Statements by Brian E. Lewis
596 statements from meeting recordings, newest meeting first.
Machine transcript. Statements are matched to this official by machine and can be wrong. Check the recording.
Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Uh, that's fine. I also have, uh, documentation that I'm going to put into the record tonight, also.
Play from 12:46Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
That's why I'm supporting it.
Play from 13:17Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
And the and the properties that we're talking about, there was a car dealership there at at at one point?
Play from 33:11Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Thank you, that's all I have at this time. I yield.
Play from 33:37Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Point of order.
Play from 1:35:41Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
In fact, point of order.
Play from 1:35:47Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
I'll I'll second the motion if that's uh if you if you're making a motion.
Play from 2:15:45Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
And that's because it hasn't been brought to the floor yet.
Play from 2:17:44Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Okay. And that was the concern that Representative Lynn had shared in in in what Dr. Sudler had read to us.
Play from 2:17:50Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
And in your opinion, do you believe that what is currently on the books, does this ordinance, this proposed ordinance conflict with that with that?
Play from 2:18:07Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Thank you. I I yield back this time.
Play from 2:18:46Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Uh, I am amenable.
Play from 2:21:09Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Thank you. We've been going back and forth with this for five months now, and I've heard the opposition
Play from 2:43:43Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
I've heard from those that support it, and I prayed on this. I prayed for guidance, and God put on my heart that we're dealing with people, and and people are people. And I've heard everybody speak tonight that was out there, and you are 100% correct, we need to help our brothers and sisters that are out there. We need to help them. They're suffering. We can't be judgmental. I heard the one lady say that we're so judgmental today. We can't be judgmental. There's only one, okay, that can judge us, and that's God Almighty. We should not be judging one another. The two concerns that I had with this ordinance is that, number one, it will drastically affect those that are already down on their luck or suffering from hardships. So these people are out there because they're suffering and they're down and out on their luck. That's why they're out there doing what they're doing. I understand the safety aspect of it, 100% I understand it. But what are these people to do? What are they to do? The resources are limited. The second reason is that it will persecute those who are attempting to help those in need. So if you and I go out there trying to give a bottle of water, cash, whatever it it'd be, there's a possibility of us getting a ticket. And I don't think that's right, and that really bothers me. Um, so they're the two main concerns that I had with this ordinance, um, that are telling me to vote yes on Mr. Sudler's motion. Okay, but let me leave you with this: the buck stopped with us.
Play from 2:43:50Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
The buck stops with us, okay? We can't be pondering back and forth, it's the AG's fault, it's this person's fault, it's that person's fault, it starts with us. We need to do something. If we can't do it, we need to ask the state and federal government for help. But we're the legislative body of this city. And it needs to start with us. So whatever committees people want to start to address this, count me in. And I vote yes.
Play from 2:45:54Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
you know, because this past winter is is been, you know, a hell of a winter. And I want to thank code enforcement, too, for doing their job. And that's all I have.
Play from 2:50:23Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Thank you for that, good answer. I appreciate that, thank you.
Play from 43:15Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
in place that they maintain their own electric to operate that center so they don't vampire from our residents and our other customers we already have that don't use large amounts of electric utilities that data centers use. Thank you.
Play from 55:42Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Would that be would that be something that would be workable for DEMEC members to join together to do for the benefit of
Play from 57:12Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
A quick thing.
Play from 1:05:32Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
I know. Shh. This is important, though. So, well, my question is not that it's important. PJM, did Pennsylvania actually back out? Is that true or uh That's Pennsylvania, Jersey, Maryland.
Play from 1:05:36Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Oh, out of RGGI, okay. Thank you.
Play from 1:05:49Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Yeah, so I have two questions for you, sir. My first question is, um, and I don't know if this has been asked already, but uh, have you explored, um, nuclear energy?
Play from 1:05:52Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Okay, could you uh send me information on that, please? Okay, uh and and how you explored it. My next question is, um...
Play from 1:06:31Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
...have you looked into what other municipalities and states are doing to be cost-effective with their energy?
Play from 1:07:17Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Yeah, through DEMEC. What was their results?
Play from 1:07:25Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Yeah.
Play from 1:08:12Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
One more question, and you could send me this, um, if it's going to be an an exten- extended answer, is when you buy your equipment for the city, uh, do you explore going overseas for the equipment, or is is that pretty much the uh the way to go uh to be cost-effective?
Play from 1:08:13Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
I do, and this is nothing personal. I know you do your job, and I got the highest respect for you, but I get people that call me and they ask me, like, we've had jobs posted for, like, some over a year now, and they ask me, how come these jobs have not been filled, number one? And then I get other complaints and calls that, I put in for this position and I wasn't even called, you know, and the job's been posted for a year. So could you just elaborate on that, if you don't mind?
Play from 1:35:03Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Thank you.
Play from 1:36:40Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
[laughter] But it's, uh, I have a, uh, well, for one, I, I, regarding that, I have two words: chili cookoff.
Play from 1:38:18Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
When is this year's chili cookoff? We need to have that. That doesn't really have cost because,
Play from 1:38:25Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Yeah, and it brings a lot of, uh, morale and it's a lot of pride in all the different chilis, and, and I know Dr. Pillsbury and I'll be looking forward to being to judging again. [laughter]
Play from 1:38:30Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Those Those are great. And, uh, I just wanted to, uh, I hope we do have that again sometime, uh, you know, in the next couple months. I hope somebody, uh, has it because it's, uh, traditionally, uh, we do it in the winter in the city.
Play from 1:38:43Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Uh, but anyway, uh, the next, uh, question I've had regarding this and is, um, you've had problems before, you and Finance, uh, trying to get things with MissionSquare regarding the, uh, 401(k)s, the 457s, and the proper updates that are not only allowed by by law, but also mandated by city policy. Have Have those particular situations been resolved, uh, now that you you've had some time, you've had some new builds and, etc.?
Play from 1:38:55Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Well, I know I know you do that all the time, but like there were were times when, um, like, for instance, there's been, that people are allowed to make changes and, but they've had trouble making changes that they are allowed to by federal law, that they're allowed to by city policy,
Play from 1:39:50Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
but MissionSquare and the city system interacting didn't allow people to make the changes, to make the, uh, uh, increases, uh, etc. Increases, decreases, etc. that they might want to do. I was, you know, at at certain times, um, you know, in there because there were problems. Uh, my curiosity, I know that you all worked through that so you could, uh, people could could get things done. Um, so I'm not looking backward, but I'm just asking, now that we've moved forward, has there been a a change, or are things working easily, or is everything still a struggle, uh, whenever, uh, there's a, uh, change al- allowed now?
Play from 1:40:01Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Good. Good, that's good. Because I know that you all have been working hard with them to make the system smoother.
Play from 1:41:16Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
And then, and after that, another question, uh, that I'd like to ask, um, offline about, uh, pensions and the like.
Play from 1:41:22Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
All right, I'll try and make my questions brief. Um my first question is, um have you reached out uh to any other municipalities to see, um you know, what initiatives uh they are um implementing to save costs within their IT department?
Play from 1:52:03