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1 SCRANTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING
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5 HELD:
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7 Tuesday, July 7, 2009
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9 LOCATION:
10 Council Chambers
11 Scranton City Hall
12 340 North Washington Avenue
13 Scranton, Pennsylvania
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CATHENE S. NARDOZZI, RPR - OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
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2 CITY OF SCRANTON COUNCIL:
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MR. ROBERT MCGOFF, PRESIDENT
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6 MS. JUDY GATELLI, VICE-PRESIDENT
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MS. JANET E. EVANS
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9 MS. SHERRY FANUCCI
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MR. WILLIAM COURTRIGHT
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12 MS. KAY GARVEY, CITY CLERK
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MR. NEIL COOLICAN, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
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15 MR. AMIL MINORA, SOLICITOR
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1 (Pledge of Allegiance recited and
2 moment of reflection observed.)
3 MR. MCGOFF: Roll call, please?
4 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans.
5 MS. EVANS: Here.
6 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli.
7 MS. GATELLI: Here.
8 MR. COOLICAN: Ms. Fanucci.
9 MS. FANUCCI: Here.
10 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright.
11 MR. COURTRIGHT: Here.
12 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff.
13 MR. MCGOFF: Here.
14 MR. MCGOFF: Dispense with the
15 reading of the minutes.
16 MS. GARVEY: There is no business in
17 Third Order.
18 MR. MCGOFF: I'd like to make a
19 motion to suspend the rules and to move -- I
20 don't know how to word this properly, I'd
21 like to suspend the rules and we will have a
22 citizens' participation on agenda items only
23 in Fourth Order, and then move to 5-B, and
24 then we'll have citizens' participation
25 again after the business portion. Sorry.
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1 MR. COURTRIGHT: Second.
2 MR. MCGOFF: All in favor.
3 MS. EVANS: Aye.
4 MS. FANUCCI: Aye.
5 MS. GATELLI: Aye.
6 MR. COURTRIGHT: Aye.
7 MR. MCGOFF: Aye. Opposed? The
8 ayes have it and so moved. Anything from
9 council? Please.
10 MS. EVANS: Please remember in your
11 prayers all those who have died in the last
12 week, particularly Kay Travato, a beautiful
13 and courageous woman who I had the great
14 pleasure of knowing and her loving family
15 and friends she leaves behind, especially
16 her faithful companion, Walter David.
17 The Immaculate Conception Church
18 picnic will be held Thursday, Friday,
19 Saturday June, 9th 10th and 11th in East
20 Scranton.
21 The Kids Swim Free Program continues
22 to accept donations for children to swim at
23 Nay Aug Park swim complex free of charge
24 this summer. You have may mail donations
25 to: Kids Swim Free Program, 1416 South
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1 Webster Avenue, Scranton, Pennsylvania,
2 18505.
3 And to city residents who were
4 concerned about the sidewalk drop off
5 between Buona Pizza and the new development
6 it was taken care of. I saw the improvement
7 last week as I drove by the 500 block of
8 Lackawanna Avenue, and that's it.
9 MR COURTRIGHT: I'd just like to say
10 that today is my daughter Lindsey's birthday
11 and I'd just like to wish her a happy
12 birthday, if I may.
13 MS. EVANS: Happy birthday.
14 MR. MCGOFF: Anything else?
15 MS. GATELLI: I just have two items
16 to make everyone aware that the block grant
17 applications are now available and they are
18 due on August 7, as well as the emergency
19 shelter grant applications. And that's all
20 I have.
21 MR. MCGOFF: Thank you. We will now
22 have citizens' participation on agenda
23 items. Anyone wishing to speak.
24 MR. SBARAGLIA: I didn't understand
25 you quite what you were saying, I still
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1 don't, but that's okay, but your lawyer can
2 check and see we have a -- we have a
3 stipulation from the Courts saying this is
4 an open forum and anything you want to speak
5 up or anything with the city can be done.
6 You cannot suspend that, okay?
7 MR. MCGOFF: Nobody has.
8 MR. SBARAGLIA: What did you just
9 say?
10 MS. GATELLI: You're going to have
11 two opportunities to talk, Andy.
12 MR. SBARAGALIA: Oh, is that what you
13 were saying because it's a little confusing
14 there.
15 MS. GATELLI: The first time you can
16 talk about agenda only, and the second time
17 your five minutes or whatever you want.
18 MR. SBARAGLIA: Okay.
19 MS. GATELLI: It's being done for me
20 because I'm working and I might not be able
21 to stay for the whole meeting.
22 MR. SBARAGLIA: Okay.
23 MS. GATELLI: And I thank my
24 colleagues for allowing me to participate in
25 the meeting because I'm working during the
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1 daytime for the summer, and they have been
2 so kind as to accommodate me. If anyone has
3 any questions for me and I have to leave
4 early, please feel free to call my home, my
5 number is in the book, and I again thank my
6 colleagues for being so cooperative.
7 MR. SBARAGLIA: Okay. Now that we
8 know what you are doing, I was a little
9 confused there because you were saying you
10 were suspending. Okay. Well, I am going
11 go -- go to your 7-D, this insurance policy
12 for the slide at Nay Aug. Now, you all know
13 what the stipulation said. There is no
14 question about that. The other question is
15 why wasn't this put on the regular
16 insurance? What's the reasoning behind it?
17 Did any of you ever question the mayor?
18 What's the reason behind the separate
19 insurance?
20 MR. MCGOFF: No one has asked the
21 city to get separate insurance. A
22 supplemental policy because the water slide
23 is considered an amusement ride and that
24 there are only certain carriers that cover
25 amusements rides.
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1 MR. SBARAGLIA: I realize that, but
2 now you got a stipulation in there. What is
3 the rating on this company and have you
4 asked for the rating?
5 MR. MCGOFF: "A" plus.
6 MR. SBARAGLIA: It's an "A" plus
7 rating? Okay, I guess they have been in
8 business awhile, but that stipulation
9 worries me. I don't know why, maybe because
10 of AIG. That worries me. Well, since we
11 can only go to agenda items we might as well
12 go through them, we got plenty of time to go
13 through them. You are looking for a grant
14 on this for Battaglia Field I think it was,
15 the old Oxford Plot, something with the
16 parking lot, $50,000 for a parking lot?
17 $20,000?
18 MS. GATELLI: $20,000.
19 MR. SBARAGLIA: Let me read, 25,
20 okay. Purchase a gazebo. Sight work at
21 Connors Park, now we want a gazebo up there,
22 okay. And, well, mainly that's about it.
