1
1 SCRANTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING
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3
4
5 Held:
6 Thursday, January 18, 2007
7
8
9 Time:
10 6:30 p.m.
11
12
13 Location:
14 Council Chambers
15 Scranton City Hall
16 340 North Washington Avenue
17 Scranton, Pennsylvania
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20
21
22
23 Lisa M. Graff, RMR
24 Court Reporter
25
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1 CITY OF SCRANTON COUNCIL:
2
3 MS. JUDY GATELLI, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
4
5 MR. WILLIAM COURTRIGHT, VICE-PRESIDENT
6
7 MS. SHERRY NEALON FANUCCI
8
9 MR. ROBERT MCGOFF
10
11 MR. AMIL MINORA, ESQUIRE, SOLICITOR
12
13 MS. KAY GARVEY, CITY CLERK
14
15 MR. NEIL COOLICAN, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
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25
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1 MS. GATELLI: Okay. Please stand
2 for the Pledge Of Allegiance. Please remain
3 standing for a moment of reflection. Roll
4 call.
5 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans. Mrs.
6 Fanucci.
7 MS. FANUCCI: Here.
8 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff.
9 MR. MCGOFF: Here.
10 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright.
11 MR. COURTRIGHT: Here.
12 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli.
13 MS. GATELLI: Here. Please let the
14 record reflect that Mrs. Evans called in and
15 was unable to attend tonight's meeting.
16 Dispense with the reading of the minutes.
17 MS. GARVEY: Third order. 3-A,
18 MINUTES OF THE VACANT PROPERTY REVIEW
19 COMMITTEE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2006.
20 MS. GATELLI: Are there any
21 comments? If not, received and filed.
22 MS. GARVEY: 3-B, APPLICATIONS AND
23 DECISIONS RENDERED BY THE ZONING HEARING
24 BOARD MEETING HELD ON JANUARY 10, 2007.
25 MS. GATELLI: Are there any
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1 comments? If not, received and filed.
2 MS. GARVEY: 3-C, AGENDA FOR THE
3 CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON
4 JANUARY 16, 2007.
5 MS. GATELLI: Are there any
6 comments? If not, received and filed.
7 MS. GARVEY: 3-D, AGENDA FOR THE
8 VACANT PROPERTY REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING
9 HELD ON JANUARY 16, 2007.
10 MS. GATELLI: Are there any
11 comments? If not, received and filed.
12 MS. GARVEY: That's all I have.
13 MS. GATELLI: I just have a few
14 announcements. The first thing is, we'd
15 just like to reiterate that there will be no
16 food or drink allowed in Council chambers,
17 so please refrain.
18 Also, please turn off your cell
19 phones. And I would ask that anyone who has
20 a public meeting here to please refrain from
21 taking the chairs from up here and bringing
22 them down there, because some of them have
23 broken, and we noticed that some people are
24 leaning back on them when they're sitting
25 down there, and we're having a problem with
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1 the chairs. So, please, if you have a
2 public meeting here, do not remove the
3 chairs, just use the chairs around the table
4 and sit in the audience. We would request
5 that, please.
6 I'd like to have Kay set up a
7 proclamation, if no one objects. We had a
8 student at West Scranton High School on
9 Saturday, we had a wrestling match, and he
10 got his 100th win, which is very
11 outstanding. There aren't too many on that
12 list. And his name is Sean Barresse from
13 West Scranton High School. He had 100 wins
14 in wrestling. We'd like to congratulate
15 him.
16 Mark Seitzinger did a few things.
17 This week he cleaned up a mess at 1201
18 Pittston Avenue. He's having 228 Pittston
19 Avenue boarded up. He's going to inspect
20 420 Beech Street.
21 Also, if we can send a letter to Mr.
22 Parker. I got some complaints about the
23 Rockwell Avenue Bridge, that there's a
24 problem with that.
25 820 South Keyser has been abandoned
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1 for four to five years, and it's still a
2 mess.
3 I talked to Keith Williams. I told
4 you about Keith last week, that there were
5 some curb cut complaints, so Keith went out
6 and inspected them, and I have a list for
7 Kay. I'll give them to her after the
8 meeting. But just so you know that he did
9 go out and inspect those curb cuts. Keith
10 is with the Center for Independent Living.
11 Also, there's a property at 619
12 South Irving that needs to be cleaned up.
13 It was the property where the woman died of
14 the West Nile Virus, and there's also a
15 demolition company down near the farmer's
16 market, and if we can send Mike Wallace down
17 there, because it's becoming like a
18 junkyard. There's cranes, dumpsters and
19 tractor trailers all over that property.
20 Mr. Parker answered me about the
21 items that they pick up with the weekly
22 collections, so I am going to give that to
23 Mr. Brown and maybe he can get it into the
24 newspaper so that people will be aware of
25 what they will pick up.
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1 Most of the things can be picked up.
2 They just request that you call ahead of
3 time. I have a list of everything that was
4 picked up and the address in 2006.
5 Refrigerator, water heaters,
6 washers, dryers, bed frames, stoves, sinks,
7 metal cabinets, metal car parts. So, they
8 do pick up most items. They just request
9 that you call ahead of time, and I hope that
10 Mr. Brown can get this into The Scranton
11 Times so the public will be aware. All
12 right. And that's all I have. Does anybody
13 else have anything?
14 MR. MILLER: I just have a question
15 for Council. With all due respect, I know I
16 didn't sign in or anything, but I would like
17 to ask Council what the proper procedure is
18 for the Junior Council to speak.
19 MS. GATELLI: You --
20 MR. MINORA: You're going to be
21 treated the same as all the other citizen
22 participation. You will have three minutes
23 for on the agenda and three minutes at the
24 end for public comment, as I explained to
25 you in Council chambers.
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1 MR. MILLER: And, again, with all
2 due respect, but -- has been the format
3 since last February when we formed, we've
4 always spoke before citizens participation.
5 We're two separate formats, the
6 Junior Council and citizens participation,
7 so I just -- I don't feel it's right to have
8 us considered citizens participation, when
9 we are a separate body that sits up here,
10 and that's why we are here, to have a time
11 to come up to this podium and give our input
12 and ask questions, because that's why we are
13 here is to ask questions.
14 And this is a learning process for
15 us, we're here to learn, and to ask us to
16 come here and speak on agenda only, I don't
17 think would be appropriate for us because we
18 still are learning what's going on in this
19 city.
20 So, I would just like to ask Council
21 if perhaps they can consider making a motion
22 to add us to the agenda so we can avoid
23 this, because I don't think it's fair to
24 include us in the citizens participation
25 segment.
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1 MS. GATELLI: Okay. Thank you,
2 Doug. The first speaker is Andy Sbaraglia.
3 MR. SBARAGLIA: Andy Sbaraglia,
4 citizen of Scranton. Fellow Scrantonians,
5 I'm going to talk about the taxes, which is
6 on the agenda, the oppressive taxes that you
7 are imposing on the people.
8 Starting with the $52, now the
9 25 percent real estate tax. And the
10 merchants in the city has gotten a
11 50 percent reduction in their taxes.
12 You have socked it to the poor
13 citizens of Scranton, for what reason, I
14 don't know, but obviously you have done
15 nothing to curtail the spending of this
16 administration or anything at all to help
17 the taxpayers.
18 You have lavished money on Central
19 City beyond. In fact, most of our trouble
20 now is because of the businesses in Central
21 City.
22 Money that could have been used for
23 a lot of things were poured into Central
24 City, and you sit by, all the Council.
25 The Councils before you are
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1 responsible for a lot of the problems, but
2 you have added to them. You have socked it
3 to the citizens of Scranton with your huge
4 tax increases. And there was no reason for
5 it.
6 You could have avoided them, but you
7 turned your back on the citizens of
8 Scranton. There was alternatives added to
9 it. Some of them were good, maybe all of
10 them couldn't be implemented, but you could
11 have used some of them to reduce the burden
12 upon the people.
13 And it's obvious you care little or
14 nothing, because it's going to go up and up
15 and up, and you do nothing to change it.
