City of Scranton Council Responses | March 31, 2026

Council President Tom Schuster asked the following question:

• Regarding 5B on the attached meeting agenda, Mr. Schuster noted that the line item in the legislation contained approximately three million dollars and asked what other categories draw from that fund?
  • This line item annually funds the City’s Workers’ Compensation funding account as required by PA Labor & Industry.
• Regarding 5C on the attached meeting agenda, Mr. Schuster noted that this line item for non-departmental contingency is $650K total for this account and asks what other categories draw from this fund? He noted the city used approximately $550K last year and does the city plan to come close to that amount for this year?
  • The non-departmental contingency line item in the City budget is a risk management tool and is used by the City to manage unforeseen or uncertain expenses in a fiscal year.
• Is there a status on the PEL projection and kindly asks if Council may have the copy as soon as received by the city administration?
  • The project is substantively complete and is in the final phase of the project plan.
• Would the city be able to provide a total of homeless in the city, based on city or non-profit calculations, and if the homeless amount has increased or decreased in the city?
  • United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC), in its capacity as the Scranton/Lackawanna County Continuum of Care (SLCoC) lead agency, is responsible for annual reports to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including a Point-In-Time (PIT) count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night each January.
  • According to UNC records publicly available online, the PIT counts for Scranton from 2021 to 2025 are as follows:

• Will the city be posting application requests for casual workers for the summer season? Council realizes the applications for casual workers under DPW are posted.
  • In addition to the DPW casual employees, the Parks Department will accept applications for casuals in April.
• May City Council please have a status of the city OPEB Trust funds?
  • The account balance as of Feb. 28, 2026, is $3,451,299.51
• May the city please provide a 2025 listing of all non-profit contributions to the city. The administration previously provided Council with the prior years contribution totals.
  • Please see the attached supporting document

Council Member Dr. Jessica Rothchild asked the following question:

• Dr. Rothchild revisited that ongoing issue of parking on sidewalks on Harrison Avenue in the city Hill Section, primarily in the 400, 500, and 600 Blocks of Harrison Avenue. She asked if citations have been issued by SPD and Code Enforcement, how many, and if SPD or Code Enforcement returns to follow up for additional inspection and enforcement.
  • The SPD will compile this information.

Council Vice President Patrick Flynn asked the following question:

• Mr. Flynn thanked the administration for the 3/23 response regarding the breakdown of homeless camps in the city. He would just like to know what services the Police Department are mapping these individuals to? Do they have a list that they say or is it just go to CIC and they figure out what services they may need? Mr. Flynn is happy to hear that consistent direction of services is happening and would like to get “ a little deeper in the weeds” on that and see what services exactly the Police Department is mapping the displaced individuals to and are the services offered based on the individual’s situation and need?
  • Chief Carroll has offered to meet with Councilman Flynn to discuss SPD’s role. It is also recommended that a meeting with Eileen Wilson of Lackawanna Community Intervention Center would be very helpful to explain the services available.

Councilman Sean McAndrew asked the following:

• Regarding Item 7A on the evening, Mr. McAndrew thanked the city police chief for their meeting. Mr. McAndrew commented that he hopes that the city receives the grants related to the Fidelity Bank building and had concerns if the city has a backup plan to fund should the grants not be attained.
  • The Fidelity Bank project is part of the city’s capital budget.
• Regarding the response for homeless camp cleanup by DPW in attached 3/23 administration responses, is the city doing additional cleanouts other than the Heritage Trail, Lackawanna River corridor and near Scranton High? Mr. McAndrew advised he had reports of homeless camp cleanups by DPW taking place near the Iron Furnaces and UofS facilities.
  • DPW did perform cleanup work in the vicinity of the Iron Furnaces and the University of Scranton at the request of SPD. DPW does not engage in homeless camp cleanup unilaterally. The only time DPW gets involved in camp cleanups is at the request of the SPD, and only after the side has been posted by the SPD for a minimum of 48 hours so encampment inhabitants are aware that cleanup activities will occur. DPW will only perform cleanup activities if the SPD is present for the safety and security of DPW personnel.
• Mr. McAndrew thanked the city and Mr. Oleski for the permit information relative to 321 Mulberry Street. He does, however, have additional questions regarding the permits and would like to schedule a meeting with Mr. Oleski in City Hall.
  • Mr. Oleski can speak best about current Code Enforcement practices. Council may contact Code Enforcement to arrange any meetings.
• Mr. McAndrew asked if the city does, or plans to, run background checks on applicants to boards and authorities, outside of the regular vetting for any delinquent tax status?
  • Yes, we run background checks through treasury, code enforcement, tax claim, as well as a criminal background check.

City of Scranton Council Responses – March 31, 2026 | PDF

Last modified: March 31, 2026