23 There isn't much on it that you can really
24 get into with it. It's very cut and dry
25 other than the grants. Oh, there you go,
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1 it's in the first, $20,000. Another
2 $25,000. Okay. We'll get you.
3 MR. QUINN: Good morning, Ozzie
4 Quinn, Taxpayers' Association. 7-D, Knowles
5 contract.
6 MS. GATELLI: 6-d.
7 MR. QUINN: 6-D.
8 MS. GATELLI: 6-D I think it is.
9 MS. QUINN: Well, okay, six D.
10 MS. GARVEY: 7-D.
11 MR. QUINN: 7-D.
12 MR. MCGOFF: Seven.
13 MR. QUINN: 7-D; right?
14 MS. GATELLI: Yes.
15 MR. QUINN: I thought maybe you had
16 two contracts. The clock is running. Okay.
17 I studied sociology in college and a lot of
18 people probably studied -- maybe you did
19 study sociology or history, but in the late
20 19 and early 20th century there is what they
21 call the social gospel, and it was related
22 to what you would call now social injustice,
23 and actually what it meant is that your
24 budget should be more or less leaning to low
25 income people, okay? And through the years
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1 through greed, especially now, you see a lot
2 of that, and that's really knocked out a lot
3 of the poor people from receiving things
4 that they should receive.
5 Now, why I bring the Knowell's
6 contract up is because of the fact there is
7 a contract that's coming out and it's an
8 exceptional contract, but there was no RFP,
9 was there? How much is the contract? There
10 is nothing that I know. I don't know. I
11 mean, we are throwing money away and we have
12 a 2.5 hole in the budget. The other thing
13 is that I don't know if you knew it, but I
14 know it because I live close to Nay Aug down
15 and by Bunker Hill, they had fireworks up
16 there on June 27 and they lasted 45 minutes
17 by a professional person, okay, and they
18 outdo the Scranton Stadium fireworks and
19 everybody else's. Is that five minutes?
20 MR. MCGOFF: Only three.
21 MR. COURTRIGHT: Three.
22 MR. QUINN: Well, anyway, what I
23 want to say is that this money we have
24 people who are going around with property
25 owners, foreclosure, leaky roof, electric
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1 problems and Doherty continues --
2 Mr. Doherty continues to be an elitist and
3 that's what the social injustice is all
4 about, getting away from spending that money
5 just for the elitist. Applying it to the
6 social gospel, the people that need it. We
7 are $170 million in debt and if you start
8 giving out things and RFP's and what you are
9 doing and council should be on top of this
10 and stop it. $170 million. Thank you.
11 MS. SCHUMACHER: Marie Schumacher,
12 resident and member of the Taxpayers'
13 Association. On 5-C, is this in addition to
14 the grant that supposedly if the caption
15 under the picture was right in today's paper
16 was from the county for a gazebo and related
17 site work. If it's not and it's a
18 duplication of what the county has given is
19 this going to be a $50,000 gazebo?
20 MS. FANUCCI: I'm not sure I
21 understand.
22 MS. GATELLI: The account in today's
23 paper was Billy Barrett Park.
24 MS. FANUCCI: It was a different
25 park.
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1 MS. GATELLI: It's a different park.
2 MS. SCHUMACHER: Connors.
3 MS. GATELLI: No, was --
4 MS. SCHUMACHER: There's a picture --
5 MS. GATELLI: Was Janet in the
6 picture and me?
7 MS. SCHUMACHER: Yeah.
8 MS. FANUCCI: Then it was Billy
9 Barrett Park.
10 MS. SCHUMACHER: No, I don't believe
11 you were.
12 MS. GATELLI: Well, they told me I
13 was in there, someone at work told me, and
14 it's Billy Barrett Park, not this park.
15 MS. SCHUMACHER: Do you have copy?
16 Okay, I didn't bring the picture.
17 MS. GATELLI: Yeah, it's from Billy
18 Barrett Park on Colliery Avenue in Minooka.
19 MS. SCHUMACHER: And what is this
20 gazebo going to consist of? Twenty-give
21 grand sounds like a lot. I can go up to
22 Hamlin and see where they make gazebos and
23 sheds and they are lot less expensive than
24 $25,000.
25 MR. COURTRIGHT: There is more than
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1 just the gazebo. There is -- I don't know
2 what to read the whole thing to you, but
3 there is what they are calling site work.
4 It's not 25 grand just for the gazebo.
5 MS. SCHUMACHER: They did site work
6 last year. How many times are we going to
7 pay for the same thing?
8 MR. COURTRIGHT: I don't know.
9 MS. SCHUMACHER: And then the other
10 thing on 7-B, will this -- is this the final
11 purchase that is needed to comply with 2008
12 legislation or is there more to come?
13 MR. MCGOFF: I don't know.
14 MS. SCHUMACHER: Sad. Thank you.
15 MR. SPINDLER: Les Spindler, Scranton
16 homeowner, taxpayer. They want to give
17 Knowells the insurance policy on the slide,
18 it's funny Knowells contributed $2,750 to
19 Mayor Doherty's campaign and now you want to
20 give them the contract for the insurance on
21 the slide. Sounds like payment for them
22 contributing to Mayor Doherty's campaign
23 pain to me. Why don't we give to someone
24 else that is more deserving of it. As
25 Mrs. Fanucci said, it sounds like Scranton
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1 politics at it's worst to me. Thank you.
2 MS. FANUCCI: That was about the
3 school board though, Les, let's just clarify
4 that.
5 MR. SPINDLER: Yeah, I know.
6 MR. MCGOFF: Anyone else? Thank you.
7 Go to 5-B.
8 MS. GARVEY: 5-B. FOR INTRODUCTION -
9 A RESOLUTION - AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND
10 OTHER APPROPRIATE CITY OFFICIALS TO ENTER
11 INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE COMMONWEALTH OF
12 PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND
13 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ("DCED") FOR THE
14 COMMUNITY CONSERVATION AND EMPLOYMENT
15 PROGRAM CONTRACT NUMBER C000043365 TO
16 RECEIVE A $20,000.00 GRANT TO MAKE UPGRADES
17 TO BATTAGLIA FIELD'S PARKING LOT.
18 MR. MCGOFF: At this time I'll
19 entertain a motion that Item 5-B be
20 introduced into it's proper committee.
