1  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF SCRANTON  HELD:  Tuesday, June 16th, 2020  LOCATION: VIA ZOOM  Maria McCool, RPR Official Court Reporter    2  1 2  COUNCIL  MEMBERS:  3 WILLIAM GAUGHAN, PRESIDENT 4 KYLE DONAHUE, VICE PRESIDENT  5 MARK MCANDREW  6  JESSICA ROTHCHILD 7 THOMAS SCHUSTER  8 9  LORI REED, CITY CLERK  10 KATHY CARRERA, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK KEVIN HAYES, COUNCIL SOLICITOR  11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25    3  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  (Pledge of Allegiance.)  MR. GAUGHAN: I'd like everyone to  please remain standing for a moment of silent reflection for our service men and women throughout the world and also for those who have passed away recently in our community.  Let us also take a special moment of  silence tonight as we have for the last three months for all of the people in our community and throughout the United States and the world who are suffering or who have passed away from the coronavirus. Let us think about them and their families at this time that they may find  peace.  Let us think now about the doctors,  the nurses, the researchers and all medical protessionals and first responders who seek to heal and help those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process, may they  find protection and peace.  Whether we are home or abroad,  surrounded by many people suffering from this illness or only a few, let us stick together, endure together, mourn together, persist and    4  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  prepare together. And in place of our anxiety, let us continue to hope and find peace. Thank you. Miss Carrera, roll call, please.  MS. CARRERA: Mr. Schuster. MR. SCHUSTER: Present. MS. CARRERA: Mr. McAndrew. MR. MCANDREW: Present. MS. CARRERA: Dr. Rothchild. DR. ROTHCHILD: Here. MS. CARRERA: Mr. Donahue. MR. DONAHUE: Here. MS. CARRERA: Mr. Gaughan.  MR. GAUGHAN: Here. Thank you, Miss  Carrera. There will be a motion to move Item 5-B to Seventh Order for final vote based on the attached emergency certificate. Mrs. Reed, can you please dispense with the reading of the  minutes?  MS. REED: Thank you. THIRD ORDER. 3-A. PROCLAMATION RECEIVED FROM  MAYOR PAIGE G. COGNETTI DATED JUNE 8, 2020 EXTENDING THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THE CITY OF  SCRANTON TO JUNE 21, 2020.  3-B. MINUTES OF THE HISTORICAL  ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD MEETING    5  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  HELD MAY 14, 2020.  3-C. MINUTES OF THE CIVIL SERVICE  COMMISSION MEETING HELD MARCH 12, 2020.  MR. GAUGHAN: Are there any comments  on any of the Third Order items? If not, received and filed. Do any Council members have any announcements at this time?  MR. DONAHUE: I just have one.  Thank you to Business Administrator Sheridan for getting back to me on this. There isn't a delay in the processing of the refuse bills at all, but since yesterday was the end of the discount period, postmarks will be observed to make sure you got them in before the deadline.  MR. GAUGHAN: Thank you, Councilman  Donahue. Does anyone else have any  announcements?  MR. SCHUSTER: Yes, I got a message  regarding vaccine clinic that the Wright Center is hosting. So it's : it's for families that lack the ability to get checkups and inoculations can receive vaccines to stay updated on their vaccines and their children's.  They're going to have it on June  20th. It's a Saturday at the Scranton practice    6  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  of the Wright Center at 501 South Washington Avenue in Scranton, June 20th, 9 a.m., one at  noon and then one to three.  MR. GAUGHAN: Thank you, Mr.  Schuster. Anyone else? Okay. Mrs. Reed?  MS. REED: Thank you. FOURTH ORDER.  CITIZENS PARTICIPATION.  MR. GAUGHAN: Thank you, Mrs. Reed.  Will someone please make a motion to accept public comment from the following individuals: Bev DeBarros, Patricia Nestor, Marie  Schumacher, Corinne Lawrence, Fay Franus and  Joe Healy.  MR. DONAHUE: So moved.  MR. GAUGHAN: There's been a motion.  MR. SCHUSTER: Second.  MR. GAUGHAN: There's been a motion  and a second. On the question? On the question, public comment will be placed into the official record and our official minutes. If anyone would like to review the public comment that has been submitted to Council, you can go to www.scrantonpa.gov under the  Council's web page.  Any questions that were received by    7  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  Council are forwarded to the administration. And we continue to urge people if they have any questions or comments to submit those to Mrs. Reed before our meeting end of business  4:30 on Tuesday.  