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City of Harrisburg, PA
Dauphin County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Harrisburg by Ord. No. 10-1971. Amendments noted where applicable.]
CROSS-REFERENCES
Annual reports of departments: see Optional Charter Law § 412 (53 P.S. § 41412).
Board of Health: see Ch. 6-101.
Board of Plumbing: see Ch. 8-105.
Building and Housing Code Board of Appeals: see Ch. 8-505.
Investigation of departments by Council: see Optional Charter Law § 409 (53 P.S. § 41409).
License and Tax Appeal Board: see Ch. 5-101.
Number of departments: see Optional Charter Law § 415(b) [53 P.S. § 41415(b)].
Organization; term: see Optional Charter Law § 415(c) [53 P.S. § 41415(c)].
Planning Commission: see Ch. 7-101.
Removal of department directors: see Optional Charter Law § 415(d) [53 P.S. § 41415(d)].
Requests for appropriations: see Optional Charter Law § 417 (53 P.S. § 41417).
Violations in office: see Optional Charter Law § 601 et seq. (53 P.S. § 41601 et seq.).
Zoning Hearing Board: see Ch. 7-305.
[Ord. No. 9-1996]
The administrative functions, powers and duties of the City are hereby assigned to and allocated among the following departments and bureaus:
A. 
General government:
(1) 
Office of City Council.
(2) 
Office of the Mayor.
(3) 
Office of the City Controller.
(4) 
Office of the City Treasurer.
(5) 
Office of the City Solicitor.
(6) 
Office of the City Engineer.
[Added 7-13-1999 by Ord. No. 27-1999]
(7) 
Harrisburg Human Relations Commission.
(8) 
Mayor's Office of Equal Economic Opportunity.
[Amended 6-8-2010 by Ord. No. 5-2010]
B. 
Department of Administration:
(1) 
Office of the Business Administrator.
(2) 
Office of Insurance and Risk Management.
(3) 
Bureau of Financial Management.
(4) 
Bureau of Data Processing.
(5) 
Bureau of Human Resources.
(6) 
Bureau of Operations and Revenue.
C. 
Department of Building and Housing Development:
(1) 
Office of the Director.
(2) 
Bureau of Planning.
(3) 
Bureau of Codes Enforcement.
(4) 
Bureau of Housing.
D. 
Department of Public Safety:
(1) 
Bureau of Police:
(a) 
Office of the Police Chief.
(b) 
Police Administration.
(c) 
Police Uniformed Patrol.
(d) 
Technical Services.
(e) 
Criminal Investigation.
(f) 
Parking Enforcement.
(2) 
Bureau of Fire.
E. 
Department of Public Works:
(1) 
Office of the Director.
(2) 
Bureau of City Services.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection (e)(3), Bureau of Engineering, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 7-13-1999 by Ord. No. 27-1999. See now Subsection A(6) of this section.
(3) 
Bureau of Vehicle Management.
(4) 
Bureau of Building Maintenance.
(5) 
Hydroelectric Project.
F. 
Department of Parks, Recreation and Enrichment:
[Amended 6-8-2010 by Ord. No. 6-2010]
(1) 
Office of the Director.
(2) 
Bureau of Recreation.
(3) 
Bureau of Parks Maintenance.
G. 
Department of Incineration and Steam Generation.
[Ord. No. 9-1996]
For administrative purposes the following boards, commissions and authorities are hereby assigned to the departments indicated:
A. 
Office of the Mayor:
(1) 
Harrisburg Parking Authority.
(2) 
Youth Commission.
B. 
Department of Administration:
(1) 
Civil service boards and commissions.
(2) 
License and Tax Appeal Board.
(3) 
Harrisburg Leasing Authority.
C. 
Department of Building and Housing Development:
(1) 
Housing Authority.
(2) 
Redevelopment Authority.
(3) 
Zoning Hearing Board.
(4) 
Planning Commission.
(5) 
Plumbing Board.
(6) 
Electrical Code Advisory and Licensing Board.
(7) 
Building and Housing Code Board of Appeals.
(8) 
Historical Architectural Review Board.
(9) 
Property Reinvestment Board.
D. 
Department of Public Works:
(1) 
The Harrisburg Authority.