16 You just sit there, collect your
17 salaries and look at us and come up with
18 ridiculous things to do.
19 I'm very sorry, very sorry that you
20 think so little of your constituents that
21 you would sit by and let them suffer like
22 they're going -- they're going to lose their
23 homes because of this high taxes you're
24 imposing on them.
25 It's not everybody that makes
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1 $40,000 a year or $50,000 a year. I think
2 the average medium income in this city was
3 $26,000. They just can't afford it.
4 And as you know, everything keeps
5 going up, all the utilities, the whole gamut
6 keeps going up.
7 And if you don't try to hold down
8 taxes to little as possible, then you do a
9 disservice to the citizens of Scranton.
10 That's all I have to say on that.
11 MS. GATELLI: Thank you. Fay
12 Franus.
13 MS. FRANUS: Fay Franus, Scranton.
14 I'd like to ask you about this appointment
15 to the recreation authority tonight.
16 I've asked this question before and
17 I really haven't gotten an answer. I don't
18 even know this person, but I understand the
19 mayor appoints these people.
20 I asked before, isn't there another
21 way that people can get on the Recreation
22 Authority without getting appointed by the
23 mayor?
24 And it's 2011. These people have
25 terms forever. And we can't get them off
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1 there, and it's, like, what are we supposed
2 to do? We go to these meetings and these
3 people are very arrogant.
4 I'm just asking, why does it have to
5 be that the mayor gets to appoint these
6 people to the Recreation Authority all the
7 time? Can't something else be done that the
8 average person could have a chance to be on
9 this authority? Do you have any say in this
10 whatsoever?
11 I mean, you're appointing these
12 people. You're giving -- you're passing a
13 law here saying this person is going to be
14 approved until 2011. So, how could you have
15 say in that and not have say in anything
16 else?
17 MS. GATELLI: The only say that the
18 Council has is for the zoning board.
19 MS. FRANUS: No, but why is it in
20 front of you tonight then for the Recreation
21 Authority?
22 MS. GATELLI: It's only to concur.
23 It's really not to appoint. Council only
24 concurs.
25 MS. FRANUS: Meaning? Saying it's
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1 fine with us?
2 MS. GATELLI: Yeah.
3 MS. FRANUS: What's the point?
4 MS. GATELLI: Well, even if we say
5 no, they still get appointed.
6 MS. FRANUS: I know, so what's the
7 point? It means nothing, is basically what
8 I'm saying.
9 MS. GATELLI: Yeah, you're right.
10 MS. FRANUS: My point is I think
11 this should be changed. How can we possibly
12 get someone on the Recreation Authority that
13 is not with the mayor, like him appointing
14 them. I mean, it's just ridiculous.
15 MS. GATELLI: I think it's in The
16 Home Rule Charter or The Administrative Code
17 that those are appointed by the mayor.
18 MS. FRANUS: And that's the way it
19 has to be, is my question.
20 MS. GATELLI: Unless we change The
21 Home Rule Charter.
22 MS. FRANUS: Who can change that?
23 MS. GATELLI: Well, they had a
24 commission years ago, but they didn't
25 approve of changing The Home Rule Charter.
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1 MS. FRANUS: It just goes on year
2 after year. And I wanted to ask about the
3 garbage tax.
4 Years ago, a couple years ago, we
5 never had to pay a garbage tax, because the
6 money we paid in our taxes paid for the
7 garbage tax.
8 All of a sudden now we have to pay
9 for the garbage tax. So, when are the
10 taxpayers going to get something for their
11 money, like their taxes again?
12 Why do we have to keep paying this
13 garbage tax? Because we used to pay for it
14 out of our taxes. So, why isn't it still
15 coming out of our taxes and not have this
16 garbage tax? Why?
17 I understand it was from an
18 arbitration or something. That was a long
19 time ago. That arbitration is long over
20 with.
21 If someone could answer that, why we
22 have to have this garbage tax. We pay
23 enough in taxes. Why can't you abolish this
24 garbage tax? Do something for the people.
25 Is that a possibility?
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1 MS. GATELLI: We could look into the
2 per bag fee. We tried to do that years ago
3 in the neighborhoods. We can try that
4 again, because a lot of the elderly don't
5 use a lot of garbage.
6 MS. FRANUS: That's me, one bag a
7 week. Well, what would it take to do that?
8 MS. GATELLI: We'd have to
9 investigate and see how you go about it and
10 see what other cities do, but we'll do that.
11 MS. FRANUS: Would you please?
12 MS. GATELLI: Yes.
13 MR. MINORA: Three minutes.
14 MS. FRANUS: And look into
15 something?
16 MS. GATELLI: Yes.
17 MS. FRANUS: Thank you.
18 MS. GATELLI: Thank you. Ron Elman.
19 MR. ELMAN: Well, you probably
20 didn't notice I hadn't been here in the last
21 two months because I just got tired of
22 beating my head on a stone wall, but my
23 legions of fans asked me to return.
24 I picked this up outside, and the
25 first things on the agenda are seven or
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1 eight subjects are tax increases. You
2 people are just detached from what's going
3 on in town.
4 You need to go right across the
5 street to that high-rise and knock on a
6 couple doors and you'll find some poor soul
7 that planned to live in the house after
8 their husband's death and had to give it up
9 because of taxes and insurance and so on.
10 Everything is doubled and tripled.
11 It's got to stop somewhere. You
12 keep on letting the mayor have his way with
13 loans and refinancing loans. Where is it
14 going to stop?
15 You sat right there and talked about
16 how your mother can't afford it, then you
17 voted for more money for all this, you know,
18 $17 million or something. If you don't
19 terminate it now, it's just going to keep
20 going forever.
21 These people are going to have close
22 to $600 million on the city and the county
23 and the school board when they want to buy a
24 house, and half the houses are probably 100
25 years old.
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1 Now, who in the world would want to
2 pay the taxes? Put a pencil to a piece of
3 paper. See what your taxes are going to be
4 in five, six years. They're going to be a
5 hundred percent increase from what they are
6 now. It's got to stop somewhere.
7 You know, I don't even care about
8 downtown. My neighborhood got houses that
9 are burned and abandoned and everything. I
10 got one block of Throop Street are five
11 houses that are abandoned right now. Young
12 people couldn't afford their loans.
13 Going down the street, there's three
14 apartments and two apartments. I'm talking
15 about a two block area of where I live.
16 That's what's happening.
17 I don't know how many of you people
18 ever been to Memphis, I just say Memphis,
19 because of, you know, it's a tourist
20 attraction because of Presley, but if you're
21 downtown, everything is torn down. There's
22 just blocks and blocks of empty space where
23 they tore down stuff and nobody rebuilt.
24 And Memphis is in a lot better
25 financial status than we are.
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1 MS. GATELLI: Mr. Elman, could you
2 stay on the agenda items, please? Please
3 stick to the agenda items.
4 MR. ELMAN: Oh, I'm sorry. Well, I
5 started out with this. I always get off the
6 subject. I'm sorry. Thank you.
7 MS. GATELLI: Thank you. Nancy
8 Krake.
9 MS. KRAKE: Good evening, Council.
10 On tonight's agenda, there are several items
11 that refer to taxing the citizens of
12 Scranton, but there's only one that's an
13 increase. That's 7-E.
14 It does not include the exact
15 millage, as do all the other agenda items.
16 Would someone on Council be kind enough to
17 tell us what that millage is and what
18 exactly the increase is?
19 MR. MCGOFF: Do you want a response
20 to that?
21 MS. KRAKE: I would, but that's
22 certainly your prerogative whether you
23 respond or not.
24 MR. MCGOFF: The millage is in the
25 backup items that we have here, and I can
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1 find it for you. If you want, I will let
2 you know.
3 MS. KRAKE: Well, it's more than for
4 myself, since I work here, and I do deal
5 with this, I think the citizens of Scranton
6 would like to know.
7 MR. MCGOFF: I think it was
8 mentioned at one of the last meetings, but
9 like I said, when it's fifth order, I'll let
10 you know or I will announce what it is or
11 say what it is.