We did receive quite a few comments  and questions. So I am going to send most of these questions to the administration that would apply to them in different departments. Miss Schumacher had a question regarding the agenda items. So we'11 address that when they come up. And there was a few other questions that we will forward to the appropriate  department.  MR. DONAHUE: I'm also going to be  addressing - I just want to say I'11 be addressing the recycling questions in Fifth  Order as well.  MR. GAUGHAN: Okay. Great. Anyone  else on the question? A17 those in favor  signify by saying aye.  MR. SCHUSTER: Aye. MR. MCANDREW: Aye. MR. DONAHUE: Aye. DR. ROTHCHILD: Aye.    8  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  MR. GAUGHAN: Aye. Opposed? The  ayes have it and so moved.  Okay, we're now in  the Citizens Participation portion of the meeting. So we continue our conversation with Mr. Deeley, Mr. Sheridan and Mayor Cognetti. So I know the Mayor was in the middle of saying something before we had to start our meeting.  Mayor?  MAYOR COGNETTI: Yeah, so,  Councilperson Rothchild, we -- I think might have been cutting out. So I don't remember if it was the final week of February or the first week of March we had a meeting in this office with Barry Isett and Associates to look to start working with the Licensing and  Inspections Department.  If they wrote to us on March 9th and  we didn't follow up with it in person meeting that would have been because the world kind of came crashing down just days later. We are really looking at whether that's the right  solution.  Ithink that that contract and  project was put out last year under a very different circumstance. And as we look to now    9  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  that : since that meeting in early March, we looked through what Mr. Sheridan just walked us  through in terms of budget.  We're looking for places to save.  And given : given not just the budgetary impacts that we're facing but also I think some changes that we could make internally. We're going to take a real close look at whether or not that's : that's something we should move  forward with.  So Mr. Deeley is here. I'11 let him  introduce himself. Carl is going to be kind of taking : taking that : that project that : that outlook for how we redo some things in LIPS and decide if it's something we should move forward with. And if we do, to what  extent.  Again, I think there are only like  two people that are in this, you know, virtual room that were on Council last year when this got put forward. And we're in a very : the administration is in a very different :  different and better place.  MR. DEELEY: Thank you, Mayor. Good  evening everybody. First of all, thank you.    10  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  Thank you for the welcomes I received sO far. I'm really looking forward to meeting in person. I met some people here and working  with you on an ongoing basis.  In particular this particular  project, it's definitely something we have to look at in terms of the requirements that are in the current contract. And as the Mayor explained, in terms of the cost situation right now, we are looking for maybe other ways that  we can make these improvements.  So, yeah, I'17 be taking this one  on. - And we'11 follow up with it sO they do have an answer. But right now we do want to revisit that contract and see what's appropriate for this time.  MR. GAUGHAN: Thank you. I just had  a quick question, Mayor. Mr. Sheridan  mentioned the CARES Act in the beginning of the caucus earlier tonight in terms of that sO far to date there has been no revenue or relief to municipalitles. It has not been put in that  act.  Now, in looking at potential deficit  between six to 10 million dollars, I think that    11  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  everyone knows that, you know, the : most likely what's going to be put forward by PEL and anyone else is that you're going to have to increase real estate taxes, which is not what anyone wants to see happen because this pandemic is, you know, nobody's fault. It just, you know, came out of nowhere.  Can you speak to what's been done?  K know there's been : you have signed onto different correspondence. But can you talk to what's been done in terms of lobbying our state and federal government to make sure that Scranton is not left in the cold and left behind and that we don't have to then put this burden on the back of our taxpayers?  MAYOR COGNETTI: Yeah, there's a few  things. So I and 14 other of the larger city mayors in Pennsylvania are working on :- working on continuing to lobby the Senate. It's Mitch : Senator McConnell from Kentucky that has really been the gatekeeper on that  next CARES Act legislation.  