[Amended 1-23-2007 by Ord. No. 28-2006]
Where the appointment of members to boards, commissions and authorities is vested in the governing body or the legislative branch by statute or ordinance, such members shall be appointed by City Council, subject, however, to all provisions of applicable state, federal or local laws, ordinances or regulations. Where the appointment of members to boards, commissions and authorities is vested in the Mayor or executive branch by statute or ordinance, such members shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject, however, to all provisions of applicable state, federal or local laws, ordinances or regulations. Where the appointment of members to boards, commissions and authorities is not specifically enumerated by state, federal, or local laws, ordinances or regulations, such members shall be appointed by City Council, subject, however, to all provisions of applicable state, federal or local laws, ordinances or regulations.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 2-301.4, Appointee removal and vacancy, was repealed 1-23-2007 by Ord. No. 28-2006.
A. 
Department head appointments shall be based solely upon executive and administrative qualifications appropriate to the duties of each department. All appointments submitted by the Mayor to Council for approval must be acted upon by Council, if the Mayor so requests, at its next stated meeting occurring at least seven days after such appointment. If Council fails to act upon such appointment at its next stated meeting, the appointment shall be deemed to be approved.
B. 
In addition to the duties prescribed in general law, each director of a department shall, under direction of the Mayor:
(1) 
Prescribe and modify as required with the Mayor's approval the internal organization of the department and the functions, powers and duties of subordinate officers and employees within the department;
(2) 
Direct the performance of all duties and responsibilities required of the department or its subordinate agencies by state law, this Administrative Code, and other City ordinances and such other lawful duties as may be required by the Mayor;
(3) 
Delegate to division and bureau chiefs such powers as may be deemed necessary for efficient administration;
(4) 
Report at least annually to the Mayor and Council in the form approved by them on the work of the department for the prescribed year;
(5) 
Keep informed of advances in the particular field and institute in the department those practices deemed in the best interest of the City; and
(6) 
Establish and supervise such in-service training programs as deemed desirable or necessary for the improvement of services and personnel in cooperation with and under the direction of the Department of Administration.
C. 
The Mayor may appoint an acting department head for a time period not to exceed 120 days unless the appointment of such acting department head has been subject to the advice and consent of Council. No individual may serve as an acting department head for more than 120 days during a Mayor's term of office.
[Ord. No. 29-1982]
A. 
No rule or regulation made by any department, office, agency or authority of the City, except such as relates to the organization or internal management of the City, shall take effect until it has been approved by the Mayor. Council shall receive all such rules and regulations which shall be filed with the City Clerk.
B. 
All such rules and regulations shall be published by posting in the office of the City Clerk for 20 days and in whatever other manner Council deems desirable.
C. 
The City Clerk shall keep a current record of all rules and regulations filed.
Whenever, in any statute of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or resolution or ordinance of the City, there is a reference to the Department of Accounts and Finance or to the Director of the Department of Accounts and Finance, the reference shall be construed to mean the Department of Administration or the Business Administrator. Any references to Council or any other board, body or office shall be construed to mean such body, officer or office to which the respective functions, powers or duties are assigned by this Administrative Code.
[Ord. No. 28-1991]
No fees levied by any department of the City may be increased or established without the approval of Council by ordinance or, if appropriate, resolution.
[Ord. No. 36-1979]
A. 
No City personal property shall be disposed of, by sale or otherwise, except upon approval of Council by ordinance or resolution.
B. 
In cases where Council approves a sale of City personal property, it shall estimate the value of the entire lot to be disposed of.
(1) 
If Council estimates such value to be less than $500, it shall require a notice of the proposed sale to be posted for at least 10 days on the bulletin board in the City Government Center. Such notice shall describe and itemize the property to be sold and direct that bids may be made thereon at the Bureau of Purchasing. Thereafter, the Bureau of Purchasing may sell such property, in whole or in part, for the best price or prices obtainable.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1-303).
(2) 
If Council estimates the value to be $500 or more, the entire lot shall be advertised for sale once in accordance with the provisions of Section 109 of the Third Class City Code,[2] and sale of the property advertised shall be made to the most responsible bidder.
[2]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 35109.
(3) 
The bids shall not be opened until at least 10 days after the advertisement.
(4) 
The City may sell any such property at auction, but the notice provisions contained in this section shall be likewise observed as to the holding of such auction sale.
(5) 
The provisions of this section shall not be mandatory where City personal property is to be traded in or exchanged for new City personal property.
C. 
Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection B, in the case of City surplus vehicles, the City shall place an annual ad designating Mason-Dixon Auto Auction or another selected agent as the auction service for the City's surplus vehicles. Then throughout the year the Director of the Bureau of Vehicle Management will submit short lists of surplus vehicles to Council. Council in turn may pass resolutions authorizing those vehicles to be taken to auction.
[Added 9-24-1996 by Ord. No. 15-1996]
[Ord. No. 33-1986]
A. 