12 MS. KRAKE: Would you also be kind
13 enough to tell us the percentage in the
14 increase, if you're aware of that, since
15 three people here, Mrs. Fanucci, Mrs.
16 Gatelli and yourself, Mr. McGoff, all voted
17 for this --
18 MS. GATELLI: Do you have it,
19 Attorney Minora?
20 MR. MINORA: Yeah. On 7-E?
21 MS. KRAKE: Yes.
22 MR. MINORA: The living on land is
23 .103145. The levy on all buildings is
24 .022432.
25 MS. KRAKE: And the percentage
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1 increase?
2 MR. MINORA: It doesn't have that.
3 I'd have to --
4 MS. KRAKE: But it is an increase?
5 MR. MINORA: I'd have to know what
6 it was before, and I don't have that readily
7 available.
8 MS. KRAKE: It is an increase,
9 however, everyone would agree to that, and
10 it is the only one increased.
11 The mayor offered to increase the
12 real estate transfer tax, but Council did
13 not vote for that, instead they voted to use
14 the golf course money, once again, to help
15 businessmen, not homeowners.
16 The average citizen gets nothing
17 from this budget and has gotten nothing from
18 Mayor Doherty in the past six years, only
19 business people and corporations have gotten
20 anything from this administration.
21 And it's in black and white in this
22 agenda, and it will be here every week, and
23 we will bring it to everyone's attention
24 every week. Because as it unfolds, it's
25 going to be very clear when people receive
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1 their tax bills and to see who was saddled
2 with the mayor's borrowing and his mistakes
3 for the past six years. Thank you.
4 MS. GATELLI: Thank you. Lee
5 Morgan.
6 MR. MORGAN: Good evening, Council.
7 I have a request. I'd like to give it to
8 Mrs. Gatelli, please.
9 Okay. Mrs. Gatelli, what I've given
10 you is a request for all information on the
11 agenda in total for every subject this
12 Council is going to speak on from now on,
13 every supporting document, all the
14 information available.
15 And here's why I think that, I don't
16 see how anyone in this public can, and also
17 Council, can ever vote on anything because
18 you have no information. Now, me, I have
19 some idea, and the first thing I'd like to
20 talk about is the garbage fee.
21 We're going to stand here and we're
22 going to discuss a garbage fee, when some of
23 this money isn't used by the city for
24 tipping, and that's what that was originally
25 brought in to being for was to pay for the
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1 tipping fees for the landfills.
2 But what's been done to that money
3 is it's been put in the general revenue of
4 the city, so any money left over has been
5 used at the city's discretion.
6 But as far as all the rest of this
7 stuff on the agenda, I'd like to thank you
8 for changing the format here, because for
9 once we're going to see that we have a
10 rubber stamp Council that does nothing, and
11 they're trying to skirt the citizens.
12 And now what's going to happen is if
13 you furnish us with information, we will
14 have more information than you have, because
15 evidently you've come to this meeting many
16 times and voted on things you had no clue
17 what was going on. And I think it's wrong.
18 I think that so many people would
19 love to discuss what is on these agendas,
20 but how can you? We just asked a question.
21 Mr. McGoff said he thought it was discussed
22 prior. That's not even an answer.
23 Where are the figures? Where are
24 the numbers? Where is the supporting
25 documentation? Where is everything else?
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1 There is none. Council votes with nothing.
2 It's all a rubber stamp agenda, and you've
3 been caught in your own traps. Thank you.
4 MS. GATELLI: Mrs. Garvey.
5 MS. GARVEY: 5-A, motions.
6 MS. GATELLI: Mrs. Fanucci.
7 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: I have a few
8 corrections and some comments to make that
9 were made in prior meetings. There were two
10 bar owners that were speaking out against
11 the ban, one being The Ground Round
12 supposedly.
13 This gentleman had called me, the
14 guy who runs The Ground Round, very upset
15 because he said he was misrepresented by a
16 disgruntled employee, and I promised him
17 that I would make sure that I spoke out on
18 this for him.
19 He is the owner and operator, and he
20 said he has not condoned this employee's
21 comments. He is definitely enforcing the
22 smoking ban. He is from New York City, has
23 no problem in the smoking ban, and has also
24 accommodated the New York City law, and he
25 wanted people to know that this is not
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1 something -- he does not condone breaking
2 laws.
3 He is part of our community here,
4 and he will be enforcing this law, and I
5 think that was pretty nice of him. He
6 didn't have to call and make sure that we
7 knew that, but he did.
8 In light of what's going on as far
9 as the state is concerned and how the
10 governor has come out today saying that he
11 will be trying to enforce a statewide ban,
12 we were speaking of a lot of changes and
13 what we can do to tweak this ordinance.
14 I know that we have -- had many
15 discussions on what we can do. From what
16 the information I received today, this will
17 be happening within the next four weeks that
18 it will be introduced. Now, whether or not
19 it passes or not is something that's left to
20 be seen.
21 I was in Harrisburg in the past
22 week, and there were many, many
23 representatives who are for this. It is
24 something that they seem to really have on
25 their agenda. A lot of them use them as
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1 platforms.
2 So, this is something that is
3 definitely on the table in the state, and I
4 just want to say if there is anybody out
5 there and we have a lot of support, that
6 maybe we can get some communication going on
7 and make sure that we make sure that they
8 know that we're supportive of the
9 legislation.
10 There was a few questions, and Mrs.
11 Shumaker is not here, so I will leave that
12 for her until next week, that she had asked
13 us to get answers for.
14 I also would like to speak -- last
15 week we had a very intense exchange here,
16 and I had received an E-mail that was saying
17 that we should have not supported the person
18 who was here and had the outburst, that we
19 should not have done anything to help him.
20 And I'd like to say publicly that it
21 was not about helping him, it was about
22 helping the community. Whether or not the
23 exchange was right or wrong, it was about
24 helping the people in the section that were
25 having flood damage. It really wasn't about
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1 a single person.
2 So, I stand by my decision. And
3 this was a very intense E-mail saying that
4 we really should not have responded and done
5 anything for this person.
6 I definitely don't condone the
7 behavior, but I understand the frustration,
8 and I'm happy to say that we wanted to make
9 sure that this gentleman was represented.
10 And it was not -- it was already on
11 the table before he had had his problem.
12 So, I want this person to know that this is
13 something that I'm going to stand by, and
14 I'm glad that we're trying to help him.
15 And I know that Mr. McGoff even has
16 some more information, I believe, on what
17 we're going to do tonight for that
18 gentleman.
19 There's an item on the agenda
20 tonight about a loan to a business, and I
21 know this seems to be a very tumultuous
22 situation every time we give money to a
23 business.
24 This -- I will -- when this comes up
25 for our vote, I will explain on the question
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1 what this business is and how they will be
2 increasing revenue and employees. And that
3 is all I have. Thank you.
4 MS. GATELLI: Thank you. Mr.
5 McGoff.
6 MR. MCGOFF: Pursuant to our
7 discussion the other -- last week concerning
8 putting a flood siren in lower Green Ridge,
9 I contacted OECD and talked to Sara
10 Hailstone, and she told me that what we
11 needed to do was to make a specific request
12 through OECD as to what would be erected,
13 what was needed in terms of placing a siren
14 there, where it would be placed, when it
15 would be placed, but to make a specific
16 request to OECD, and then they could then
17 determine what type of funding would be
18 available, what might be available through
19 UDAG funds or any other type of funding and
20 then respond to our request.
21 In an attempt to do that, I tried to
22 contact Mr. Hubbard. I was unable to do so.
23 Hopefully within the next week, I will be
24 able to contact someone from lower Green
25 Ridge area to get some specifications for
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1 what their request would be in terms of the
2 siren being placed there, and then a request
3 through City Council will be made to OECD
4 and other appropriate administration or
5 administrators. And hopefully by next week,
6 we will having something in motion to bring
7 that to some type of resolution.
8 If there is anybody that can get me
9 into contact with people, whether it's a
10 neighborhood association or Mr. Hubbard
11 himself or anyone else that's involved in
12 the lower Green Ridge area, I would be more
13 than happy to take a name, phone number,
14 whatever this evening.
