HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) -
The letter, obtained Friday by abc27, was sent to all Harrisburg city employees last week by Human Resources Director Deborah Felker, and reads as follows:
This Directive is being sent out on behalf Mayor Linda D. Thompson:
TO: ALL CITY EMPLOYEES
The City of Harrisburg is a Third Class City that has adopted the Optional City Charter Plan A (the "Charter"). The Charter became effective January 1, 1970. As such executive power rests with the Mayor. See 53 P.S. § 41411. The Charter further details the scope of the Mayor's authority by designating the Mayor as the supervisor of "all the departments of the city government." § 41412. As such, the City's Administrative Code, states that "personnel administration for the City … shall be vested in the Mayor and Department of Administration." § 2-307.7.
Accordingly, any request by City Council or other elected City officials to a City employee to perform work in his/her official capacity must be reported to his/her department director or bureau chief. Only when the request has been approved by the Mayor may the request be acted upon and carried out.
Failure to comply with this Directive will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. This Directive excludes City employees who report directly to other elected City officials. Please note: The Law Bureau represents City Council in addition to the Mayor. Thus, the Law Bureau is permitted to take direction from City Council in cases in which City Council is the client so long as such representation does not conflict with the Law Bureau's representation of the Mayor.
Department directors and bureau chiefs, please provide staff without access to City email with a copy of this Directive. Please also post this Directive in an area that is visible to all of your staff.
