City of Scranton Council Responses | July 7, 2026

City Council asked the following question(s):

• Once the court is vacated, will the property be taken over by one or more neighbors, and how does the city inform the county assessors office to allow the property to be placed on the tax rolls? Council is asking these questions prior to a vote to vacate the property.
  • The City has not previously informed the assessor’s office of a street vacation. By vacating a street right-of- way, we are simply giving up the public’s right to use the roadway. We are not transferring any title, nor do we possess title to the roadway. If the abutting property owners wish to acquire formal title, they must take further action such as an action of quiet title. Please see the attached article regarding the vacation of a “paper street.”

Council President Tom Schuster asked the following question(s):

• Mr. Schuster asked if SPD may advise what is the definition of a nuisance property, how many nuisance calls will warrant closure of a problem rental property, and are city police officers actually deeming a call as a nuisance call in their reports?
  • Please see below on Chief Carroll’s attendance at the July 7 caucus.
• Mr. Schuster shared a concern about refuse pickup at St. Lucy’s Church. Church operations recently moved from its church on Jackson Street to 949 Scranton St.
  • DPW will pick up refuse from the St. Lucy’s rectory now that the team knows the facility is in use.
• Mr. Schuster requested follow-up on an issue at East Mountain Road and Yesu Drive.
  • The area of East Mountain Road and Yesu Drive was cur for a second time on June 30. The knotweed is not inhibiting the line of sight from Yesu when turning onto East Mountain Road.
• DPW provided follow-up to an alleged dangerous tree issue in the 400 block of 10^th Avenue.
  • Code enforcement was out to 419 10th Ave. A code case was started and a QOL was issued to Robert McHale. The Code Enforcement Director spoke with the OECD Director about possible available funding for low-to-moderate income areas to help the homeowner with tree removal. The owner filled out the application and qualifies for the program; that information was sent over to Titian Tree services, and they will be removing the tree in the next week or so.

Council Vice President Patrick Flynn asked the following question(s):

• Mr. Flynn asked if the administration may please intervene with Code Enforcement regarding 1021 Richmont Street, aka Castle House. He advised he and neighbors to the problem property received conflicting information from the city on the property. He asks for clarification on why a citation was not issued until July 1st in addition to an answer to his request for city engineer review of the deteriorating rear decking and why the city blight remediation team may not clear the overgrow backyard area?
  • Solicitor Mariclare Hayes has updated Councilman Flynn on the property.

Councilman Sean McAndrew asked the following question(s):

• Mr. McAndrew thanked the administration for acknowledging a future caucus with the city Parks & Recreation Director and any city administration. He respectfully asks if this meeting may be scheduled for a Tuesday in July and prior to the August recess for Council meetings?
  • The Parks Director would be available for a caucus on Tues., July 21.
• Councilman McAndrew asked if city SPD Chief Thomas Carroll may visit Council for an executive session or have a conversation with him regarding city cameras in general? Some questions may be covered is what is the deployment SOP for them? What kind and type of cameras do we use? Who handles the installation, contractors, or the city IT department?
  • Chief Carroll will attend the July 7 caucus.

Councilman Mark McAndrew asked the following question(s):

• Mr. McAndrew asked if SPD Chief Thomas Carroll may visit Council for a public caucus to discuss what the City and Council can do better regarding the large increase in E-bikes, E-scooters and ATV vehicle apparent violations within the city?
  • See above.

Council member Dr. Jessica Rothchild asked the following question(s):

• Dr. Rothchild asked if the city administration has been able to review and respond to Mr. Keith Williams, Center for independent Living, per the attached email?
  • The City reviews permit applications under the requirements of the International Existing Building Code (IEBC) 2018 and IEBC 2021, as adopted through Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code (UCC). Pennsylvania adopted the UCC on April 9, 2004, and municipalities enforce the accessibility provisions that apply when construction, alterations, additions, or changes in occupancy require a building permit.
    
    Permit applications are evaluated based on the scope of the proposed work. If a project includes alterations or other work that triggers accessibility requirements under the UCC/IEBC, compliance with the applicable accessibility provisions is required as part of the permit review.
    
    The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a separate federal civil rights law that applies to places of public accommodation. Under the ADA, existing businesses have an ongoing obligation to remove architectural barriers when doing so is “readily achievable,” even if no renovations are planned. This obligation is generally independent of the local building permit process and is not enforced by the municipality through routine permit review. ADA compliance is the responsibility of the business owner or operator and is enforced through federal agencies and private legal action.
    
    Therefore, a permit application for a new business does not typically ask whether the entire building will be made wheelchair accessible solely because a new tenant is occupying the space. However, if the proposed work requires a permit and triggers accessibility requirements under the UCC/IEBC, those requirements are reviewed and enforced as part of the permit process. Businesses also remain subject to their separate obligations under the ADA, regardless of whether a building permit is required.
    
    Copies of the International Existing Building Code are attached as reference.
• Dr. Rothchild praised the administration regarding the Nay Aug and other pool complexes recently opened in the city. Her concern is that each pool adequately staffed with lifeguards for safety reasons and public enjoyment. Reason for her query is last weekend at the Nay Aug pool, everyone was asked to leave the pool for an extended length of time. When asked for the reason, she was informed that the lifeguards needed to take their lunch breaks and there were not enough staff to maintain the lifeguard chairs.
  • Thank you for your concern. The pool was temporarily closed due to a medical issue.

Request for Announcements:

Weston Kids Camp will be having a car wash as part of their community service project on Friday, July 24, at 1 PM. That week kids will plan a car wash and donate the proceeds to a local non-profit of their choice.

Request for Council:

July is National Park and Recreation Month. If possible, the Parks Director would like Council to acknowledge the hard work that the Parks employees put into making Scranton’s 32 parks look beautiful.

City of Scranton Council Responses – July 7, 2026 | PDF

Last modified: July 7, 2026