15 Also, in the absence of Mrs. Evans,
16 in order to conduct business tonight, it's
17 necessary to have a temporary chair named
18 for finance just so that we can conduct
19 business.
20 With that, I would like to make a
21 motion to appoint Mrs. Fanucci as temporary
22 chair for finance for this evening's
23 meeting.
24 MR. COURTRIGHT: Second.
25 MS. GATELLI: On the question? All
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1 in favor.
2 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Aye.
3 MR. MCGOFF: Aye.
4 MR. COURTRIGHT: Aye.
5 MS. GATELLI: Aye. Opposed? The
6 ayes have it and so moved.
7 MR. MCGOFF: That's all. Thank you.
8 MS. GATELLI: Thank you. Mr.
9 Courtright.
10 MR. COURTRIGHT: Thank you. I had
11 posed some questions that I forgot I even
12 posed to Mr. Barrett quite a while ago, back
13 in November, and he has given me the
14 answers.
15 What it was was the amount of money
16 that the city owes for the termination of
17 the contract with American Water Services,
18 and if they are, in fact, thinking of
19 privatizing the Sewer Authority again.
20 He had some information, and I'll
21 share it with anybody that wants to see it,
22 I'm not going to read the entire letter, in
23 regards to this feeling on what might and
24 might not be owed.
25 And as far as in regards to
.
30
1 privatization, I'll read you that portion of
2 this, regarding privatization, the authority
3 has not considered this approach, since the
4 five-year contract with American Water ended
5 in the fall of 2004.
6 Certainly the authority would pursue
7 any opportunity that might be beneficial to
8 the ratepayers.
9 Lastly, I have discussed these
10 matters with the board, and I've been
11 instructed to inform you that the Scranton
12 Sewer Authority will gladly assist and
13 cooperate with Scranton and Dunmore to
14 resolve your financial obligations.
15 Effectively, our ratepayers and your
16 taxpayers are one in the same; therefore,
17 solutions to common problems should be the
18 order of the day. And that's signed Mr.
19 Barrett. So, I thank Mr. Barrett for
20 getting back to me on that.
21 A Mr. Polk called me today, I
22 haven't spoken to him in about three years,
23 with a problem he had on Hickory Street with
24 a catch basin, and I had thought it had been
25 resolved, because I asked to have it fixed
.
31
1 three years ago, and it hadn't been.
2 So, Kay graciously called Mr. Parker
3 for me. He checked Mr. Matthews -- Mr.
4 Polk, I hope you're watching, because I
5 threw your number out, she talked to Mr.
6 Parker. It's not on Mr. Matthews' list to
7 fix, but he made him put it on his list and
8 it will be fixed hopefully in the near
9 future. I don't have an exact date for you,
10 but hopefully that will be taken care of
11 shortly.
12 This week I made my way down to the
13 mayor's office, but he wasn't in. I believe
14 he was at the inauguration for the governor.
15 I was asking about the project on Main
16 Avenue which would run from Jackson Street
17 to Luzerne Street, curbs, lighting,
18 sidewalks, et cetera.
19 And I just asked his secretary if,
20 you know, if she could ask him if he plans
21 on moving forward and helping the people in
22 West Scranton, and if he doesn't plan on
23 helping the people in West Scranton, to just
24 let me know. So, hopefully I will get a
25 response soon.
.
32
1 As far as responses go, Kay, I asked
2 about -- I did not see in the budget that
3 there was any money for police cars, and I
4 wasn't quite sure who to send the letter to,
5 so we sent it to Mr. Kresefski, Mr. Hayes
6 and Mr. Elliott.
7 And did I -- I don't think I got any
8 response from anyone, did I?
9 MS. GARVEY: No response yet.
10 MR. COURTRIGHT: All right. Maybe
11 if I don't get something by the end of the
12 week, we can just send that letter out
13 again.
14 I sent it to all three because I
15 wasn't quite sure who was going to be able
16 to answer that for me. It might be in the
17 budget, but I simply can't find it.
18 And one last item, I seem to be the
19 lucky one getting all the negative phone
20 calls for the smoking ban.
21 And I mentioned last week that I'd
22 like to see a committee that will consist of
23 the director of public safety, the police
24 chief, the fire chief, our solicitor, the
25 city solicitor, most certainly Mr. Fiorini,
.
33
1 because he's in charge of licensing and
2 inspection, and members from the bars in the
3 area and members from the restaurants to see
4 if, in fact, there were some suggestions
5 that we needed to make amendments.
6 And as Mrs. Fanucci said, it seems
7 to be on a fast track for the governor, so
8 maybe this will be a moot point and we won't
9 need it, but the other members agreed to sit
10 down and try to talk with these people that
11 have suggestions.
12 So, maybe I'll just work with Mr.
13 Minora and see how we go about doing that,
14 and hopefully we won't have to. Hopefully
15 it will be done by the governor and it will
16 be statewide and we won't have to worry
17 about it anymore. And that's all I have.
18 Thank you.
19 MS. GATELLI: Thank you. I just
20 wanted -- I just had a suggestion, Bill.
21 The police cars, I know there are grants, so
22 maybe we can ask the grant -- and also in
23 North Scranton, I know that Dr. Minora,
24 Barry Minora, was very instrumental getting
25 that whole project done, not that there were
.
34
1 a lot of grants there. So, maybe you'd want
2 to get a hold of him.
3 MR. COURTRIGHT: I had went to Dr.
4 Minora first, and when I -- when Mr.
5 McTiernan was still here, we went in to see
6 Mr. Doherty, and I spoke to him about Mr.
7 Minora, and he said that we probably
8 wouldn't need to do it that way if we got
9 the Congressman involved.
10 And when Congressman Kanjorski came,
11 he was more than willing to help us. So,
12 not that we don't want Mr. Minora's help,
13 I'll take anybody's help, I just need to get
14 the mayor to tell me whether he's going to
15 push ahead with it or not, because certainly
16 Mr. Minora or a Congressman or anybody is
17 not going to do anything if it doesn't start
18 here with us. Thank you.
19 MS. GATELLI: He did an excellent
20 job.
21 MR. COURTRIGHT: I give him all the
22 credit in the world for that back there.
23 MS. GATELLI: Okay. Mrs. Garvey.
24 MS. GARVEY: 5-B - FOR INTRODUCTION
25 - A RESOLUTION - AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND
.
35
1 OTHER APPROPRIATE CITY OFFICIALS FOR THE
2 CITY OF SCRANTON TO ENTER INTO A LOAN
3 AGREEMENT AND MAKE A LOAN FROM THE
4 COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL LOAN PROGRAM, PROJECT
5 NO. 150.7 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
6 $40,000.00 TO IPANEMA GRILL INC. TO ASSIST
7 AN ELIGIBLE PROJECT.
8 MS. GATELLI: At this time I'll
9 entertain a motion that 5-B be introduced
10 into its proper committee.
11 MR. COURTRIGHT: So moved.
12 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Second.
13 MS. GATELLI: On the question?
14 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Yes. I'd like
15 to give some stats on this. This is a
16 business that is over in the -- well, let's
17 say the Providence Square part of town which
18 is nice. It is a community small business.
19 They've been in business for 24 years --
20 well, the owner has experience in the food
21 industry for 24 years.
22 The purpose of the loan is for new
23 kitchen equipment, and it is an industrial
24 loan for $40,000, as we've said, and it's
25 ten years that they have to pay it back, and
.
36
1 they will hire two additional people with
2 the equivalent, and that is part of the
3 state law, how much they borrow is how much
4 they have to -- how many people they have to
5 hire. So, it all is done by the state.
6 And we want to wish them luck and
7 say they're going to expand their kitchen,
8 so everybody please go over and give them
9 some great business. Thank you.
10 MS. GATELLI: Anyone else? All in
11 favor.
12 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Aye.
13 MR. MCGOFF: Aye.
14 MR. COURTRIGHT: Aye.
15 MS. GATELLI: Aye. Opposed? The
16 ayes have it and so moved.
