Lancaster City Council Removes Recruit Pay Scale to Boost Public Safety Hiring; Re-elects Harris as Mayor Pro Tem

During its January 13, 2026 Work Session, the Lancaster City Council voted unanimously to amend the fiscal year operating budget, removing the pay scale for police and fire recruits to enhance recruitment competitiveness. The Council also addressed annual organizational matters, re-electing Council Member Jackie Harris as Mayor Pro Tem and reappointing key city officers and judges.

Detailed Agenda Summary

Call to Order and Opening Ceremonies Mayor Alston DeVenny called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Council Member Harris led the Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.

Citizens Comments

Steve Willis: The Interim County Administrator introduced himself to the City Council, offering collaboration between the city and county during the transition period.
Mark Khan: Mr. Khan commended the city for the success of the Christmas parade and the ice-skating rink.
Curtis Watson: A resident and business owner on Rickenbacker Street expressed his support for the Council and the positive changes in the Midway area.

Approval of Minutes The Council unanimously approved the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on December 9, 2025.

Organizational Business and Appointments

Mayor Pro Tempore: Council Member Jackie Harris was unanimously re-elected as Mayor Pro Tempore for a new term.
Standing Committees: The appointment of standing committees was tabled until the January 27th meeting to allow for further review of assignments.
City Officers: Council unanimously reappointed Mitch Norrell as City Attorney and Sarah Morris as City Solicitor for two-year terms.
Judicial Appointments:
- Municipal Judge: Elizabeth Hyatt was reappointed as the Municipal Judge.
- Associate Judges: Council reappointed full-time associate judges Cammie Heath, Ronda Parker, and Andrea Coleman, along with part-time judges Jeanne Gardner, Erika Stinson, and Denise Washington.
Board Appointments: The Council tabled appointments for 17 expiring seats across various boards, including the Planning Commission and Fire Prevention Board, to allow time to identify candidates. Staff noted the passing of board member Keith Gray and the need to fill his seat on the Landmarks Commission.

Ordinances

Ordinance 026-01 (Budget Amendment): Council passed the first reading of an ordinance to amend the FY 2025-2026 operating budget.
- Purpose: The amendment removes the “recruit” pay scale for police and fire personnel.
- Justification: Human Resources Director Angela Roberson explained that neighboring jurisdictions, such as Chester County and the Indian Land Fire District, offer higher starting salaries for non-certified personnel. Removing the lower recruit tier allows the City to hire new staff at the more competitive “Patrol Officer” or “Firefighter” starting rates immediately.
- Financial Impact: There is no negative impact on the budget, as the city already budgets positions at the higher certified rate.