Clarke wants Philadelphia Council to meet during the summer

This year, Philadelphia City Council members may have to work more than in previous years.

In the past, City Council would cancel its Thursday voting session when there was a holiday the previous Monday.

New Council President Darrell Clarke says he was surprised when he found out there was no regular meeting of council this week owing to the Presidents Day holiday.

“I was under the impression we were having a council session this upcoming Thursday,” he said.

Not only does Clarke want to change the practice of canceling sessions in weeks with a Monday holiday, he wants to schedule public meetings in the summer — when City Council chambers are usually empty.

“We are going to actually make some additional meetings in the public in the neighborhoods, because we think it’s important for people to attend an actual session of council and not come downtown in the middle of the morning,” Clarke said.

The neighborhood meetings could be part of the upcoming city budget hearings.