DW

Denise Williams

Council Member2026-01-05 to 2030-01-01 (sworn in January 5, 2026 per Audacy WILK News 'Luzerne Co government reorganizes as new officials sworn in'; month-level end: January 2030 per four-year at-large terms stated on Wikipedia Luzerne County Council; charter text not read)

No biography on file yet.

At a glance

News mentions
0

Term ending Jan 1, 2030.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
3
Total speaking time
2:02
Avg per meeting
0:41
Segments
38

Want every word Williams has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Williams said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Top issues during term (20)

high↑Sep 2026[65]

2027 county budget introduction

Sets the county's spending and potentially tax levels for 2027.

high↓Sep 2026[40]

LERTA tax-abatement procedure overhaul

LERTA rules affect how much property tax relief developments get, which shifts tax burden.

high↓Sep 2026[40]

Sale of county-owned rail holdings to RJ Corman

The financial terms of the proposed sale were discussed in executive session and are not public in these materials.

high↑Oct 2026[30]

Data center and energy facility zoning ordinance

The draft ordinance contemplates community benefit packages and financial security requirements from developers, which could shape what future projects contribute to the county.

high→Sep 2026[30]

Surveillance resolution revision

high→May 2026[21]

Ballot Drop Box oversight

New boxes would carry installation, maintenance, and security costs, though no specific figures were given.

high↑Oct 2026[20]

Using rail sale proceeds to offset property tax increase

Could reduce the proposed 1.99% property tax increase by an amount to be determined by council.

medium↓Sep 2026[15]

Lower Demunds Road Phase II grant

Grant amount not stated in the record; if awarded, state funds would offset local road costs.

high↑Aug 2026[15]

2027 Capital Plan and Courthouse Facade Priority

Full budget numbers aren't assembled yet — the engineer warned the 'optimal' maintenance plan may exceed what the county can afford.

high↓Aug 2026[15]

Ballot drop box review — May 2026 primary

New boxes would cost roughly $20,000 each plus software and maintenance; none are in the 2027 budget.

medium↓Sep 2026[15]

Landlord contact information list (Act 29)

Property owners who knowingly file false or stale contact info face a $500 fine; owner-occupants pay nothing.

medium↑Oct 2026[13]

Domestic violence shelter capacity

medium↓Sep 2026[13]

Opioid settlement fund allocations

Dollar amounts were not stated in the meeting; funds come from opioid settlement proceeds.

high↓Aug 2026[13]

Keystone Mission ARPA termination and Code Blue shelter funding

De-obligated ARPA funds must be spent elsewhere; shelter improvement funding is uncertain.

medium↑Aug 2026[12]

Probation raises and court budget reductions

Roughly $80,000 in court budget reductions plus removal of 3% raises for affected probation staff.

high↑Jun 2026[12]

Certification of the May 19, 2026, General Primary Election

medium↑Oct 2026[10]

Handicap accessibility at Penn Place drop box location

Possible curb-cut construction costs are unknown but would fall on the county, not the election bureau.

medium↑Oct 2026[10]

Utility and insurance cost increases

Electricity budgets will likely need a mid-year transfer just to get through 2026; insurance premiums rise every year.

medium↑Oct 2026[10]

Solicitor's office budget and death penalty costs

About $1.1 million more than 2026, with each potential death penalty defense costing taxpayers roughly $100,000.

high↑Oct 2026[10]

Division head restructuring proposal

About $270,000 in gross savings, roughly $200,000 net after the four division head raises.

Decisions during term (111)

Recorded while Williams was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

Voting record (45)

40 yes5 no

Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.

Voted yesOct 27, 2026

LERTA economic revitalization tax abatement ordinance

Voted yesOct 27, 2026

Multimodal Transportation Fund grant resolution

Voted yesOct 27, 2026

Resolution opposing mass automated surveillance

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

LERTA ordinance amendments

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Zigmund & Company security/bond limits for 2027

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Award Luzerne County Act 13 funds

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Request Phase II Strategic Management Planning Program grant

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Opioid settlement funds to XT Enterprise (RecoverU)

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

ARPA modification — Jewish Community Alliance of NEPA

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

ARPA modification — Oblates of Saint Joseph

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Terminate Keystone Mission ARPA agreement and de-obligate funds

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Sale of 54 West Union Street to MAHS Real Estate Ventures

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Declare vacancy on Luzerne County Housing Authority

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

Declare vacancy on Luzerne County Industrial Development Authority

Voted yesSep 30, 2026

Resolution Approving/Objecting to Sale of Rail Holdings

Voted yesSep 30, 2026

Resolution Authorizing County Manager to Negotiate Agreement of Sale with Reading and Northern

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Ordinance establishing penalties for failure to comply with property contact information law

Voted noSep 22, 2026

Resolution approving/objecting to sale of rail holdings

Voted noSep 8, 2026

remove Item 5, Motion to adopt Resolution of the Luzerne County Council Requesting that the Luzerne County Board of Elections Examine Potential Locations for Additional Ballot Drop Boxes for the 2026

Voted noSep 8, 2026

Motion to delete Item 4 (ballot drop box resolution) from the agenda

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Introduction of LERTA procedures ordinance (Item 2)

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Amendment to drop box resolution — Hazleton City Hall relocation study (Item 4)

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Adoption of resolution requesting Board of Elections examine additional ballot drop box locations (Item 4)

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Opioid settlement allocation — Berwick Area Transitional Services (Item 5)

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Opioid settlement allocation — Dress for Success Luzerne County (Item 6)

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Opioid settlement allocation — Guardian Angel Recovery House (Item 7)

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Opioid settlement allocation — Restorative Roots (Item 8)

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

ARPA project modification — Luzerne County Buildings and Grounds I (Item 9)

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

ARPA project modification — Wyoming Valley Airport Improvements (Item 10)

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

ARPA project modification — Wyoming Valley Airport LC Engineering (Item 11)

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Lease renewal with Grande, Inc. for Magisterial District Court 11-01-03 (Item 12)

Voted noSep 8, 2026

Motion to delete drop box resolution from voting agenda

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Resolution requesting Board of Elections examine additional ballot drop box locations

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Adoption of Voting Session Agenda

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Approval of August 11, 2026 Voting Session Minutes

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Amendment to 2027 Capital Plan — Courthouse Facade Prioritized

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Adoption of 2027 Long-Range Operational, Fiscal and Capital Plan Ordinance

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Adoption of Ordinance Amending 2026 Budget — Probation (PCCD JRI2 Grant)

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Resolution Requesting Local Share Account Grant for Huntsville Extension

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Resolution Authorizing Contract with eCollect for Hotel Room Tax Collection

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Resolution Urging Reauthorization of Chapter 53 with Increased 911 Surcharge

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

Motion to Introduce Ordinance Establishing a Human Relations Commission

Voted noJul 28, 2026

Motion to adopt resolution Approving the Settlement of Pending Litigation in the Matter of Lombardo v. Luzerne County

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

Motion to adopt resolution Appointing Walter Mitchell to the Luzerne County Arts Advisory Board

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

Motion to adopt resolution Appointing David Thurston to the Luzerne County Cares Commission