21 MR. COURTRIGHT: So moved.
22 MS. FANUCCI: Second.
23 MR. MCGOFF: On the question?
24 MR. COURTRIGHT: On the question, I
25 don't think 20,000 is even going to touch
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1 what they need to do to that parking lot to
2 be honest with you. My hope is that they
3 put in for CDBG money this year and they get
4 it because it needs an awful lot of work
5 down there. I think, as we all know, West
6 Scranton High School doesn't have an actual
7 field that they play in and that's where
8 they play, and I believe at one time they
9 told me when they have a tournament maybe 11
10 or 13 different states come down there and
11 play ball there, so I hope to see them get
12 much more money. It needs a lot of work
13 down there.
14 MR. MCGOFF: Anyone else on the
15 question? All those in favor signify by
16 saying aye.
17 MS. EVANS: Aye.
18 MS. FANUCCI: Aye.
19 MS. GATELLI: Aye.
20 MR. COURTRIGHT: Aye.
21 MR. MCGOFF: Aye. Opposed? The
22 ayes have it and so moved.
23 MS. GARVEY: 5-C. FOR INTRODUCTION -
24 A RESOLUTION - AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND
25 OTHER APPROPRIATE CITY OFFICIALS TO ENTER
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1 INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE COMMONWEALTH OF
2 PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND
3 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ("DCED") FOR THE
4 COMMUNITY CONSERVATION EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
5 CONTRACT NUMBER C000043366 TO RECEIVE A
6 $25,000.00 GRANT FOR THE PURCHASE AND
7 INSTALLATION OF A GAZEBO AND RELATED SITE
8 WORK AT ORCHARD STREET PLAYGROUND (CONNORS
9 PARK).
10 MR. MCGOFF: At this time I'll
11 entertain a motion that Item 5-C be
12 introduced into it's proper committee.
13 MR. COURTRIGHT: So moved.
14 MS. FANUCCI: Second.
15 MR. MCGOFF: On the question? All
16 in favor signify by saying aye.
17 MS. EVANS: Aye.
18 MS. FANUCCI: Aye.
19 MS. GATELLI: Aye.
20 MR. COURTRIGHT: Aye.
21 MR. MCGOFF: Aye. Opposed? The
22 ayes have it and so moved.
23 MS. GARVEY: 5-D. FOR INTRODUCTION -
24 A RESOLUTION - APPOINTMENT OF THELMA
25 WHEELER, 1001 JACKSON STREET, APARTMENT 303,
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1 SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, 18504, AS A MEMBER
2 OF THE BOARD OF THE SCRANTON HOUSING
3 AUTHORITY. MS. WHEELER WILL FILL THE
4 UNEXPIRED TERM OF BOARD MEMBER JANE MCCARTHY
5 WHO PASSED AWAY ON JUNE 15, 2009. MS.
6 WHEELER'S TERM WILL EXPIRE ON SEPTEMBER 27,
7 2013.
8 MR. MCGOFF: At this time I'll
9 entertain a motion that Item 5-D be
10 introduced into it's proper committee.
11 MR. COURTRIGHT: So moved.
12 MS. FANUCCI: Second.
13 MR. MCGOFF: On the question? All
14 in favor signify by saying aye.
15 MS. EVANS: Aye.
16 MS. FANUCCI: Aye.
17 MS. GATELLI: Aye.
18 MR. COURTRIGHT: Aye.
19 MR. MCGOFF: Aye. Opposed? The
20 ayes have it and so moved.
21 MS. GARVEY: SIXTH ORDER. NO
22 BUSINESS AT THIS TIME. SEVENTH ORDER. 7-A.
23 FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC
24 SAFETY - FOR ADOPTION - FILE OF COUNCIL NO.
25 73, 2009 - REMOVAL OF PARKING METERS LOCATED
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1 IN THE 700 BLOCK OF QUINCY AVENUE, BETWEEN
2 GIBSON AND PINE STREETS, AND IN THE 900 AND
3 1000 BLOCKS OF PINE STREET BETWEEN MONROE
4 AVENUE AND COSTELLO COURT, AS MORE
5 PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE CORRESPONDENCE
6 AND ON THE DIAGRAM FROM MOSES TAYLOR
7 HOSPITAL ATTACHED HERETO AND THEREAFTER, TO
8 INSTITUTE DAILY PERMIT PARKING FOR MOSES
9 TAYLOR HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES.
10 MR. MCGOFF: What is the
11 recommendation of the Chair for the
12 Committee on Public Safety?
13 MR. COURTRIGHT: As Chairperson for
14 the Committee on Public Safety, I recommend
15 final passage of Item 7-A.
16 MS. FANUCCI: Second.
17 MR. MCGOFF: On the question? Roll
18 call, please?
19 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans.
20 MS. EVANS: Yes.
21 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli.
22 MS. GATELLI. Yes.
23 MR. COOLICAN: Ms. Fanucci.
24 MS. FANUCCI: Yes.
25 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright.
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1 MR. COURTRIGHT: Yes.
2 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff.
3 MR. MCGOFF: Yes. I hereby declare
4 Item 7-A legally and lawfully adopted.
5 MS. GARVEY: 7-B. FOR CONSIDERATION
6 BY THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - FOR ADOPTION -
7 RESOLUTION NO. 158, 2009 AUTHORIZING THE
8 MAYOR AND OTHER APPROPRIATE CITY OFFICIALS
9 TO EXECUTE AND ENTER INTO A PUBLIC ENTITY
10 INSTALLMENT PAYMENT AGREEMENT WITH DELL
11 FINANCIAL SERVICES, L.L.C. TO PURCHASE
12 DATOSPHERE SOFTWARE THROUGH THE STATE
13 SOFTWARE CONTRACT WITH DELL/ASAP CONTRACT
14 NUMBER 581010 WITH ANNUAL PAYMENTS OVER A
15 THREE YEAR PERIOD.
16 MR. MCGOFF: What is the
17 recommendation of the Chairperson for the
18 Committee on Finance?
19 MS. GATELLI: As Chair for the
20 Committee on Finance, I recommend final
21 passage of Item 7-B.
22 MR. COURTRIGHT: Second.
23 MR. MCGOFF: On the question? Roll
24 call, please?
25 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans.
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1 MS. EVANS: Yes.
2 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli.
3 MS. GATELLI. Yes.
4 MR. COOLICAN: Ms. Fanucci.
5 MS. FANUCCI: Yes.
6 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright.
7 MR. COURTRIGHT: Yes.
8 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff.