17 MS. GARVEY: 5-C, FOR INTRODUCTION -
18 A RESOLUTION - AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND
19 OTHER APPROPRIATE CITY OFFICIALS TO EXECUTE
20 AND ENTER INTO A SUPPLEMENTAL REIMBURSEMENT
21 AGREEMENT NO. 040809-D WITH THE COMMONWEALTH
22 OF PENNSYLVANIA, DEPARTMENT OF
23 TRANSPORTATION REGARDING THE LACKAWANNA
24 AVENUE BRIDGE PROJECT TO ALLOW FOR AN
25 INCREASE IN DESIGN, UTILITY, RIGHT OF WAY
.
37
1 AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
2 MS. GATELLI: At this time I'll
3 entertain a motion that Item 5-C be
4 introduced.
5 MR. COURTRIGHT: So moved.
6 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Second.
7 MS. GATELLI: On the question? All
8 those in favor.
9 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Aye.
10 MR. MCGOFF: Aye.
11 MR. COURTRIGHT: Aye.
12 MS. GATELLI: Aye. Opposed? The
13 ayes have it and so moved.
14 MS. GARVEY: Sixth order. No
15 business at this time. Seventh order. 7-A,
16 FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COMMITTEE ON
17 FINANCE - FOR ADOPTION - FILE OF THE COUNCIL
18 NO. 72, 2007 - AMENDING FILE OF COUNCIL NO.
19 6 1976 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE (AS AMENDED)
20 IMPOSING A TAX FOR GENERAL REVENUE PURPOSES
21 ON THE TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTY SITUATE
22 WITHIN THE CITY OF SCRANTON; PRESCRIBING AND
23 REGULATING THE METHOD OF EVIDENCING THE
24 PAYMENT OF SUCH TAX; CONFERRING POWERS AND
25 IMPOSING DUTIES UPON CERTAIN PERSONS, AND
.
38
1 PROVIDING PENALTIES, BY IMPOSING THE RATE OF
2 THE REALTY TRANSFER TAX AT 2.5% FOR THE
3 CALENDAR YEAR 2007.
4 MS. GATELLI: What is the
5 recommendation of the chair on finance?
6 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: As temporary
7 chair of the committee on finance, I
8 recommend final passage of Item 7-A.
9 MR. COURTRIGHT: Second.
10 MS. GATELLI: On the question? Roll
11 call.
12 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans. Mrs.
13 Fanucci.
14 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Yes.
15 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff.
16 MR. MCGOFF: Yes.
17 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright.
18 MR. COURTRIGHT: Yes.
19 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli.
20 MS. GATELLI: Yes. I hereby declare
21 Item 7-A legally and lawfully adopted.
22 MS. GARVEY: 7-B, FOR CONSIDERATION
23 BY THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - FOR ADOPTION -
24 FILE OF COUNCIL NO. 73, 2007 - AMENDING FILE
25 OF THE COUNCIL NO. 7, 1976 ENTITLED AN
.
39
1 ORDINANCE (AS AMENDED) IMPOSING A MERCANTILE
2 LICENSE TAX OF 2 MILLS FOR THE YEAR 1976 AND
3 ANNUALLY THEREAFTER UPON PERSONS ENGAGING IN
4 CERTAIN OCCUPATIONS AND BUSINESSES THEREIN;
5 PROVIDING FOR ITS LEVY AND COLLECTION AND
6 FOR THE ISSUANCE OF MERCANTILE LICENSES;
7 CONFERRING AND IMPOSING POWERS AND DUTIES
8 UPON THE TAX COLLECTOR OF THE CITY OF
9 SCRANTON; AND IMPOSING PENALTIES, BY
10 IMPOSING THE MERCANTILE LICENSE TAX AT 1
11 MILL FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2007.
12 MS. GATELLI: What is the
13 recommendation of the chair on finance?
14 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: As chairperson
15 for the committee on finance, I recommend
16 final passage of Item 7-B.
17 MR. COURTRIGHT: Second.
18 MS. GATELLI: On the question? Roll
19 call.
20 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans. Mrs.
21 Fanucci.
22 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Yes.
23 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff.
24 MR. MCGOFF: Yes.
25 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright.
.
40
1 MR. COURTRIGHT: Yes.
2 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli.
3 MS. GATELLI: Yes. I hereby declare
4 Item 7-B legally and lawfully adopted.
5 MS. GARVEY: 7-C, FOR CONSIDERATION
6 BY THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - FOR ADOPTION -
7 FILE OF COUNCIL NO. 74, 2007 - AMENDING FILE
8 OF THE COUNCIL NO. 8, 1976 ENTITLED AN
9 ORDINANCE (AS AMENDED) PROVIDING FOR THE
10 GENERAL REVENUE BY IMPOSING A TAX AT THE
11 RATE OF 2 MILL UPON THE PRIVILEGE OF
12 OPERATING OR CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE CITY
13 OF SCRANTON AS MEASURED BY THE GROSS
14 RECEIPTS THEREFROM; REQUIRING REGISTRATION
15 AND PAYMENT OF THE TAX AS CONDITION TO THE
16 CONDUCTING OF SUCH BUSINESS; PROVIDING FOR
17 THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF SUCH TAX;
18 PRESCRIBING SUCH REQUIREMENTS FOR RETURNS
19 AND RECORDS; CONFERRING POWERS AND DUTIES
20 UPON THE TAX COLLECTOR; AND IMPOSING
21 PENALTIES, BY IMPOSING THE BUSINESS
22 PRIVILEGE TAX AT THE RATE OF 1 MILL FOR
23 CALENDAR YEAR 2007.
24 MS. GATELLI: What is the
25 recommendation of the chair on finance?
.
41
1 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: As chairperson
2 for the committee on finance, I recommend
3 final passage of Item 7-C.
4 MR. COURTRIGHT: Second.
5 MS. GATELLI: On the question? Roll
6 call.
7 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans. Mrs.
8 Fanucci.
9 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Yes.
10 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff.
11 MR. MCGOFF: Yes.
12 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright.
13 MR. COURTRIGHT: Yes.
14 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli.
15 MS. GATELLI: Yes. I hereby declare
16 Item 7-C legally and lawfully adopted.
17 MS. GARVEY: 7-D, FOR CONSIDERATION
18 BY THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - FOR ADOPTION -
19 FILE OF COUNCIL NO. 75, 2007 - AN ORDINANCE
20 - AMENDING FILE OF THE COUNCIL NO. 11, 1976,
21 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE (AS AMENDED) ENACTING,
22 IMPOSING A TAX FOR GENERAL REVENUE PURPOSES
23 IN THE AMOUNT OF 2% ON EARNED INCOME AND NET
24 PROFITS ON PERSONS, INDIVIDUALS,
25 ASSOCIATIONS AND BUSINESSES WHO ARE
.
42
1 RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SCRANTON, OR
2 NON-RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SCRANTON, FOR
3 WORK DONE, SERVICES PERFORMED OR BUSINESS
4 CONDUCTED WITHIN THE CITY OF SCRANTON,
5 REQUIRING THE FILING OF RETURNS BY TAXPAYERS
6 SUBJECT TO THE TAX; REQUIRING EMPLOYERS TO
7 COLLECT THE TAX AT SOURCE; PROVIDING FOR THE
8 ADMINISTRATION, COLLECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
9 OF THE SAID TAX; AND IMPOSING PENALTIES FOR
10 THE VIOLATIONS, BY IMPOSING THE WAGE TAX AT
11 2.4% ON EARNED INCOME FOR THE YEAR 2007 FOR
12 RESIDENTS.
13 MS. GATELLI: What is the
14 recommendation of the chair on finance?
15 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: As the
16 chairperson for the committee on finance, I
17 recommend final passage of Item 7-D.
18 MR. COURTRIGHT: Second.
19 MS. GATELLI: On the question? Roll
20 call.
21 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans. Mrs.
22 Fanucci.
23 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Yes.
24 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff.
25 MR. MCGOFF: Yes.
.
43
1 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright.