It's unclear whether or not the  Senate will pass legislation that gives relief to cities and states. Mayors across the    12  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  country are certainly lobbying for that, us included alongside our mayors in the rest of the state are trying to strategize around how we : how we can best do this and how we can make sure there's federal money coming our way  directly.  On the : to the CARES Act money  that has been passed, Eileen Cipriani and I were on the phone today with Brian Jeffers and Brenda Sacco at the county making sure that the municipalities are able to get direct money from the 18 million dollars that is flowing from the state down to Lackawanna County.  We had a great call with them. And  they are very, very aware of the situation for all the municipalities, townships, and boroughs in the county. And we're working closely with them to make sure that we get : we get the funding that we need and we are currently trying to figure out what are best : what are the things that we need that funding for so that that is up there for that piece of CARES  Act.  And what's confusing I know is that  there's four different CARES Act packages. And    13  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  everything gets called CARES Act. But it is a little bit hard to track. So for the future where we hopefully will get direct funding, we're working on lobbying for that.  Mr. McConnell : Senator McConnell,  excuse me, said that they wouldn't be taking that up until after July 4th. The county money that - the 18 million that the county is receiving from the state, you know, the state is a (inaudible) for its federal funding.  The county's working hard on that  and we're in close touch with them. The other piece would be we're considering doing a request for qualifications for federal and state lobbying. It's something that President Gaughan and I had mentioned over time. I said months ago before COVID hit that I've seen other cities that do have lobbyist in  Harrisburg and/or Washington to help get them  funds.  It think it's something that we  should consider because we all know sending out a request for qualifications or proposal doesn't mean that we're going to spend money. But I do think it would be worthwhile and we're    14  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  looking at drafts of other RFQs from other cities to see what that might look like so that we're able to get what we need so that we don't  get left behind.  MR. GAUGHAN: Thank you. Does  anybody else have any other questions? I know, Councilman Schuster, you said you had a few.  MR. SCHUSTER: If anybody would like  to go first you're more than welcome or if  you'd like me to start?  MR. GAUGHAN: Sure. Go ahead. MR. SCHUSTER: So we talked about  some of the, you know, the revenue issues that we were having. We talked about the single taxpayer money. And we talked about the Standard and Poor's outlook for the City of  Scranton.  Does this : do we know offhand if  it affects things such as the City pensions as well when we're looking at Standard and Poor's  outlook?  MAYOR COGNETTI: Do you want to  Mr. Sheridan can answer that one.  MR. SHERIDAN: So there's two  impacts. The Standard and Poor's is really    15  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  what affects our borrowing rating. So that's more on the borrowing side. As far as the pension plan, the thing that affects that is how the market has affected the investments, the assets relating to what's set aside for the  pensions, okay?  So when the COVID pandemic first  hit, there was actually a reduction in the market of roughly 15 percent. So the assets took a 15 percent hit. They recovered. They went down again. They bounced back and forth. So we're down maybe eight percent I would guess  on our pension assets.  I have a meeting tomorrow where  we're going to get an update on what the latest is. But quite honestly, they've been moving up and down pretty : with pretty good volatility  over the last month.  But the Standard and Poor's ratio :  excuse me, the Standard and Poor's rating doesn't have as much of an impact on the pension plan but primarily on the borrowing.  MR. SCHUSTER: Okay. And then once  the information comes out from Berkheimer in July, do we expect to get any budget    16  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  recommendation from the administration?  MR. SHERIDAN: Well, yeah, I mean,  what we're going to do, we're going to have obviously a better idea of the earned income tax as it stands for the second quarter. I think Carl Deeley will be taking a look at how that's going to impact or balance the year.  