ABC27 WHTM Receiver updates Harrisburg residents on recovery efforts

Receiver updates Harrisburg residents on recovery efforts

The man appointed by the state to come up with a recovery plan for Harrisburg met with residents Wednesday night to update them on what he's been doing.

David Unkovic briefed a crowd of close to 50 people and answered their questions at the Arsenal Building on Herr Street.

Among the issues Unkovic discussed was renegotiating union contracts for city workers. Unkovic said he has been talking with union leaders for the past month and a half, but he was very candid in acknowledging that a recent court ruling has made his job tougher in that regard.

"They're in the driver's seat from a legal standpoint," he said. "The union contracts are what they are and under the Scranton case, the collective bargaining agreements trump Act 47."

Unkovic's plan is now due February 6 after he received a court extension. He said it will be finished by that timeline.

Unkovic said he has had many negotiating sessions with the unions over the past month and a half.

"Those discussions are not going to be completed by February 6," he said. "I think they're going well. We're meeting almost every week with every union with long meetings."

Unkovic said he planned to sell three city assets including the parking garages, the incinerator and the water and sewer facilities. He is hoping to close on any sales around June.