City of Scranton Council Responses | June 2, 2026

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

• Mr. Schuster asked, per South Scranton resident’s requests, for a status and timeline on the repairs related to the Hickory street bridge project off S Washington Avenue? Council realizes the use of the bridge is tied to the Elm Street bridge project.
  • After the Elm Street Bridge Replacement is complete, PennDOT is replacing the West Lackawanna Avenue bridge on behalf of the city with 95% state and federal funding.
    The Broadway Street Bridge (it is Hickory Street on the other side of South Washington Avenue) needs to be replaced due to the condition of the beams which are beyond repair. The city has requested funding of $5.7 million from PennDOT through the LLTS-MPO and the request is pending. The bridges on South Washington Avenue over Roaring Brook and Poplar Street over the river are also just as critical for replacement and have been requested to be funded.    We need to keep pushing them for funding these replacement projects.  
    PennDOT has recently funded two additional critical city bridges at Myrtle Street and at Hollow Avenue which have been posted for very limited capacity, and those projects are moving forward.
• Council President Schuster reached out to the sweeper driver directly, bypassing the normal request channels, to have Wayne Avenue swept.
  • The sweeper is currently scheduled for maintenance. As soon as the system is functioning, Wayne Avenue will be swept.Council members are asked to work through the Council Secretary to the Business Administrator or DPW Director, not to reach out to DPW employees.

Councilman Sean McAndrew asked the following question(s):

• Regarding the attached 5/26 response under Item 2a. related to the Fawnwood pipe project, Mr. McAndrew asked where will the city be taking the money in the budget to cover the cost?
  • The city will use funds remaining in stormwater projects that are soon to close out to cover the additional work to be completed in Fawnwood.
• Mr. McAndrew asked if the city may please provide a copy of the final 2016 sales agreement between the City of Scranton and PA American Water Company.
  • The 2016 sales agreement was approved by a prior Council through legislation and should be available in the City Clerk’s office.
• Mr. McAndrew spoke on the Unsheltered Task Force Committee and overall homeless issue. He asked for a breakout of where the monies budgeted for homeless initiatives are directed. Do the non-profits in the city that receive city monies directly and not via the homeless outreach initiative, contribute, or may they be asked to contribute, to assist in the city unsheltered issue?
  • In the City’s 2026 Operating Budget, $31,000 has been allocated, with the full amount designated for Code Blue operations during the 2026–2027 season.
    The Unsheltered Task Force Committee is a collaborative interagency working group that does not directly administer funding. Instead, it brings together local and county officials, healthcare providers, and nonprofit organizations to connect unsheltered individuals with shelter, food assistance, mental health services, and addiction treatment resources.
    The nonprofit organizations participating in this collaboration receive direct funding through HUD, as well as donations from other organizations and individuals, with some additional support supplemented through the City’s HUD allocations.
    A companion document of funding allocations is attached as a courtesy
• Councilman Sean McAndrew asked if DPW Roads may visit Cherry Street at South Irving Avenue for a large pothole on the Cherry Street section of the intersection.
  • The issue at Cherry Street and S. Irving Ave is a spalling of the asphalt and not potholes. DPW will mill the affected area, cover and roll patch to remediate the road.

Councilman Mark McAndrew asked the following question(s):

• May the city please focus additional resources, i.e., Community Outreach & SPD, toward the Capouse Avenue corridor? Three individual visitors to Council claim the initial blocks have many unsheltered people in need of assistance and intervention.
  • We will notify community outreach organizations, as well as the Scranton Police Department, regarding concerns in the Capouse Avenue corridor.
• Mr. McAndrew asked if the city may please provide a copy of the final 2016 sales agreement between the City of Scranton and PA American Water Company.
  • The 2016 sales agreement was approved by a prior Council through legislation and should be available in the City Clerk’s office.
• Mr. McAndrew spoke on the Unsheltered Task Force Committee and overall homeless issue. He asked for a breakout of where the monies budgeted for homeless initiatives are directed. Do the non-profits in the city that receive city monies directly and not via the homeless outreach initiative, contribute, or may they be asked to contribute, to assist in the city unsheltered issue?
  • In the City’s 2026 Operating Budget, $31,000 has been allocated, with the full amount designated for Code Blue operations during the 2026–2027 season.
    The Unsheltered Task Force Committee is a collaborative interagency working group that does not directly administer funding. Instead, it brings together local and county officials, healthcare providers, and nonprofit organizations to connect unsheltered individuals with shelter, food assistance, mental health services, and addiction treatment resources.
    The nonprofit organizations participating in this collaboration receive direct funding through HUD, as well as donations from other organizations and individuals, with some additional support supplemented through the City’s HUD allocations.
    A companion document of funding allocations is attached as a courtesy
• Councilman Sean McAndrew asked if DPW Roads may visit Cherry Street at South Irving Avenue for a large pothole on the Cherry Street section of the intersection.
  • The issue at Cherry Street and S. Irving Ave is a spalling of the asphalt and not potholes. DPW will mill the affected area, cover and roll patch to remediate the road.