It's also going to allow many of the  cities who get their reports in and around that same timeframe to get an idea where we're going and what the impact might be. So I'm sure Carl  is going to have to take that into  consideration for, you know, the remaining half of the year 2020 but also the budget for 2021  preparation.  MR. DEELEY: Yeah, it's going to be  ongoing right now. It seems to be (inaudible) the 2020 forecast. Also we're learning a lot with the 2021 budget process as well. So we should be in a better process to understand what are the assumptions, what are the influx of the 2021 budget that we could get a much  more accurate view of things.  We're also as well : the current  expenditures. So what can we do (audio    17  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  interruption.)  MR. GAUGHAN: Mr. Deeley, you're  freezing quite a bit.  MR. DEELEY: Is that better? MR. GAUGHAN: Yeah.  MR. DEELEY: So we review of the :  (audio interruption.)  MR. GAUGHAN: Yeah, you're still  freezing pretty bad. Looks like you're asleep now. Sorry. Is that a Hill Section accent or is that North Scranton? I couldn't tell.  MR. DEELEY: Further east. You got  it.  MR. MCANDREW: It's not West Side.  C could tell you that.  MR. DEELEY: But basically we're  looking at both top and bottom line. Right, so reducing the impacts to the current outlook based on our spending and what we can do there  immediately.  We're currently reviewing budget  line items with all directors and department heads to see where we are with that. And then secondly on revenue side, also we are looking for opportunities for grants and funding -    18  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  MR. SCHUSTER: I'm glad you brought  up expenditures there. I'm looking at some of the expenditures for the month of May. I saw that Millennium Administrators were on there  for healthcare.  And this might just be a comment or  a suggestion. But Scranton School District also uses Millennium Administrators for their healthcare. And maybe there's an opportunity there for some savings of administration costs  between the City and the district.  MR. DEELEY: Absolutely. (Audio  interruption) we're working on the budgetary closely (audio interruption) and any  opportunities that we see to reduce costs going forward and that is one of them. So thank you for bringing that up. We're going to put those into a plan and prioritize and watching (audio  interruption.)  MR. SCHUSTER: Thank you. MR. SHERIDAN: Bill? MR. GAUGHAN: Yes.  MR. SHERIDAN: I want to clarify  something as it relates to the CARES Act. And when you think about it, it's affecting the    19  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  City in two ways. One is we have additional expenditures relating to PPE, safety equipment masks, things like that, additional cleaning of  playgrounds and so on.  There has been money as the Mayor  just said that may be available to cover costs, additional costs relating to the pandemic. And that would go through the county and then  through the state.  The one that I mentioned that hasn't  been addressed is the revenue loss. So where there is a revenue loss, lost taxes, reduced taxes and sO on, that has not been funded at this point. So I just wanted to clarify that.  MR. GAUGHAN: Yeah, and I think,  Mr. Sheridan and Mayor Cognetti and Mr. Deeley, that, you know, maybe we can do something in terms of letting the people of the City know how they can reach out to these different legislators to put pressure on them to make sure that, you know, cities like Scranton don't get left holding the bag as we usually do.  As all of you know that they say,  well, you know, again raise taxes or put it on the backs of your citizens. I know that nobody    20  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  wants to do that. So maybe if we can get that out to the public that we have to really put pressure on these people who are in power in our federal government to make sure that they know our cities are important and we can't be left to put the burden again on the people. But that's the only comment I would have on  that.  Does anyone else have any questions?  Mayor, Mr. Sheridan, and Mr. Deeley, I want to thank you so much for the update that you gave us. It's very informative to know. where we stand right now. And I think we all understand that the pandemic provides us with a moving  target.  So what you shared with us today may  be different than what you're coming back to us in July and August with to give us an update. And I think I can speak for all four Council people here, all five of us that we are more than willing to work with you to find the solutions that we need to overcome this : the difficulties that we face in terms of the pandemic and its affect on our budget. So I want to thank you again for coming. We really    21  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  appreciate it.  