2 MR. COURTRIGHT: Yes.
3 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli.
4 MS. GATELLI: Yes. I hereby declare
5 Item 7-D legally and lawfully adopted.
6 MS. GARVEY: 7-E, FOR CONSIDERATION
7 BY THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - FOR ADOPTION -
8 FILE OF COUNCIL NO. 76, 2007 - AN ORDINANCE
9 - AMENDING FILE OF THE COUNCIL NO. 100,
10 1976, ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE (AS AMENDED)
11 LEVYING GENERAL AND SPECIAL TAXES FOR THE
12 FISCAL YEAR 1977, BY SETTING THE MILLAGE FOR
13 THE YEAR 2007.
14 MS. GATELLI: What is the
15 recommendation of the chair on finance?
16 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: As
17 recommendation of the chair on finance, I
18 recommend final passage of Item 7-E.
19 MR. COURTRIGHT: Second.
20 MS. GATELLI: On the question? Roll
21 call.
22 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans. Mrs.
23 Fanucci.
24 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Yes.
25 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff.
.
44
1 MR. MCGOFF: Yes.
2 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright.
3 MR. COURTRIGHT: No.
4 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli.
5 MS. GATELLI: Yes. I hereby declare
6 Item 7-E legally and lawfully adopted.
7 MS. GARVEY: 7-F, FOR CONSIDERATION
8 BY THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - FOR ADOPTION -
9 FILE OF COUNCIL NO. 77, 2007 - AN ORDINANCE
10 - AMENDING FILE OF THE COUNCIL NO. 17, 1994
11 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE (AS AMENDED)
12 AUTHORIZING THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY
13 OF SCRANTON TO ENACT A WASTE DISPOSAL AND
14 COLLECTION FEE FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING
15 REVENUE TO COVER THE WASTE DISPOSAL AND
16 COLLECTION COSTS INCURRED BY THE CITY OF
17 SCRANTON FOR THE DISPOSAL OF REFUSE, BY
18 IMPOSING A WASTE DISPOSAL AND COLLECTION FEE
19 OF $178.00 FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2007.
20 MS. GATELLI: What is the
21 recommendation of the chair on finance?
22 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: As the
23 chairperson on finance, I recommend final
24 passage of Item 7-F.
25 MR. COURTRIGHT: Second.
.
45
1 MS. GATELLI: On the question? Roll
2 call.
3 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans. Mrs.
4 Fanucci.
5 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Yes.
6 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff.
7 MR. MCGOFF: Yes.
8 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright.
9 MR. COURTRIGHT: Yes.
10 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli.
11 MS. GATELLI: Yes. I hereby declare
12 Item 7-F legally and lawfully adopted.
13 MS. GARVEY: 7-G, FOR CONSIDERATION
14 BY THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - FOR ADOPTION -
15 FILE OF COUNCIL NO. 78, 2007 - AN ORDINANCE
16 - AMENDING FILE OF THE COUNCIL NO. 10 OF
17 2006, AMENDING FILE OF THE COUNCIL 95 OF
18 2005, WHICH IN TURN AMENDED FILE OF COUNCIL
19 NO. 9, 1976 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE ENACTING
20 AND IMPOSING A TAX FOR GENERAL REVENUE
21 PURPOSES ON INDIVIDUALS FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF
22 ENGAGING IN AN OCCUPATION WITHIN THE
23 CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF SCRANTON BY
24 CHANGING THE NAME OF THE TAX TO THE
25 EMERGENCY MUNICIPAL SERVICES TAX, INCREASING
.
46
1 THE AMOUNT OF THE WITHHOLDING TO $52.00, AND
2 DIRECTING THAT THE REVENUE BE USED FOR
3 POLICE FIRE, OR EMERGENCY SERVICES OR FOR
4 ROAD CONSTRUCTION OR MAINTENANCE.
5 MS. GATELLI: What is the
6 recommendation of the chair on finance?
7 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: As chairperson
8 for the committee on finance, I recommend
9 final passage of Item 7-G.
10 MR. COURTRIGHT: Second.
11 MS. GATELLI: On the question? Roll
12 call.
13 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans. Mrs.
14 Fanucci.
15 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Yes.
16 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff.
17 MR. MCGOFF: Yes.
18 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright.
19 MR. COURTRIGHT: Yes.
20 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli.
21 MS. GATELLI: Yes. I hereby declare
22 Item 7-G legally and lawfully adopted.
23 MS. GARVEY: 7-H, FOR CONSIDERATION
24 BY THE COMMITTEE ON RULES - FOR ADOPTION -
25 RESOLUTION NO. 123, 2007 - RE-APPOINTMENT OF
.
47
1 ROBERT WAGNER, 1731 CAPOUSE AVENUE,
2 SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, 18509, AS A MEMBER
3 OF THE SCRANTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
4 MR. WAGNER'S TERM EXPIRED ON FEBRUARY 4,
5 2006 AND HIS NEW TERM WILL EXPIRE ON
6 FEBRUARY 4, 2011.
7 MS. GATELLI: As chair for the
8 committee on rules, I recommend final
9 passage of Item 7-H.
10 MR. COURTRIGHT: Second.
11 MS. GATELLI: On the question? Roll
12 call.
13 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans. Mrs.
14 Fanucci.
15 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Yes.
16 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff.
17 MR. MCGOFF: Yes.
18 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright.
19 MR. COURTRIGHT: Yes.
20 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli.
21 MS. GATELLI: Yes. I hereby declare
22 Item 7-H legally and lawfully adopted.
23 MS. GARVEY: 7-I, FOR CONSIDERATION
24 BY THE COMMITTEE ON RULES - FOR ADOPTION -
25 RESOLUTION NO. 124, 2007 - APPOINTMENT OF
.
48
1 MARCIE HERMAN RIEBE, 1315 SANDERSON AVENUE,
2 SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, 18509, TO THE
3 SCRANTON RECREATION AUTHORITY. MRS. RIEBE
4 WILL BE FULFILLING THE TERM OF JOSEPH
5 O'CONNOR AND HER TERM WILL EXPIRE ON MARCH
6 1, 2011.
7 MS. GATELLI: As chair for the
8 committee on rules, I recommend final
9 passage of Item 7-I.
10 MR. COURTRIGHT: Second.
11 MS. GATELLI: On the question? Roll
12 call.
13 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans. Mrs.
14 Fanucci.
15 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Yes.
16 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff.
17 MR. MCGOFF: Yes.
18 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright.
19 MR. COURTRIGHT: Yes.
20 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli.
21 MS. GATELLI: Yes. I hereby declare
22 Item 7-I legally and lawfully adopted.
23 MS. GARVEY: 7-J, FOR CONSIDERATION
24 BY THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT -
25 FOR ADOPTION - RESOLUTION NO. 125, 2007 -
.
49
1 ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE
2 HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD (HARB)
3 AND APPROVING THE CERTIFICATE OF
4 APPROPRIATENESS FOR HARTLEY & ESGRO
5 WATERPROOFING CO., INC., 312 S. SHERMAN
6 AVENUE, SCRANTON, PA 18504 FOR MASONRY
7 REPAIR ON THE SCRANTON LIFE BUILDING, 538
8 SPRUCE STREET, SCRANTON.
9 MS. GATELLI: What is the
10 recommendation of the chair on community
11 development?
12 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: As chair on the
13 committee on community development, I
14 recommend final passage of Item 7-J.
15 MR. COURTRIGHT: Second.
16 MS. GATELLI: On the question? Roll
17 call.
18 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans. Mrs.
19 Fanucci.
20 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Yes.
21 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff.
22 MR. MCGOFF: Yes.
23 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright.
24 MR. COURTRIGHT: Yes.
25 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli.
.
