Residents and advocates press Harrisburg council to publicly recognize mayor pro tem appointment

Several residents used the public-comment period to press council for a clear, public recognition of Dr. Aaron Banks’s appointment as mayor pro tem and to ask why the title is not visible on nameplates and in the chamber. Johanna Bako thanked the council for actions she expected to be concluded, then said the process has not been closed and asked the council to “close that loop and recognize your colleague for the recognition she deserves.”

Jamon Bryant Herren, identifying himself as a community organizer and representative of the Black Political Caucus of Cabaris County, said Dr. Banks was “unanimously appointed” by the council but that the community has not seen consistent public recognition. “Her title now appears on the website and she has a name badge, but does not appear on the dais like everyone else's title,” Herren said. He asked whether the mayor or the town manager is responsible for seating and nameplates, called for transparency and said the community deserves a clear explanation.

Town staff responded during the manager update that staff does not make decisions about who presides over meetings or changes nameplates; those are elected-official responsibilities. The manager said the town attorney had provided an opinion earlier in the year and that staff will not comment further on an elected-official matter.

Several council members later raised the issue during council comments, calling the ongoing absence of a visible designation a distraction and urging a resolution so the council could move on to other business.

No formal motion or vote on this recognition was recorded at the meeting; council members said they would continue to press for a resolution at future meetings.