MR. SHERIDAN: Thank you. MR. DEELEY: Thank you. MR. SCHUSTER: Thank you. MR. MCANDREW: Thank you.  MR. GAUGHAN: Okay. Anybody else?  Any comments?  (Public Comment, the following are  e-mails submitted to Council.)  Bev DeBarros, see attachment to  transcript.  (Patricia Nestor)  Because citizens do not receive a  response to their "citizen participation" emails, when live council meetings resume, the five minute rule needs to be tossed out. 32% of ticks in Lackawanna County sent to the PA tick lab came back positive for tick borne diseases. One of the best way to prevent ticks  is to keep grass mowed short.  Due to Covid the housing inspectors    22  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  are furloughed and grass is high at some homes. Another epidemic is in the works and something needs to be done. Bring back the  quality of life inspectors.  With all the free money from the  CARES Act do you think we can hire a couple of people to go down Denaples and separate the cans from the bottles and jars? It's ridiculous to throw them in the landfill because you can't get free inmate labor from LCP. Or maybe ask residents to put cans in a separate bin from  the glass?  This really doesn't seem like a  complicated issue. Put all of your educated  heads together.  Thanks.  (Marie Schumacher)  FOURTH ORDER INPUT FOR 16 JUNE 2020  COUNCIL MEETING COMMENTS/QUESTIONS.  0 First and foremost I want to ask  if the current Contract with the Police still includes a clause which keeps the public from    23  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  knowing of complaints and/or disciplinary actions of each police officer and, if so, ensure this clause is not imcluded in the next  Contract.  A Clause requiring the Police Chief  to report each complaint and disciplinary action with reason to City Council to be place  in Third Order.  0 Recently Dunkin Donuts switched  from styrofoam containers to paper containers. Are the papers containers recyclable or do they  go to Refuse Mountain?  0 Please provide the list of streets  inclued in the 2020 Roadway Improvement Project OA methane transit line was laid on the bridge crossing SR 307 just south of SR 81 to take the  gas from the Keystone Landfill to  who-KhowS-where.  Subsequently I understand a methane  burning plant functions in the immediate are of the Landfill. My quesion is the line crossing SR 307 still in use and, if not, has it been  sealed off permanently.  0 The Home Rule Charter Section 909  addresses Amendments after adoption and states,    24  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  in part: "Should a deficit develop the Mayor shall make recommendations to minimize the deficit and for that purpose Council may reduce  other appropriations..  When do you expect to receive the  Mayor's recommendations and have you requested  same?  0 The Emergency Certification  appears to be over utilized.  OIt is time to bring the City  workforce back from their homes and to their desks and open the Municipal Building 0 . Judging from the front page article in today's Times-Tribune it appears Recycling is not as important as we were led to believe or, if it is important, perhaps it is time for the CIty to contract with a third party for the  collection of commingled items.  OIb believe we were told Scranton  Tomorrow updated Council quarterly. When will be learn what is holding up turning the worst downtown eyesore into a pocket park?  0 I know how to find lawsuits  against the City but please share how we know when the City received a union grievance? Are    25  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  there currently any union grievances?  AGENDA ITEMS.  01 The DCED stated purpose of the  Commonwealth's EDA Enterprise Zone Program is job creation and workforce development not business relief so I question the legiitmacy of using these funds for 5B and 5C. At the least a letter from DCED stating this to be a proper  use, 5B and 5C should be tabled.  0 There is no resume attached to 5C  which I believe to be a requirement of  Council's policy.  (Corinne Lawrence)  Councilmembers,  I would like to bring a petition to  your attention for the removal of courthouse square's Columbus monument, viewable here: Ps:l/www.change.org/ScrantonColumbus. Over the course of 5 days, this petition has collected over 1,500 signatures, demonstrating the desire for the community to remove a statue that commemorates a violent, genocidal man bearing no connection to the local history. Removing    26  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  the statue could be a beginning step to  fostering a sense of tolerance, acceptance, and  inclusivity in the community.  