9 MR. MCGOFF: Yes. I hereby declare
10 Item 7-B legally and lawfully adopted.
11 MS. GARVEY: 7-C. FOR CONSIDERATION
12 BY THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT -
13 FOR ADOPTION - RESOLUTION NO. 159, 2009 -
14 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND OTHER APPROPRIATE
15 CITY OFFICIALS TO EXECUTE AND ACCEPT A GRANT
16 THROUGH THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF
17 CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES ("DCNR")
18 IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,510.00; SINCE THE
19 APPLICATION WAS SUCCESSFUL, EXECUTING THE
20 GRANT AGREEMENT (GRANT CONTRACT) WITH
21 LACKAWANNA HERITAGE VALLEY AUTHORITY
22 ("LHVA") AND ACCEPTING AND DISBURSING THE
23 USE OF THE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE PROJECT TO BE
24 NAMED AS "TREEVITALIZE" METROS PROGRAM.
25 MR. MCGOFF: What is the
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1 recommendation of the Chair for the
2 Committee on Community Development.
3 MS. FANUCCI: As Chairperson for the
4 Committee on Community Development, I
5 recommend final passage of Item 7-C.
6 MR. COURTRIGHT: Second.
7 MR. MCGOFF: On the question? Roll
8 call, please?
9 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans.
10 MS. EVANS: Yes.
11 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli.
12 MS. GATELLI. Yes.
13 MR. COOLICAN: Ms. Fanucci.
14 MS. FANUCCI: Yes.
15 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright.
16 MR. COURTRIGHT: Yes.
17 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff.
18 MR. MCGOFF: Yes. I hereby declare
19 Item 7-C legally and lawfully adopted.
20 MS. GARVEY: 7-D. FOR CONSIDERATION
21 BY THE COMMITTEE ON RULES - FOR ADOPTION -
22 RESOLUTION NO. 160, 2009 - AUTHORIZING THE
23 MAYOR AND OTHER APPROPRIATE CITY OFFICIALS
24 TO EXECUTE AND ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH
25 KNOWLES ASSOCIATES L.L.C. FOR INSURANCE WITH
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1 NAUTILUS INSURANCE COMPANY FOR CITY
2 INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE PERIOD JUNE 12,
3 2009 THROUGH JUNE 12, 2010.
4 MR. MCGOFF: As Chair for the
5 Committee on Rules, I recommend final
6 passage of Item 7-D.
7 MR. COURTRIGHT: Second.
8 MR. MCGOFF: On the question?
9 MS. EVANS: Yes. I know to my
10 knowledge that Knowles Associates has had a
11 contract with the city for insurance for
12 several years now and I also believe that
13 they serve as a body that will seek certain
14 types of information -- or certain types of
15 insurance coverage from various insurance
16 companies and I'm certain that's how
17 Nautilus would have been selected, through
18 Knowles.
19 Now, it's certainly not the ideal
20 situation, as we discussed at council last
21 week, there are viable problems with
22 Nautilus insurance, however, the swimming
23 season has already begun and I think it is
24 very foolish for the city to be uninsured
25 this point. We can hope that next year
23
1 proper measures will be taken well in
2 advance of swim season, but for now I do
3 believe the best course of action is for the
4 city to be insured, so I'll be voting "yes."
5 MR. MCGOFF: I'd just also comment
6 that I am told that this supplemental
7 insurance was put out to bid, that there
8 were three companies than submitted a bid,
9 all of them were from out-of-state because
10 there was no company in state that did this
11 type of insurance on amusement parks and
12 that they chose Nautilus because it was the
13 best bid and the best company that was
14 available. Roll call, please?
15 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans.
16 MS. EVANS: Yes.
17 MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli.
18 MS. GATELLI. Yes.
19 MR. COOLICAN: Ms. Fanucci.
20 MS. FANUCCI: Yes.
21 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright.
22 MR. COURTRIGHT: Yes.
23 MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff.
24 MR. MCGOFF: Yes. I hereby declare
25 Item 7-D legally and lawfully adopted. By
24
1 agreement we are now going to go back to
2 citizens' participation, and I don't have
3 the sheet.
4 MR. SBARAGLIA: I'm first on there.
5 MR. MCGOFF: Thank you, Mr.
6 Sbaraglia. There is not many people to
7 fight with either.
8 MR. SBARAGLIA: I think there was
9 only three on the list. Let's go back to
10 this Nautilus. You know, we have another
11 amusement park at Nay Aug, did anybody ask
12 who covers their insurance?
13 MR. COURTRIGHT: Isn't that private,
14 a private --
15 MS. GATELLI: I think it's private
16 insurance. He has his own insurance because
17 he leases the property.
18 MR. SBARAGLIA: I don't care, he has
19 insurance on an amusement park, that means
20 he is getting covered somewhere.
21 MR. COURTRIGHT: He is paying
22 probably for the coverage because it's his
23 own personal --
24 MR. SBARAGLIA: You telling me he is
25 going to cover a million dollars liability?
25
1 He must have liability insurance.
2 MR. COURTRIGHT: Oh, yeah. Yeah.
3 MR. SBARAGLIA: Did you ever check?
4 That's what we are buying. Did you ever
5 check if he is doing out-of-state, too?
6 MS. FANUCCI: But, Andy, we put it
7 out to bid.
8 MR. SBARAGLIA: I don't know care
9 where he is doing it, is he doing
10 out-of-state insurance? Nautilus putting
11 this out, they are acting as a broker, they
12 are getting a commission, am I right or
13 wrong?
14 MS. FANUCCI: Absolutely.
15 MR. SBARAGLIA: Okay, that answers my
16 question. Okay, let's go back. Let's go
17 back to the mayor's campaign. $600,000 plus
18 spent on a primary, a huge amount of money,
19 most of it coming from outside of Scranton.
20 Doesn't that raise any flags at all with you
21 that anybody would spend -- well, some
22 people don't care about anything, but it
23 should raise flags if you have any
24 reasonable mind, it would raise flags with
25 me. How are they going to get paid back
26
1 $600,000 because people don't do it because
2 they love you, and if you think that then
3 you are living in Alice in Wonderland World.
4 They give you money because they expect
5 something back, one way or another, and so
6 it is with Scranton. Scranton is for sale.
7 Give enough money you can get anything.
8 You complained about the KOZ's, I
9 think the county okayed 22, I believe that
10 was it, city seven, school board one, and
11 there was crying in the streets of -- I
12 guess it is of Scranton or in Mudville. I
13 guess Mudville would be more likely apt to
14 what happened, the mighty Casey has struck
15 out and so was the KOZ's. The school board
16 KO'd most of them, which was probably a good
17 thing for the city, but you were giving a
18 KOZ for a Turkey Hill and a bank and you saw
19 nothing wrong with giving the KOZ to a
20 Turkey Hill because that's a great thing for
21 the city to give them so many years -- and
22 you can shake your head all you want, but
23 Turkey Hill has put application to put the
24 tanks in there already and they already went
25 through zoning, so Turkey Hill is going to
27
1 be there. Thank you.