No City real property shall be disposed of by sale or otherwise except upon approval of Council by ordinance or resolution.
B. 
If the Director of the Department of Building and Housing Development (DBHD) and the City Controller certify that the real property has a value of less than $4,000, the sale of said property may be accomplished by any of several means:
(1) 
At the direction of the Mayor or upon written request of a prospective purchaser, the Director of the DBHD shall initiate the sale of City-owned real property and shall establish a minimum price for the real property, which price shall include the administrative and legal costs attendant with the transfer of title of the parcel and any other cost of conditions of sale necessary to protect the City's interest.
(2) 
The Director of DBHD shall advertise the property for sale in a daily newspaper on two separate occasions, which advertisement shall set forth the minimum price, any conditions of sale and the deadline for the submission of sealed bids to be delivered to an identified City official and location of the same. When a condition of sale is that the property may only be used as an accessory residential use, then the minimum price shall equal the administrative and legal costs attendant with the transfer of the property.
(3) 
No City real property shall be disposed of by sale or otherwise without posting the property as being for sale and without notifying adjoining property owners of the potential sale. Notification to adjoining property owners shall be by certified mail and shall set forth the minimum price and conditions of the sale.
[Ord. No. 19-1987]
(4) 
The Director of DBHD shall review the bids received and make a recommendation to the Mayor and City Council as to a proposed purchaser. City Council shall act upon the recommendation by resolution within 45 days of its submission by the Director; however, failure to act within such time period shall not cause the recommendation to be deemed approved.
C. 
If the property has a reasonable market value of more than $4,000:
(1) 
A marketing plan for the individual property shall be formulated by the Director of DBHD, whose plan shall include a recommended minimum sales price based upon administrative and legal costs, an independent appraisal, other conditions of sale which might be appropriate, the manner of marketing, i.e., the use of advertisements, signs, real estate brokers, etc., and the proposed time frame for the marketing plan.
(2) 
Prior to the initiation of the marketing process, the marketing plan shall be approved by resolution of City Council within 20 days of its submission, or the same shall be deemed approved.
(3) 
Upon approval of the marketing plan, the Director of DBHD shall implement said plan. At the conclusion of the marketing process, the DBHD Director shall make a recommendation to the Mayor and City Council on the disposition of the property.
(4) 
Council shall approve or disapprove the recommendation by resolution within 45 days of its submission by the Director; however, failure to act within such time shall not cause the recommendation to be deemed approved.
D. 
If the Director of the DBHD purchases residential real estate from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with the intent of resale, the Director may initiate resale of the HUD acquired property through use of a licensed real estate agent, who will market and sell the real estate for residential purposes only, without the need for instituting a marketing plan and obtaining the approval of City Council.
[Ord. No. 36-1992]
E. 
The Mayor may recommend to City Council from time to time the transfer of real property to The Harrisburg Authority, the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority, the Parking Authority, the Broad Street Market Authority, the Harrisburg Housing Authority, or other governmental agency, educational institution, or nonprofit corporation, without instituting a marketing plan. Said transfer shall be approved by resolution of City Council.
[Ord. No. 45-1986]
The sale of electricity for nonresidential use shall be subject to approval of Council by ordinance or resolution. Such sale shall not be subject to the same valuation requirements as other personal property. Contracts for the sale of electricity produced by the City may be effected through private negotiation.
[Ord. No. 35-1993]
A. 
No employee of the City of Harrisburg may provide expert testimony in any civil matter in which the City is not a party if the matter giving rise to the litigation occurred within the City and the employee's knowledge of the facts giving rise to the litigation resulted from his or her job-related duties.
B. 
A City employee may provide expert testimony in civil matters arising outside the City limits so long as said employee performed no job-related duties with regard thereto and so long as said employee does so during non-work hours or during appropriate leave authorized by his or her supervisor in advance.
[Ord. No. 8-1982]
All vehicles owned by the City of Harrisburg shall be permanently marked in an easily visible location with the words "CITY OF HARRISBURG — FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY." Exceptions to this rule shall be marked vehicles of the Police and Fire Bureaus and certain vehicles to be utilized by the police as unmarked vehicles for concealment purposes. The Director of the Department of Public Works shall ensure that this identification of City-owned vehicles shall be accomplished within 30 days of the effective date of this section.
[Ord. No. 27-1980]
Any and all applications for grants submitted by the Mayor or any department to any federal, state, municipal or nonprofit governmental or corporate agency must be approved by resolution of Council prior to submission to such agency.
[Ord. No. 11-1986]
The official name of the City Government Center located in the Third Ward of the City shall be the Rev. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr., City Government Center.