At its regular meeting on Tues., Jan. 14, 2025, Scranton City Council:
- Held a pre-meeting caucus with officials from Pennsylvania Ambulance. Video of the caucus session is available online through the ECTV YouTube channel.
- Introduced an ordinance formally establishing “No Parking” zones along the Easterly and Westerly sides of the 300 and 400 blocks of Cedar Avenue. The zones conform with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) specifications for proper sight distance and will improve traffic safety. No Parking zones will be formally established near 428-436 Cedar Avenue near the Miller Bean Funeral Home, 406-408 Cedar Avenue, at the intersection of River Street and Cedar Avenue, 300 Cedar Avenue, and 301 Cedar Avenue. The ordinance was introduced by a vote of 5-0.
- Introduced an ordinance to increase the salary of the position of mayor to $95,000, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The ordinance was introduced by a vote of 3-2, with Councilmembers Gerald Smurl, William F. King, and Dr. Jessica Rothchild in favor and Councilmembers Mark McAndrew and Thomas Schuster opposed.
- Introduced an ordinance to increase the salary of each City Council member to $18,000, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The ordinance was introduced by a vote of 3-2, with Councilmembers Smurl, King, and Rothchild in favor and Councilmembers McAndrew and Schuster opposed.
- Introduced an ordinance to increase the salary of the tax collector to $72,000, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The ordinance was introduced by a vote of 5-0.
- Introduced a resolution amending the intermunicipal transfer of a restaurant liquor license from Calandi’s Café & Ristorante, 36 Pike St., Carbondale, to WarneyDalton, LLC, 515 Center St., Scranton, to be used by Warney Callar and Tap. This legislation is to amend the liquor license number from 58619 to R 7575. The resolution was introduced by a vote of x-x.
- Introduced a resolution to approve an intergovernmental agreement of cooperation and memorandum of understanding between the City of Scranton and Lackawanna County for the creation of a Community Violence Intervention (CVI) and Prevention program. Under the agreement, the City and County will equally share the cost of a $105,262.84 contract with Social Contract, LLC. The resolution was introduced by a vote of 5-0.
- Introduced a resolution to reappoint David E. Falchek, of Scranton, as a member of the Board of Ethics, effective September 1, 2024, and expiring August 31, 2027. The resolution was introduced by a vote of 5-0.
- Approved a resolution to appoint Steven Heintz as the Parks and Recreation Director, effective Dec. 16, 2024. The resolution was approved by a vote of 5-0.
- Approved a resolution to apply for and accept a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fiscal Year 2024 Assistance to Firefighters grant. The grant will be for $74,803.64, or 90 percent of the total $82,284 cost for portable radio equipment for the Scranton Fire Department. The remaining cost of $7,480.36 will come from the City’s operating budget. The resolution was approved by a vote of 5-0.
- Approved a resolution to appoint Sherry Frable to the Board of Directors of the Lackawanna County Land Bank to fill the remainder of an unexpired five-year term ending December 31, 2025. The resolution was approved by a vote of 5-0.
- Approved a resolution authorizing a lease-to-own contract for $204,233.77 for a bucket truck from Structural Metal Fabricators, Inc. and Leasing 2, Inc. The resolution was approved by a vote of 5-0.
Council’s next meeting is scheduled for Tues., Jan. 21, 2025.
City Council Meeting Recap – January 14, 2025 | PDF
Last modified: February 19, 2025