2 MR. MCGOFF: Ozzie Quinn. Les
3 Spindler.
4 MR. SPINDLER: Morning, Council.
5 Les Spindler, city owner -- homeowner,
6 taxpayer. I'm on vacation this week, that's
7 why I'm here, so I'm going to express my
8 gratitude to the Scranton School Board.
9 Kudos to the Scranton School Board,
10 especially Chris Phillips. They did what
11 was right for the taxpayers. They couldn't
12 in good conscience give the taxpayers a 6
13 percent tax hike and turn around and give
14 millionaires a free ride, whereas
15 Mrs. Gatelli, Mr. McGoff and Mrs. Fanucci
16 don't have a conscience since they whacked
17 the citizens with a 25 percent tax hike, and
18 yet voted to give millionaires a tax break.
19 And poor Austin Burke, he said
20 Scranton is going to lose out on all of
21 these jobs. Well, if Austin Burke did his
22 job we couldn't be losing out on all these
23 jobs. It's his job to sell our city and he
24 shouldn't need KOZ's to help him do it. If
25 he can't do his job without KOZ's maybe we
28
1 need a new president of the Chamber of
2 Commerce.
3 Mrs. Fanucci stated that that was
4 Scranton politics at it's worst. No,
5 Mrs. Fanucci, Scranton politics at it's
6 worst what you being elected for four years
7 as Chris Doherty's puppet. And Mrs. Fanucci
8 also stated about the school board giving
9 out jobs, well, nobody gave out more jobs
10 than your mayor, Chris Doherty. The Sewer
11 Authority has doubled or tripled since he
12 took over and just a few weeks before the
13 election he gave ten people from West
14 Scranton jobs just to get votes from West
15 Side, so nobody is giving more jobs than
16 your mayor, so don't be a hypocrite.
17 Next thing, did your solicitor call
18 Attorney Chris Cullen yet about the stolen
19 signs?
20 MR. MINORA: I wrote him a letter.
21 He hasn't responded.
22 MR. SPINDLER: Okay. Thank you.
23 Okay --
24 MS. GATELLI: Just for the record,
25 Les, I had about 150 signs stolen, so it is
29
1 a thing that happens during elections.
2 MS. FANUCCI: And I had some stolen
3 and they put the firehouse signs in their
4 place.
5 MR. SPINDLER: Charges were filed
6 here and they have two people on videotape
7 that did it and they are both city
8 employees. One is a Scranton police officer
9 and one is a housing director, I won't say
10 their names yet, but I will.
11 MS. GATELLI: Maybe you should go to
12 Andy Jarbola --
13 MR. SPINDLER: Don't use my time up,
14 please.
15 MS. GATELLI: -- and see if he'll
16 file charges.
17 MR. SPINDLER: Charges are filed by
18 the DiBileo campaign and a gentleman on
19 Harrison Avenue. Like I said about the
20 Aroma Cafe giving out fliers or giving out
21 free paninis to vote for Chris Doherty, may
22 I approach, Mr. McGoff?
23 (Mr. Spindler hands council members
24 papers.)
25 MS. GATELLI: Time flies when you
30
1 are having fun, Les.
2 MR. SPINDLER: That was not five
3 minutes. Now, Judge Nealon called -- Judge
4 Nealon called them and told them this was
5 illegal. Chris Doherty should have charges
6 against him for doing this. He tried to buy
7 votes, and as I said, Judge Nealon said it's
8 illegal, so somebody should -- you people
9 should go to the DA and have charges brought
10 against this man. He is the most corrupt
11 mayor we have ever had in this city.
12 Oh, next thing, in Wilkes-Barre a
13 week or so ago, maybe you heard about it,
14 two pitbulls attacked a gentleman walking
15 his dog on the new river common there and
16 the dog was bitten up so bad it had to be
17 put down. Now, that was in Wilkes-Barre,
18 but again, it just brings up another example
19 of what viscous dogs they are and I brought
20 this up about four years ago and still
21 nothing has been done, so we need dangerous
22 dog legislation in this city before
23 something tragic really happens.
24 MS. GATELLI: Les, did you know that
25 the state enacted stronger legislation with
31
1 the dogs and that's why we didn't do
2 anything here. I met with Tom Preambo and
3 Beth Thursby, you know Beth, she used to
4 have the dog in Scranton?
5 MR. SPINDLER: Yeah.
6 MS. GATELLI: And now she has a
7 service where she trains dogs and we met on
8 numerous occasions. As a matter of fact, I
9 invited you to come to my home.
10 MR. SPINDLER: It's not up to me to
11 pass it, it's up to you to pass it, not me.
12 MS. GATELLI: It was people that were
13 involved and concerned about the issue. You
14 know that I did that because I told you.
15 MR. SPINDLER: I am very concerned,
16 but it's your job to pass legislation, not
17 me.
18 MS. GATELLI: And they said that you
19 can't --
20 MR. SPINDLER: I have more stuff -
21 MS. GATELLI: -- supercede the state.
22 MR. SPINDLER: I have more stuff to
23 talk about. Some of my time was used up
24 Mr. McGoff.
25 MS. FANUCCI: Don't ask questions.
32
1 MR. SPINDLER: I didn't ask
2 questions. Okay, lastly, does anyone know
3 when National Night Out is this year?
4 MS. GATELLI: It's usually the first
5 Tuesday in August, but I haven't heard yet.
6 MR. SPINDLER: Okay. Thank you.
7 And see you in --
8 MS. GATELLI: It will probably be --
9 MR. SPINDLER: See you in September.
10 MS. GATELLI: -- August 4, I think.
11 MR. MCGOFF: Marie Schumacher.
12 MS. SCHUMACHER: Marie Schumacher.
13 The response to Andy's question makes me
14 wonder, as Andy has pointed out in the past,
15 the City of Scranton and we taxpayers are
16 paying the insurance on the Ice Box
17 property, and when he questioned that he was
18 told it was because it was leased, so why
19 the difference between the Ice Box property
20 and the amusements at Nay Aug Park. I see
21 no difference if it's a lease, so --
22 MR. COURTRIGHT: I think the
23 gentleman that has the rides up there has
24 insurance on his equipment, that's my
25 belief. Like, if you are on his ride he has
33
1 got the coverage on that. I don't know that
2 he has the coverage on the ground.
3 MS. SCHUMACHER: Well -- I mean,
4 well -- where -- did we pay -- according to
5 Andy I believe we are paying the insurance
6 on the buildings at the Ice Box, but perhaps
7 you could check that out and let us know in
8 motions next week.