50
1 MS. GATELLI: Yes. I hereby declare
2 Item 7-J legally and lawfully adopted.
3 MS. GARVEY: 7-K, FOR CONSIDERATION
4 BY THE COMMITTEE ON RULES - FOR ADOPTION -
5 RESOLUTION NO. 126, 2007 - AUTHORIZING THE
6 MAYOR AND OTHER APPROPRIATE CITY OFFICIALS
7 TO EXECUTE AND ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR
8 INSURANCE WITH HARIE INSURANCE EXCHANGE,
9 NATIONAL CASUALTY, PHILADELPHIA INSURANCE
10 COMPANY AND CONTINENTAL CASUALTY COMPANY FOR
11 THE CITY INSURANCE COVERAGES FOR THE PERIOD
12 JANUARY 1, 2007 THROUGH JANUARY 1, 2008.
13 MS. GATELLI: As chair for the
14 committee on rules, I recommend final
15 passage of Item 7-K.
16 MR. COURTRIGHT: Second.
17 MS. GATELLI: On the question? Roll
18 call.
19 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans. Mrs.
20 Fanucci.
21 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Yes.
22 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff.
23 MR. MCGOFF: Yes.
24 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright.
25 MR. COURTRIGHT: Yes.
.
51
1 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli.
2 MS. GATELLI: Yes. I hereby declare
3 Item 7-K legally and lawfully adopted.
4 MS. GARVEY: Eighth order. Citizens
5 participation II, general city issues.
6 MS. GATELLI: Douglas Miller.
7 MR. MILLER: Good evening, Council,
8 Doug Miller. I, again, would just like to
9 reiterate on what I said before about the
10 Junior Council speaking.
11 Again, I don't think it's right that
12 we're included in the citizens participation
13 segment of this meeting. I think there
14 should be a time set aside for us to present
15 what we have on whatever meeting we're at
16 here.
17 And I just want to ask a question.
18 It comes to my attention it was brought up
19 that there was an ordinance or a law that
20 says that the Junior Council has to speak in
21 citizens participation. I don't know if
22 that's true or not, and if it is, could
23 someone possibly answer that for me, that we
24 have to follow the same rules of Council,
25 the meeting, speaking-wise?
.
52
1 MS. GATELLI: No. I don't think
2 there are any rules for the Junior Council.
3 MR. MINORA: You've established a
4 rule for citizen participation.
5 MS. GATELLI: Pardon? I can't hear
6 you.
7 MR. MINORA: I said there's a rule
8 established for citizens participation. The
9 rule applies to anybody addressing Council.
10 The exception -- there aren't any exception
11 to the rule, otherwise it wouldn't a rule,
12 it would be a mere suggestion.
13 So, Junior Council should abide by
14 the same rules as everybody else in
15 addressing Council during the citizen
16 participation portion of the meeting.
17 MR. MILLER: Yeah, and that's the
18 problem that I do have is that we're not
19 citizens participation, we're a Junior
20 Council and we're here.
21 We sit up here with City Council to
22 address issues and ask questions. That's
23 why we're here, to ask questions, because
24 we're still learning here. That's why we're
25 here.
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1 So, to make us speak on the agenda,
2 when honestly, you know, we really can't
3 because it's stuff we don't understand. And
4 we're learning. That's why we're here, to
5 learn what's on the agenda and then ask
6 questions.
7 So, to say that we need to follow
8 the same regulations as citizens, I just
9 don't think it's right. Again, I ask
10 Council to please consider making a motion
11 to set aside a certain time for us to speak.
12 And, again, too, just one more thing
13 regarding this, I believe at the school
14 board meetings, time is set aside for
15 student representatives that represent their
16 respected school, and they speak on issues
17 regarding their school, and time is set
18 aside for them. So I don't understand why
19 we just can't do that here. I'm going to
20 move on. You know, I don't want to use my
21 three minutes up.
22 The City of Wilkes-Barre has
23 expressed interest in forming a Junior City
24 Council, and we have been asked by a
25 Wilkes-Barre Council member to possibly
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54
1 attend one of their Council meetings to
2 discuss the operation of our Council.
3 And I would like to ask Council
4 President Gatelli if when we are invited, if
5 we would be permitted to attend.
6 MS. GATELLI: That's up to you,
7 Douglas.
8 MR. MILLER: Well, I just wanted to
9 get your permission.
10 MS. GATELLI: Yeah.
11 MR. MILLER: Okay.
12 MR. MINORA: That's three minutes.
13 MR. MILLER: I do have a question
14 for Council tonight. What is the proper
15 procedure for someone -- when someone comes
16 into this city and buy property owned by the
17 city to put it back on the tax rolls, is it
18 a bidding process or do you have to go
19 through real estate? What is the proper
20 procedure? Can someone possibly answer that
21 for me?
22 MS. GATELLI: Well, it depends on
23 the property, Douglas, but I'll spell that
24 out for you next week. Thank you.
25 MR. MILLER: Okay. Because I just
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55
1 think, you know, maybe if we do get somebody
2 to come in that's interested, they would
3 want to buy property in this city and we
4 will get them back on the tax rolls.
5 MS. GATELLI: Okay. Thank you.
6 Laura Kreig.
7 MR. MILLER: I have two more.
8 MS. GATELLI: Your time is up,
9 Douglas. Laura Kreig.
10 MS. KREIG: Good evening. My name
11 is Laura Kreig, and I'm from West Scranton.
12 And just to refresh your memory, that was my
13 son that was all brutally beaten, stabbed
14 and left for dead in front of the Barnwood
15 Bar on Luzerne Street a year ago next month.
16 I have two questions for Attorney Minora .
17 MR. MINORA: Could you pull the
18 microphone down a little bit?
19 MS. KREIG: I have two questions for
20 Attorney Minora. Can you please explain to
21 me how Joe Joe Carmanno is getting away with
22 withholding information --
23 MS. GATELLI: Excuse me. Please
24 don't bring up any names here.
25 MS. KREIG: Oh, I'm sorry.
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56
1 MR. MINORA: I have no idea who
2 you're talking about anyway.
3 MS. KREIG: Okay. Isn't it against
4 the law to withhold information in an
5 attempted homicide investigation?
6 MR. MINORA: I don't really know
7 what you mean.
8 MS. KREIG: You're an attorney,
9 right?
10 MR. MINORA: I don't know what you
11 mean. Yes, I'm an attorney, I'm positive of
12 that, but I don't know what you mean.
13 MS. KREIG: Is it against the law to
14 withhold information in an attempted
15 homicide investigation?
16 MR. MINORA: Nobody's required to
17 come forward with information. This is not
18 a police state. If you're asked something
19 by a police officer and you give false
20 information, then you can be held liable for
21 false reports to law enforcement officers.
22 MS. KREIG: Okay. And how do I go
23 about filing those charges?
24 MR. MINORA: You don't. A police
25 officer does when he receives false
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57
1 information and becomes aware of that.
2 MS. KREIG: Well, they closed the
3 case. And I have -- my second question is,
4 whatever happened to the Commonwealth, like,
5 where did the Commonwealth go?
6 MR. MINORA: I'm sorry. I don't
7 know what you mean by where did the
8 Commonwealth go.
9 MS. KREIG: Well, I believe if my
10 son didn't want to press charges against
11 these three young men that brutally beat and
12 stabbed him --
13 MR. MINORA: He did not want to?
14 MS. KREIG: My son does want to
15 press charges.
16 MR. MINORA: He does want to?
17 MS. KREIG: He does, and the
18 detectives closed the case and said he
19 wasn't cooperating, when we're the one that
20 provided him with all the information.
21 MR. MINORA: I honestly -- I'd like
22 to be able to answer your question, but I
23 don't know how to answer that. If it's a
24 police officer -- if a police officer closes
25 a case because he has no cooperation from
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58
1 the victim, and you're telling me, well, he
2 was cooperating, I don't know how to answer
3 that.
4 You've told me there's two
5 conflicting stories, and how can I know
6 which one is correct or which one is
7 accurate sitting here, when I know neither
8 party personally, or have I -- I've never
9 heard either one tell me their side of it.
10 You're asking me to make a decision
11 based on your representation of the two
12 sides of the story. It's just something --
13 I don't mean to be smug. I understand
14 you've got a problem, I just don't know how
15 to answer a question in a situation that
16 you've posed.
