Williamsport, Pa. — The city council said yes to Chick-fil-A on Thursday while other new plans were unveiled for the WaWa convenience store on Maynard Street.
At the same meeting, officials welcomed the promotions of two employees to lead two key city departments.
The city approved a land subdivision request by Famvest for the property that will soon be Chick-fil-A next to ongoing construction at the future WaWa site across from Pennsylvania College of Technology on Maynard Street. The goal is for Chick-fil-A to be open by or before December, according to a company official. A spokesperson previously said restaurant openings will create 80 to 120 jobs.
The vacant property located at the corner of First and Maynard streets will be divided into two lots: one a 2.19 acre lot and the other a 2.04 acre lot. Company plans call for the construction of a 5,197-square-foot restaurant with a 79 seating capacity, and 112 off-street parking spaces. It was reviewed and given a “positive recommendation” by Lycoming County’s Planning Department, according to Gary Knarr, the city’s zoning administrator. Access will be provided via three entrance and exit points on Maynard Street at First Street and Wirerope Drive near Sheetz.
Meanwhile, WaWa is still finalizing its building permits and other related permits are in the process of getting issued, Knarr explained. The restaurant will be situated within walking distance to more than 4,000 Penn College students. The 2.67-acre parcel for Maynard Commons at the 100 block of Maynard Street also will be home to a new Wawa convenience store and gas station at 164 Maynard Street.
On Thursday, city council members also approved a liquor license transfer to the new store from Wolf Township. Williamsport’s WaWa is expected to have a refrigerated “beer cave.” But there are limits on how much a customer can purchase, according to a company representative. While the store will be open 24/7, alcohol sales will be limited Monday-Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. with wine sales ending at 11 p.m. On Sundays, alcohol sales will be limited from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., with wine sales ending at 11 p.m.
The company has a “perfect record” with liquor license operations, Ellen Freeman, WaWa's Pittsburgh-based attorney, told council members Thursday during a brief public hearing over the liquor license transfer. WaWa holds 31 Pennsylvania liquor licenses and 29 stores currently sell beer-to-go, she said. WaWa policy is for store associates to ask a customer for ID, regardless of age, for every alcohol sale. There will be “extensive training,” Freeman explained, for employees who will be at least 18, including the state-mandated responsible alcohol training. Freeman showed council members a WaWa floor plan which has seating for 30, where only one small ounce adult beverage will be permitted to be consumed. Freeman said the layout was designed in such a way that WaWa employees will be able to easily see and monitor the seating area to “ensure that one beer policy is maintained.”
New city heads
Officials welcomed the promotion of Valerie Fessler as director of the Department of Community and Economic Development and Jamie Livermore as director of the Finance and Administration. Livermore, a former fiscal and budget officer, has been acting in the role since her hiring nearly 6 months ago, Mayor Derek Slaughter said during Tuesday’s Finance Committee meeting. Thursday’s council vote makes Livermore’s appointment by Slaughter official.
“We know how complicated and convoluted city government can be,” Councilman Randy Allison said Tuesday, expressing his confidence in the choice.
The city will soon look to hire a budget and fiscal officer, according to officials. Livermore said the city’s new financial management software has been “very helpful” and a “wonderful advancement” so far.
“I think Jamie will make a great person to head the finance department,” Councilwoman Liz Miele, council’s finance committee chair, said Tuesday. However, while Livermore’s title includes director of administration, the mayor says her role is limited to strictly finance. There’s talk to update the city’s administrative code “very soon” to reflect the two job designations. Miele likewise expressed her desire for the two jobs to be independent.
Fessler, the city’s grants administrator, was promoted to director of community and economic development. She has done “a tremendous job” in 6 months in her current role. “It’s been unbelievable the amount of money she’s been able to bring in,” Slaughter said about Fessler’s job with the city managing grants, while outlining her background. “She will be a tremendous asset in this role,” he said during Tuesday’s finance committee meeting.
Fessler says she will approach the job as a “gap-filler, connection-maker and problem-solver” for the city and local businesses where economic development plays a role in Williamsport. Miele believes Fessler will make “a big impact” on the department, she said.
In other business
The city council approved an agreement between the Bureau of Police and Williamsport Crosscutters for extra officers to be present at the stadium for home games.
The city will be reimbursed for a $66 hourly rate for possibly two city police officers to cover home games for the 2024 season, of which there are more than 30. The overage cost is an extra duty beyond regular police duties and will not affect normal police operations, Chief of Police Justin Snyder explained during Wednesday’s public safety committee meeting. “It doesn't take anything away from the regular patrol force, just for clarity,” the chief said. All the city is doing is providing “a car and body” at Crosscutter games, Councilwoman Bonnie Katz clarified. “Anything that happens in the city, that takes precedence over what happens at a Crosscutters game,” Snyder said.
M. Fief Gallagher of Woodland Avenue was appointed to replace Marshall Welch for a five year term on the River Valley Transit Authority Board for a term starting July 11 and ending Dec. 31, 2027.
The next city council meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8 on the third floor of Trade & Transit II, 144 West Third St.
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