9 I would also like to know if the
10 city responded to the RFP for the OECD
11 office space that was due by July 2 and if
12 not was there only one bidder the same that
13 responded to the one week RFP? Do we know
14 where OECD is going to be staying or going?
15 MS. FANUCCI: We haven't heard
16 anything.
17 MS. SCHUMACHER: Okay, because that
18 bid opening was to be on the second of July.
19 Next, Mr. Burke at the 27th of June school
20 board meeting said he would have the deed to
21 the currently leased property in 25 years,
22 he couldn't explain anymore, but I would
23 like to know and ask once again is what is
24 the basis for that claim and what does the
25 city owe Mr. Burke to collect our $600,000
34
1 in rent? Do we not have an answer to that
2 yet after all of these months?
3 MS. GATELLI: Our solicitor answered
4 I think on at least three occasions.
5 MS. FANUCCI: He doesn't have the
6 requisites --
7 MS. SCHUMACHER: No -
8 MS. GATELLI: Amil, haven't you
9 answered that question at least three times?
10 MR. MINORA: I've answered it
11 several times, and I'll answer again for
12 probably the fourth or fifth time. I spoke
13 to Attorney --
14 MS. SCHUMACHER: Greco.
15 MR. MINORA: -- Greco who explained
16 to me that there was several prerequisites
17 before the trigger to pay the $600,000
18 occurred. Those prerequisites have not been
19 met. I don't know how else to explain it
20 any further.
21 MS. SCHUMACHER: Because that's what
22 I'm asking. Which prerequisites haven't
23 been met? I brought the agreement, I bought
24 it under the Right-to-Know, I listed what
25 they were, I have checked them off and I
35
1 don't understand and I'd like to know which
2 specifically of those prerequisites have not
3 been met because according to the research I
4 have done they have all been met, so I'm
5 looking for something specific, not that the
6 prerequisites --
7 MS. GATELLI: Could we please send a
8 letter to Attorney Greco and ask him what
9 prerequisites haven't been met.
10 MR. MINORA: I'll ask him again.
11 MS. GATELLI: And tell him to put it
12 in writing.
13 MS. SCHUMACHER: But the
14 Redevelopment Authority has nothing to do
15 with it. The agreement is between the city
16 and the Ice Box, so I don't know why
17 Mr. Greco --
18 MR. MINORA: That is not correct by
19 the way. The Redevelopment Authority does
20 have something to do with it.
21 MS. SCHUMACHER: Okay, and I'd like
22 to know with about this -- if this rental or
23 if this lease converts to an ownership in
24 25 years or if Mr. Burke was just making
25 that up.
36
1 MS. GATELLI: Kay, would you put
2 that in a letter, too, please?
3 MR. MINORA: I'm going to send a
4 letter. What Mr. Burke suggested, you would
5 have to ask Mr. Burke.
6 MS. SCHUMACHER: And the rental
7 registration, how do we -- what's happening
8 -- we seem to put the cart before the horse.
9 There is money put in the budget for two
10 inspectors and the inspectors were hired,
11 but there is no program to execute, so when
12 is that program going to get underway.
13 MS. GATELLI: I don't know. I'm as
14 frustrated as you are, Mrs. Schumacher, on
15 that. I am trying to find out exactly
16 what's going on with it. We are trying to
17 find someone to register the properties.
18 MS. SCHUMACHER: Well, you need an
19 RFP.
20 MS. GATELLI: Yes.
21 MS. SCHUMACHER: I don't know what's
22 so difficult about that.
23 MS. GATELLI: That rental
24 registration program has been going on since
25 I was the director of Community Development.
37
1 MS. SCHUMACHER: I understand that.
2 MS. GATELLI: It's just not this --
3 MS. SCHUMACHER: But you changed it.
4 It was changed several years.
5 MS. GATELLI: It was changed two
6 times, Mary Alice Burke changed it --
7 MS. SCHUMACHER: It was changed to --
8 it's my time. It was changed to include
9 everybody and the fees were charged and
10 nothing has been done to make sure that
11 those property owners are billed and you
12 know who they are. I could do that in my
13 spare time. Thank you.
14 MS. FANUCCI: I think you should. I
15 think it would be great. Maybe we could do
16 a program where we can have some volunteers
17 come up and spend their time doing something
18 instead of just coming here with their
19 comments.
20 MR. MCGOFF: Ron Ellman.
21 MR. ELLMAN: Hello, Council. Ron
22 Ellman, member of the Taxpayers'
23 Association. Well, I wrote this down in
24 case somebody wants to sue me or something.
25 You join the list. Men don't back away from
38
1 their duties, and I believe it's one of our
2 duties is to speak the truth or pass. Our
3 newspaper it -- it's supposed to stand for
4 truth and good. In Sundays editorial this
5 newspaper just hit an all time low for big
6 business and against the city, the
7 taxpayers. This is just a pathetic
8 repugnant disgusting display of their
9 arrogance. I don't know if you read it or
10 not, it's an advocation to get around what
11 the people and the school board put in print
12 that there is no more KOZ's. It's done,
13 it's over with, you know, for this period of
14 time and to -- for a newspaper to advocate
15 to get around the law that's just terrible
16 discourse. They just hit an all time low.
17 I mean, you know, you couldn't -- that's not
18 their duty to keep citing the public, I
19 guess is the word, I don't know.
20 You know, except for two braindead
21 fools we got a good school board finally
22 after years and years of favoring big
23 business and KOZ's.
24 MS. FANUCCI: Ron, can I can ask you
25 a question? Can I ask you a question and I
39
1 want to hold your time. I hear what you
2 saying about the school board and I
3 understand that you believe what they did,
4 what if you knew that the one project that
5 was passed is located next door to a bar
6 that is owned by one of the school district
7 people? Do you think that that would be
8 beneficial to the person who owned that bar?
9 I'm thrilled because I wanted the project,
10 but what I'm saying is everything that --
11 everything that seems to being put out there
12 is not always what is --
13 MR. ELLMAN: I realize you two have
14 your convictions, but bless your souls you
15 were fired for them by the people of this
16 city.
17 MS. FANUCCI: Agreed. Agreed. And
18 I certainly agree with you.
19 MR. ELLMAN: And the school board
20 has spoken and the school board represented
21 their decision, and for the newspaper right
22 here, for the newspaper to advocate
23 discourse like this is just beyond
24 comprehension. You don't do things like
25 that.
40
1 MS. FANUCCI: But the county agreed
2 with it. All over the state people have
3 agreed with it.