17 MS. KREIG: All right. For
18 instance, can I give you an example? There
19 was a young man over --
20 MR. MINORA: I'll tell you what,
21 your three minutes is up, but if you want to
22 talk to me afterwards, I will wait around
23 and talk to you, okay?
24 MS. KREIG: Yes.
25 MR. MINORA: Okay. I'll be glad to.
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59
1 MS. KREIG: Thank you very much.
2 MS. GATELLI: Thank you. Les
3 Spindler.
4 MR. SPINDLER: Good evening,
5 Council, Les Spindler, city resident. Mrs.
6 Gatelli, could I ask Mrs. Fanucci some
7 questions? Mrs. Gatelli, could I ask Mrs.
8 Fanucci some questions?
9 Mrs. Fanucci, a few weeks ago I
10 asked you a question about PEL, why they
11 didn't allow Mayor Connors to have a public
12 safety director and they're allowing Mr.
13 Doherty, did you get an answer to that?
14 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: No, I did not.
15 MR. SPINDLER: Figures. Different
16 week, same old story, no answers.
17 Next thing, last week, Mrs. Fanucci,
18 you said all issues are important, remember
19 that?
20 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Yes, I did.
21 MR. SPINDLER: Well, if that's the
22 case, why is it that I've come here and
23 mentioned many times about a problem the
24 city caused on my property and my sidewalks
25 are flooded every time it rains and not one
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60
1 of you has shown up to see if that problem
2 could be solved? Wasn't that an important
3 issue?
4 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: I never said it
5 wasn't important, Les.
6 MR. SPINDLER: Well, how come
7 nothing has ever been done? I've been up
8 here countless times mentioning that.
9 Again, no answers.
10 MS. GATELLI: Mr. Spindler, would
11 you like me to answer that? I know you were
12 addressing Mrs. Fanucci, but I know I did
13 send at least two letters on your behalf
14 down to the DPW on that issue, and for Mr.
15 Torquatto, was that his name across the
16 street?
17 MR. SPINDLER: Yes. Nothing has
18 been done. Has it been followed up on?
19 MS. GATELLI: We'll send another
20 letter for you. Would you like one of us to
21 come over and see it?
22 MR. SPINDLER: Well, it would be
23 better if you came over when it rains. You
24 can't see anything now.
25 MS. GATELLI: All right. Well, give
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61
1 us a call when it happens, and if we're
2 available, we'll come over.
3 MR. SPINDLER: Okay. The next
4 thing, something else, Mrs. Fanucci, last
5 week you chastised people who were up here
6 speaking about all the kids smoking in front
7 of the high schools, do you think it's okay
8 --
9 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: That's not
10 accurate, Mr. Spindler. Are you asking me a
11 question?
12 MR. SPINDLER: It is.
13 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: Chastising was
14 not the word. What I said was, let's not
15 make issues out of --
16 MR. SPINDLER: You said they were
17 wrong.
18 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: No, that's not
19 what I said.
20 MR. SPINDLER: You said they were
21 wrong in talking about these kids who were
22 smoking.
23 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: I certainly did
24 not. What I said was -- would you like me
25 to tell you what I said? I certainly would
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62
1 love to tell you.
2 What I said was, I don't believe
3 that trying to change a ordinance or a rule
4 and pocking at children is the issue.
5 What was happening here was let's
6 blame the kids, they're smoking. So, it
7 wasn't that. We were getting off of -- the
8 smoking ban, which was the issue, not the
9 children smoking. I did not chastise
10 anyone.
11 What I said was I don't believe that
12 we should be out --
13 MR. SPINDLER: I think if you look
14 at the tape you will see --
15 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: I've looked at
16 the tape, Mr. Spindler, but go ahead.
17 MR. SPINDLER: Well, from what I got
18 out of that, it seems like you think it's
19 okay for teenage kids to smoke.
20 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: I certainly
21 don't think -- do you think I would spend
22 all this time on a smoking ban if I thought
23 it was okay for teenagers to smoke? Now,
24 come on. Now, Les, we know -- we know
25 better than that.
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63
1 MR. SPINDLER: It sure sounded that
2 way on the tape.
3 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: You and I know
4 better than that. Go ahead.
5 MS. SPINDLER: I know better than
6 that.
7 MS. NEALON FANUCCI: I know, so --
8 MR. MINORA: That's your three
9 minutes. Three minutes.
10 MR. SPINDLER: Thank you for your
11 time.
12 MS. GATELLI: Thank you. Christine
13 Santarsiero.
14 MS. SANTARSIERO: Good evening. I'm
15 here tonight to speak once again about the
16 Clubhouse Bar located at 1201 Capouse
17 Avenue.
18 In November of 2006, it was closed
19 as a nuisance bar and the rooming house was
20 condemned. The closing was a much
21 publicized event. Members of the drug task
22 force, the liquor control board, the city
23 detectives, the police department, members
24 of the District Attorney's Office, the
25 deputy director of public safety, Mr.
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64
1 Fiorini and Mayor Doherty were all present
2 and eager to boost to the public that they
3 had eliminated a very dangerous
4 establishment in their city.
5 Everyone was happy to accept their
6 part in the closing of this establishment.
7 I was the person who made hundreds of phone
8 calls, the person who obtained and provided
9 the copies of the police reports, and then
10 spoke at City Council.
11 I was the person who took the
12 surveys around to all the neighbors and
13 businesses so that we could finally close
14 this business.
15 During the last two weeks I have
16 again spoken with many of these same
17 individuals, including members of the
18 inspections office.
19 I was told on the day of the
20 closing, and I quote, the boarding house has
21 tens of thousands of dollars of violations,
22 and to reopen, the state will have to come
23 in and inspect a new boiler.
24 Just to name a few of the
25 violations, heating, plumbing, smoke alarms,
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65
1 and the fire escape.
2 Well, first of all, tens of
3 thousands of dollars of violations do not
4 happen overnight, nor do they happen in a
5 day, a week or a month. Many of the
6 violations were present for months or years.
7 This building was passing
8 inspections year after year by inspectors
9 who are employed by the city.
10 I was recently informed that not
11 one, but many different employees, are
12 responsible for the various inspections.
13 I am sorry to admit, but I, along
14 with anyone else who hears this story, have
15 little faith in the integrity of the
16 inspectors employed by the City of Scranton.
17 I was told by an acquaintance that
18 the owner and his attorney had met with Mr.
19 Fiorini in the inspections department and
20 that they found a way around the state
21 inspection.
22 They can put in electric baseboard
23 heat in each room and then it will only have
24 to be inspected by the city. Work began
25 shortly after on this building.
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66
1 Men began running electrical wiring.
2 I called and spoke to Joanne in the permit
3 department on January 3. She said no
4 permits were issued for this location.
5 She stated she would send someone
6 there to check it out. I called the office
7 two more times on that day and left a voice
8 mail message for the electrical inspector.
9 Jack called me back late that
10 evening and said he never received a message
11 to go to that location, but will check and
12 called me back the next morning.
13 He did return my call the next day
14 and said he had spoken to Mr. Fiorini, who
15 stated he had already taken care of that.
16 I had already spoken that morning to
17 Mr. Fiorini. Mr. Fiorini said, and I quote,
18 people always come in a day or two after
19 they start work, everyone does this.
20 I said, That is illegal, though,
21 right? He said, Mind your own business, and
22 hung up on me.
23 There was again an electrical person
24 working on Saturday, January 13. We
25 approached the person and asked if he had
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67
1 permits. He stated yes.
2 We asked why it was not posted, and
3 he said I didn't know they had to be. He
4 then immediately packed his tools and left.
5 To my knowledge, he has not returned.
6 MR. MINORA: Three minutes.
7 MS. SANTARSIERO: I just have two
8 more paragraphs. Can I finish or -- okay.
9 I am not sure what recourse citizens have in
10 these circumstances.
11 I just thought it was really ironic
12 that an article was printed in Monday's
13 paper stating that the city crime stats are
14 the envy of the state.
15 They should read the police reports
16 for The Clubhouse, one single location, and
17 would envy no more.
18 The police reports to The Clubhouse
19 were nearly 300 for