vote by the electorate on May 19 in the Primary Election allows a seven-person Williamsport Home Rule Commission to study home rule — a no vote doesn’t.

The vote does not initiate Home Rule. That must be done through the creation of a charter involving numerous public sessions and citizen input.

That’s it in a nutshell for voters heading to the polls, according to the main point candidates on the proposed Home Rule Study Commission discussed recently in a meet-and-greet with residents at the River Valley YMCA, where about 50 or so people showed up to listen and to ask any questions.

Home Rule won’t be initiated by the vote, said Jonas Crass, Local Government Policy Specialist with the Governor’s Center for Local Government, who joined five other commission candidates in the informal and informational session.

The commission candidates are: David Smith, a retired attorney; Caroline Payne, Lycoming College political science professor; city Councilwoman Liz Miele; Valerie Fessler, city director of community and economic development; Dante Miele-Elion, a local attorney; Andrew Dincher, certified arborist; and Brianna Stetts, National Guard medical officer. Their in-depth bios are available on numerous sites, including a Facebook page.

But the big takeaway from the meeting is that Home Rule cannot be studied or implemented without a majority vote from Williamsport residents.

Again, the May 19 vote in the primary is not to institute this form of local government, explained Dincher and others on the board.

It is to elect commissioners to explore the possibility of Home Rule with the help of a state-funded consultant.

Such a consultant could cost $100,000, but the state Department of Community and Economic Development pays 90 % of the cost, Crass said.

After a period of nine months, the commission will synthesize its findings into a constitution tailored to the city, which citizens would vote on in the May 2027 election.

If the people of Williamsport were to vote against the proposed constitution, no changes will be instituted to the government structure.

“If approved we will be writing a charter but we will be operating within state law,” Dincher said, adding the city is “not reinventing the wheel,” as several cities have such charters, including Altoona, Hazleton, Reading, and Lancaster.

“We will have local autonomy when it comes to the tax code in Williamsport,” he said.

Moreover, Home Rule can allow changes to council and mayor positions, restructuring how best that might work in Williamsport. There might be no changes, but there can be a variety of scenarios.

These may include hiring a manager and making the mayor more of a figurehead and not a strong mayor form of government.

“You can have a mayor on council, mayor presiding as president of council and other scenarios,” according to Crass.

It will depend on what the commission comes up with and their deliberations are public.

Dincher also noted how Home Rule could change how city government services operate within various departments.

“We’re giving more power to average voters through referendum,” he said of the potential if there is a yes vote majority in the primary election and a charter would be created. “More votes more often on day to day happenings.”

“This was a City Council idea, but it took residents to get it to this point,” said Council President Eric Beiter. “Please don’t be scared of what this commission is being brought forward for,” he told those gathered. He added it “is just simply to look at it and I think it is a great practice for Williamsport to do,” he said.

“Obviously, Beiter continued, “we want it to work, and if the citizens decide not that may be the case again.” Eight years ago voters rejected steps to draft a Home Rule charter.

“But we have to at least look at it,” Beiter noted.

The concept also was recommended by Public Financial Management, the financial management consulting team that looked at strengthening the city’s financial outlook over the next five years, as part of the state Department of Community and Economic Development Strategic Management Plan II phase for the city.

Importance of this vote

Additionally, if Williamsport does not elect the Home Rule Study Commission (aka Government Study Commission) this May, the issue of home rule cannot be posed for another five years.

If this occurs, the city will not be guaranteed state funding, which currently covers 90% of the current process to explore home rule.

Within 10 days of the certification of election, the elected commission members must take oath.

Within 15 days of the certification of election, the elected commission must organize and hold its first public meeting.

Within nine months of election certification, the elected commission must determine no change or proceed with home rule.

No change, then the final report is drafted and the elected commission role is complete. If home rule is recommended, the elected commission will have 18 months from election certification to draft a charter for referendum.

What is Home Rule?