4 MR. ELLMAN: They got more distortion
5 saying they're for the people. In the
6 paragraph about above it, they are not. The
7 people is what's -- I don't know how many
8 businesses in town, 10,000 or 20,000,
9 whatever it is, it isn't fair for them to
10 pay taxes and three or 400 not to. That was
11 the decision of the people when they voted.
12 That was a decision.
13 MS. FANUCCI: Of the school board.
14 MR. ELLMAN: No, for the people when
15 they voted. You people were for big
16 business and the city is not. The city
17 is -- the city is against free -- a free
18 ride for everybody. We have had enough of
19 it. A fourth of the city is given away and
20 no taxes and so forth. It can't go on, you
21 know, it just can't. There is just a point
22 that we have just reached that point, there
23 is just nothing else to do but to try to get
24 some money from people that aren't paying
25 taxes. Ask anybody out there. Make a
41
1 phone poll. Enough is enough. There is
2 just too much dead weight in this city.
3 Now, you got the college is going to
4 follow the program of the University of
5 Scranton. They will have 100 houses or more
6 off the rolls pretty soon, you know, let's
7 just say the next ten years. Mr. Phillips I
8 believe he said there was $26 million in
9 school taxes not paid by the University.
10 That's not a nonprofit, that's a
11 multi-million dollars business making money,
12 and this college is the same thing. It's
13 time to --
14 MS. GATELLI: We went after the
15 University.
16 MR. ELLMAN: They got dormitories
17 they rent out. They tore down houses and
18 built dormitories and renting them out, we
19 aren't getting a penny. It's senseless to
20 keep going on with this. I could see a
21 hospital, you know, but -- I just got off
22 the subject again like I always do, and I
23 didn't mean anything by my remark.
24 MS. FANUCCI: Ron, if it's nothing
25 you haven't learned I'm not very sensitive.
42
1 MR. ELLMAN: You know, when I was at
2 the county, the jail, I met more credible
3 people than are in this city government,
4 that's the truth. Mr. Burke didn't do
5 nothing but offer a bribe last week to try
6 to get this through. How can you explain
7 $50,000 any other way except that's a bribe
8 of big business trying to overthrow a
9 decision of the people in the school board.
10 MR. MCGOFF: Thank you.
11 MR. ELLMAN: Thank you.
12 MR. UNGVARSKY: Good morning, city
13 council. Once again the Scranton Times is
14 on the attack. If you don't agree with what
15 the Scranton Times has to say they will
16 persecute you and dig up dirt whether it's
17 true or not. They have no scruples when it
18 comes to something of this nature. Just
19 because the Scranton School Board did their
20 duty, which I'm sorry some of you council
21 members wouldn't, they are being persecuted.
22 You notice that I didn't call it the Times-
23 Tribune. At one time we did have a
24 newspaper in the city that would give you an
25 opposing view. Now, we only get the
43
1 Scranton Times with their view. Thank you.
2 MR. MCGOFF: Anyone else? Mrs.
3 Evans?
4 MS. GATELLI: Can I go ahead?
5 MS. EVANS: Oh, sure.
6 MS. GATELLI: Excuse me, I'm going to
7 go first, Mrs. Evans allowed me to because I
8 have to go to work. I only have one
9 comment, I'd like to send a letter to the
10 mayor if we can concerning the downtown
11 streets. I did read a letter to the editor,
12 I believe it was in this morning's paper or
13 yesterday morning's, about the condition of
14 the streets in the downtown area. I
15 understand stand that the neighborhoods are
16 going to get some stimulus money from
17 PennDOT and I'm very pleased about that, but
18 the downtown is utterly disgraceful. I have
19 been down here, Washington is a mess,
20 Jefferson is a mess, over here at Mulberry
21 and Vine -- or Mulberry and Adams your car
22 goes right down into a gully, and there are
23 many, many people in wheelchairs and Jazzies
24 trying to get around in the downtown, that's
25 where most of them live, the elderly that
44
1 are handicapped, and it's really a very
2 disgraceful situation, so I am imploring the
3 mayor that whatever money he gets to please
4 focus on the downtown.
5 I also thought that the block of
6 Washington and Adams where the courthouse
7 renovations happened, I thought that the
8 county was going to pay to have the roads
9 redone there because a lot of the damage
10 came from redoing the county, so maybe we
11 can find that out, too.
12 The only other thing I have to say
13 about the KOZ's is in the Scranton Times, I
14 don't always agree with the Scranton Times
15 myself, and I agree with you they pick and
16 certain people and others they don't pick on
17 at all, you are 100 percent right about
18 that, but when there is an editorial that is
19 exactly what it is. It is the editor's
20 opinion and if that's what the editor thinks
21 and you don't agree you can respond in the
22 letters to the editor.
23 I happen to agree with Mr. McKenna
24 on his KOZ article. Having worked in OECD
25 and economic development for many years, I
45
1 understand the need for KOZ's, and the need
2 to bring jobs into the community. I only
3 voted for I believe seven out of 21, so we
4 didn't just rubber stamp all the KOZ's. The
5 county did, and I don't recall anyone going
6 there objecting. Now, maybe they did and I
7 didn't pay attention, but I don't recall
8 anyone having a big outcry against the
9 county commissioners that unanimously
10 approved 21 KOZ's.
11 I will stand by my opinion on KOZ's.
12 If we stop them in the whole state and the
13 whole country then I think we would have a
14 shot, but as long as outlying communities
15 and states that are surrounding us have tax
16 incentives for business, we are certainly
17 going to be the losers in the long run. Are
18 they right? I don't know. I don't believe
19 know if they are right, wrong or
20 indifferent. I just know that everyone else
21 has them and we will certainly be at a
22 disadvantage to not have them in our
23 community, and that is how I feel about it.
24 To continue discussing it for the
25 next six months is totally irrelevant. It's
46
1 done. It's over and we will see in the
2 future what will happen. People make
3 decisions with their conscience, and Les
4 said I didn't have a conscience, well, yes,
5 I do. And I can go to bed at night. I look
6 in the mirror and I'm very happy with the
7 things I have done in my community, and
8 that's all I have, thank you. And thank you
9 very much, Mrs. Evans, and my colleagues for
10 allowing me this opportunity to be at
11 council. Thank you. And if anyone has any
12 questions just call Kay and she can get the
13 message to me or you can call me at home.