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

• Councilman Sean McAndrew asked if DPW Roads may visit Cherry Street at South Irving Avenue for a large pothole on the Cherry Street section of the intersection.
  • The issue at Cherry Street and S. Irving Ave is a spalling of the asphalt and not potholes. DPW will mill the affected area, cover and roll patch to remediate the road.

From May 21 Meeting:

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

• Regarding 5D on the evening agenda, Mr. Schuster stated the fence at Fellows Park was erected approximately 4-5 years ago and appears to have sustained damage. He asked what is the lifespan or the type of fence and if repairs will be done or replacement is needed?
  • The Parks Department will be replacing the damaged part of the fence and repairing what is salvageable. This project may take several weeks.
• Mr. Schuster asked if the administration may revisit and clarify the calculation supplied in the attached May 11, 2026 Response to Council under 4.a regarding the gift card totals? Legislation under Resolution No. 63, 2024 is attached to assist in comparison.
  • The City has not yet received the full donation from Gerrity’s. At this time, we have received 75 gift cards for $25 each, totaling $1,875. We have issued $300 in gift cards to date, leaving $1,575 in gift cards remaining from the initial donation.

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

• Councilman Flynn asked for status on the property at 1021 Richmont Street, known to neighbors as the Castle House. Following a demolition approval by Judge Gibbons in 2023, the property owner has failed to rehabilitate the building and had listed the property for sale. Mr. Flynn was advised that the property is no longer listed for sale and neighbors continue to complain regarding the overgrown and dilapidated property, particularly the rear deck and overgrown yard adversely affecting those neighbors.
  • While the property located at 1021 Richmont Street remains condemned and on the City’s demolition list, it is not currently under contract for demolition. The City has continued to engage with the property owner in hopes that this property can be sold and rehabilitated by a new owner. Although the property has been listed with several different realtors, to our knowledge a sale has not happened. City officials, including the City engineer, did visit this property in the fall due to its long-term vacant status. While in disrepair, it was determined that the building is not in danger of collapse. Because of that, as well as the significant cost for demolition of 1021 Richmont Street, other more dangerous structures have been prioritized for demolition. With that said, the City is aware that this property remains a concern to neighbors and we will continue to issue appropriate citations for code violations while the demolition order remains pending.
• Regarding Item 6B on the evening agenda, Mr. Flynn asks the following.
  • Mr. Flynn asked for more clarity on the additional monies coming from federal funds, monies from interest income and special cities fund? Have any funds been realized and does the city already have the funds?
  • Regarding the projected increases in the revenues, when do we expect to receive them? Where is this money coming from? Where in the process are we at?
    • The city is not aware of any new, unexpected money.
      The revenue sources and project expenses identified in the 2026 capital budget are for 5-year planning purposes.
      The revenue sources in the 2026 capital reserve fund spending plan are appropriated for projects identified in the 2026 capital reserve fund spending plan and were approved by City Council FOC 91 of 2025. The revenue sources in the 2026 capital reserve fund spending plan are identified in the 2026 capital reserve fund spending plan revenue section and also in the notes column in the expense section

Councilman Sean McAndrew asked the following question(s):

• Councilman McAndrew asked, per resident’s requests, if the Jackson Street skate park may be named after former Mayor Eugene Peters and the complex next to the skate park be named after former Mayor Eugene Hickey, both former neighbors to the skate park area.
  • Yes, legislation is required to name city parks.

From May 12 Meeting:

• Mr. Schuster asked about standing water issues in the 1700 block of Dickson Avenue.
  • Don King reviewed the ownership on this parcel of land. This is not a city responsibility.
    In reviewing the Nearmap photos, it seems the property owner (Dixon Ave LLC) at some point between 2024 and 2025 cut a new driveway to the overflow parking on the property. While the driveway is within the city ROW, the property owner is responsible to construct in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance which requires that “driveways/access ways shall be graded for proper drainage and shall be surfaced so as to provide a durable and dustless surface of concrete or bituminous concrete surface constructed in accord with accepted standards to assure durability.” The City can issue a zoning violation notice or we can reach out to the property owner.

From April 28 Meeting:

Councilman Sean McAndrew asked the following question(s):

• Councilman McAndrew reiterated his request to meet with SFD Fire Chief John Judge and asked, if a meeting cannot be actioned, he asked that the city administration kindly attend a caucus with Council in the near future regarding ambulance service questions by the Council members. Mr. McAndrew asked that the Mayor, SPD and SFD Chief, and Business Administrator please attend the caucus.
  • A meeting occurred May 26 between city administrators including Chief Judge, Council members Mark and Sean McAndrew, and Council Solicitor Atty. Tom Gilbride.

City of Scranton Council Responses – June 2, 2026 | PDF

Last modified: June 9, 2026