Harrisburg Hope forum at Midtown Scholar held Wednesday evening.

Pa Senator Mike Folmer on his plans to introduce legislation for the following:

Document #1 Description: Appointment of a Special Prosecutor to thoroughly investigate the financial transactions of the Harrisburg Authority, the City of Harrisburg, and Dauphin County to determine if criminal proceedings are warranted.

Document #2 Description: Amendments to the Municipal Authorities Act and the Local Government Unit Debt Act to ban the use of qualified interest rate management agreements – so called municipal “swaps.” To me, such transactions represent gambling with taxpayer moneys. For example, Harrisburg entered into eight swaps over a short period of time. Quoting the January 2012 forensic audit:

“Taken individually, many of the swaps do not make sense as a means of managing interest costs and/or protecting against rising interest rates. Collectively, the number of swap transactions alone raises questions regarding their relationship to a plan to manage interest rate risk or costs. Further, some of the swaps were inconsistent with each other and with principles of interest rate management. One swap reversed another that had just been entered into a short time earlier. In several instances, it appears the professional advisors were encouraging the Authority to take actions primarily aimed at raising short-term funds irrespective of whether the transaction was prudent or risk was being increased." [emphasis added].

Document #3 Description: Amendments to the Local Government Unit Debt Act to strengthen Department of Community & Economic Development oversight, require only legitimate “self-liquidating” projects be approved for municipal borrowings, and prevent certain risky practices.

Document #4 Description: Amendments to the Local Government Unit Debt Act to add criminal penalties for filing false certifications that municipal debt is “self-liquidating”.

Document #5 Description: Amendments to the Sewer Rental Act to require justifications for sewer rates and charges and imposing criminal penalties for violations. (The Harrisburg Authority may have both overcharged neighboring municipalities and failed to upgrade the system, which are issues currently in litigation). Apply these same requirements to water systems and water rates.

Medical marijuana: video:5712:

Photo/Dani Lucas

PA Department of Community & Economic Development Committee meeting on December 12, 2012.

Reddig gives a report on the status of new positions in the City, union negotiations, asset monetizations, cash flow, and payroll.

As released by the Pennsylvania Department of Education on December 12, 2012:

Secretary of Education Declares York City School District in Moderate Financial Recovery, Appoints Chief Recovery Officer

Harrisburg – Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis today declared York City School District, York County, in Moderate Financial Recovery and appointed David G. Meckley as the district’s chief recovery officer.

Meckley, 61, of Spring Garden Township, York County, graduated from Mercersburg Academy in Franklin County. He earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Cornell University.

Meckley is president and owner of Strategic Advantage Inc., which he founded in 2001.

He is a former president and chief executive officer of Flinchbaugh Engineering Inc., and currently serves as the chairman of the board of directors.

Meckley was part owner of York Technical Institute from 1978 to 1990.

Active in the York community, Meckley serves as director of Better York and the Children’s Home of York, and is a member of the York County Agricultural Society.

Meckley also served as president of the Spring Garden Township Board of Commissioners and a school board member in the York Suburban School District.

Additionally, he served the local community as director and chairman of YorkCounts, York Cultural Alliance, York County Community Foundation and York County Training Partnership; trustee of Lancaster Theological Seminary; president of the Rotary Club of York; treasurer of the York Chamber of Commerce and the Historical Society of York; director of York Suburban Dollars for Scholars, Goodwill Industries of Central Pennsylvania, York Chapter of the American Red Cross, York County Industrial Development Corporation, York Symphony Association, Council of Churches, Jewish Community Center of York and Junior Achievement of York.

Meckley was the recipient of the Cornerstone Award from Lutheran Social Services and the Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Award.

"David has a stellar career in executive leadership and financial management, as well as an unwavering commitment to serving his community," Tomalis said. "York City School District stands to benefit from David's experience on restoring fiscal stability to the district. I am confident that working with the school board and superintendent, he will develop a long-term financial plan to ensure that students receive a quality education."

As released by Rock the Capital:

Rep. Ronald Buxton (D-Dauphin) was elected to the House of Representatives in 1992 and retired in 2012. Mr. Buxton served as the Democratic Party’s Caucus Administrator.

• Years in office: 20. • Supported the 2001 pension increase. • Salary in 2012: $85,738.07. • Annual Pension Pay out: $66,603.24. • Lump Sum Payment Amount: $0.

Sen. Jeffery E. Piccola (R-Dauphin) was elected to the House of Representatives in 1976. He held his seat until he was elected to the Senate in 1994. Mr. Piccola was made Majority Caucus Administrator of the State Senate in 1999 and elected Majority Whip in 2001.

• Years in office: 36. • Voted for the 2001 pension increase. • Salary in 2012: $75,190.61. • Annual Pension Pay out: $83,845.80. • Lump Sum Payment Amount: $211,855.42 (full)

Photo/Natalie Cake