14 Thank you.
15 MR. MCGOFF: Thank you, Mrs. Gatelli.
16 Mrs. Evans?
17 MS. EVANS: Good morning.
18 Applications are currently available for
19 2010 federal funding for Community
20 Development Block Grants, CDBG, Home and
21 Emergency Shelter Grants, ESG. They may be
22 obtained online at www.Scrantonpa.gov,
23 Department OECD applications. Applicants
24 must submit one original and one copy no
25 later than Friday, August 7, 2009, to OECD,
47
1 53 Spruce Street, Scranton, PA, 18508.
2 Next, a few housekeeping items, the
3 water problems in the 2600 block of North
4 Main Avenue and at the corner of Main Avenue
5 and Wells Street were reported to Charlie
6 Matthews. He stated that he had spoken to
7 homeowners in the past and is aware of this
8 problem. Further, Mr. Matthews stated that
9 he will add this to his list of work items.
10 I want the residents to know that this
11 problem is now in the hands of Mr. Mathews
12 and we hope that he will take care of
13 taxpayers' problems.
14 Also, I received a response
15 regarding truck traffic in the area of the
16 500 block of Race Street from Chief Elliott.
17 A police lieutenant was sent to the location
18 and reports the following: There is a truck
19 repair garage and truck parts business in
20 this area. There are also several
21 construction projects underway in the Plot
22 Section which are probably causing
23 additional truck traffic. Also, there is no
24 restriction for truck traffic in this
25 location according to the police.
48
1 Now, I know the residents were
2 complaining of these two businesses
3 mentioned by the police officers, but
4 apparently the law allows for such in this
5 area which is highly unfortunate for nearby
6 homeowners who suffer from the odors, noise,
7 and road deterioration.
8 I also received a response to the
9 North Washington Avenue and University
10 Avenue drainage complaint. The city
11 engineer, Brian Swanson, has investigated
12 the location thoroughly and he states: We
13 are currently designing remediation. In the
14 mean time, we have put in a work order for
15 the two existing inlets, one along
16 University Avenue and the other at
17 University and Adams Avenue to be cleaned
18 out to temporarily improve drainage.
19 He is a recommending, for example,
20 that an inlet should be added at the
21 intersection of Dimick Court and University
22 Avenue, and I am very pleased with that very
23 timely response to the neighbor's complaints
24 and they can further update me as progress
25 continues or contact me if there are any
49
1 additional problems.
2 Next, council received a
3 correspondence from the owner of a business
4 who claims a city official has violated the
5 Sherman Act of 1890, the Clayton Act of
6 1914, and further indicates cause for an
7 anti-trust suit, and I certainly hope this
8 is not the case. However, serious
9 allegations have been made and I ask that a
10 copy of this letter is provided to the city
11 solicitor.
12 I further request a written response
13 regarding such letter on or before July 19,
14 2009, to Scranton City Council. The
15 business owner also states that he was the
16 lowest competitive bidder of an item for
17 purchase by the city, but his company was
18 not selected. There may well be reasons for
19 this decision, but I would like an
20 explanation. So, Kay, if we could please
21 send a letter regarding this purchase, the
22 company that was selected, the total price
23 paid for the purchase, and justification for
24 the final selection.
25 Finally, I have citizens' requests
50
1 for the week: 207 Colfax Avenue, a tree at
2 this property was marked by Mr. Santolli for
3 cutting purposes. The tree limbs are
4 dangerously dangling over a portion of the
5 home. Cut down this tree as soon as
6 possible.
7 The corner of McDonough Street and
8 Pittston Avenue, residents of the block
9 report that the property is overgrown and
10 wished to know when demolition of the house
11 will occur.
12 Residents of the 400 block of Pear
13 Street have experienced expensive property
14 damage and suspect drug sales in their
15 neighborhood. Please have police officers
16 drive-by this block on every shift when
17 possible.
18 I have reported the issue on Watson
19 Street, for the residents of Watson Street
20 who might be watching, and as soon as I
21 receive an answer I will contact the
22 neighbors.
23 Does the city provide insurance for
24 the leased Ice Box property? Who is the
25 insurance carrier? Provide annual costs and
51
1 coverages.
2 Also, who provides and is billed for
3 the insurance policy which covers the
4 amusement rides at Nay Aug Park, and that is
5 it.
6 MR. MCGOFF: Mrs. Fanucci?
7 MS. FANUCCI: I actually have nothing
8 at this time, nothing that I'm going to
9 respond to from today's performances.
10 MR. COURTRIGHT: Okay. Pear Street
11 Mrs. Evans brought up, I did speak to --
12 there is four shifts, I spoke to officers on
13 two of the four shifts, they said they would
14 be happy to go by and check them out. They
15 actually were familiar with that one
16 residence.
17 And, Kay, I didn't see, you know,
18 sometimes I have a tendency when I throw
19 some of my paperwork out and miss some
20 things, I didn't see a response from Chris
21 Batten from Swanson about the bridge.
22 MS. GARVEY: We did not.
23 MR. COURTRIGHT: Could we send
24 another letter to him, only because we are
25 only going to be here until the end of July
52
1 and then we'll be off for August and that
2 project is on the Crisp Avenue bridge is
3 supposed to start in August, and I'm hoping
4 that it does, and if it's not going to I
5 would at least like to be able to tell the
6 people, you know, it's held up and if it is
7 held up why or if it's going to start on
8 time I'd like to be able to inform the
9 people of that, and that's all I have.
10 Thank you.
11 MR. MCGOFF: Thank you. Two very
12 brief things. First, the school board did
13 do it's duty in voting on the KOZ's, but I
14 would like to remind people that they only
15 voted after council forced them to. We did
16 our duty, you may not have agreed with the
17 votes on everything, but we did our duty in
18 addressing them and the school board would
19 never have even looked at them had we not
20 done that.
21 Second, and last, the CDBG
22 applications, I would say that people
23 looking to apply, I would think that there
24 is going to be limited funding for them this
25 year, so that anyone that's wishing to apply
53
1 for these grants make sure that the
2 applications are complete, make sure they
3 are specific to projects or to projects that
4 are within the guidelines of the grant
5 applications and if you are -- if you have
6 any reasonable expectation of receiving any
7 money from these grants, but please do
8 submit them and that's all I have.
9 MR. COURTRIGHT: Motion to adjourn.
10 MR. MCGOFF: Thank you. Thank you
11 for your participation.
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1 C E R T I F I C A T E
2
3 I hereby certify that the proceedings and
4 evidence are contained fully and accurately in the
5 notes of testimony taken by me at the hearing of the
6 above-captioned matter and that the foregoing is a true
7 and correct transcript of the same to the best of my
8 ability.
9
10
11
CATHENE S. NARDOZZI, RPR
12 OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
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17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25