Thank you, Corinne Lawrence  (Joseph Healy)  Hello Council,  Since Lackawanna county is moving  into a "safer" phase in relation to the Covid virus, could you please provide us with an update about when recycling (blue can) will  return to normal?  Since the outbreak, it was  communicated to us that for some reason blue recycling was too dangerous to continue, while red recycling and regular trash pickup would remain the same. Because they have treated all lastic/glass/etc as regular trash, that has left us no choice but to contribute to the size  of their landfill.  Could council please obtain the  following from them:  1) A written scientific explanation    27  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  of why they were/are not able to safely meet the obligations of what they are contracted to do and how the decision to restrict only  certain services was made?  2) When do they anticipate (blue)  recycling to resume?  3) Since putting out separated blue  recycling has been futile......why is there still two separate crews for pickup when everything on blue recycling week could be collected together with regular trash?  3) Since it's my understanding that  the landfill is paid by weight (please correct me if I am wrong), can we expect our bills to be adjusted accordingly for services we did not  in fact receive?  Perhaps the city could Took for  reimbursements from insurance policies Keystone may have in place to deal with unforeseen circumstances like this that inhibits them from fulfilling their contractual obligations?  4) And lastly.. : .while we still  have a fine progressive city council who no doubt is trying to put corruption behind us and the best interests of our citizens in    28  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  front.......can we please take advantage of the opportunity to take a serious look into other  options to handle city garbage??  Be sure that citizens have NOT yet  forgotten that among other outrageous practices tolerated by the city......their blatant and REPEATED use of literal slave labor from our prisoners to staff their operations virtually for free is not only morally reprehensible, but isproportionately financially advantageous to their operation to compete with others.  At the BARE minimum, the city  deserves rebates for the fees paid to them for work that is completed using OUR prisoners at  ZERO cost to them.  know they are a big hill to tackle  (no pun intended), but given recent events with their attempts to unlawfully expand their landfill....the public is nowvwell aware of the corruption and I feel would overwhelmingly support council pursuing these issues I raised  to the fullest extent.  Thank you so much for all you do!  Your hard work does not go unappreciated by  many citizens.    29  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  Thank you for your attention and  consideration, and please continue to stat  safe!  Joe Healey (West Scranton)  (Fay Franus)  Council,  First of all I seriously need and  want to know if the money from the citizens that paid their garbage fee if that money goes into the general fund to pay other bills OTHER than the DPW expenses? The city law states it must be used ONLY TO PAY FOR DPW expenses  NOTHING ELSE.  I - have yet to get a response to this  question. A11 that would have taken is a call to the Business Administrator. Have any of you called to get that information? Not everything has to be sent to the mayor to get answers. Even if that were so she also could have answered this question many times over.  Since we are in bad shape    30  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  financially due to this virus I also want to know if this budget is going to be opened to lower cost. Example take away the thousands and thousands of dollars,(raises) that Mayor Evans dished out to people who had added duties put on them even though they still only worked  eight hours a day.  They are not now doing those extra  jobs sO these raises alone should be done away with. People in the city are struggling to keep their homes because YOU keep taxing them so start being responsible and cut the budget. In many places. You can also lower employee paychecks. Why not-- they make much more than  any of us who have to pay them?  Now for the police--once their  contract is expired there should be no way ever that police should have qualified immunity. They also should not be given everything they want -pensions as high as they are---- pay they have run this city into a financial hole that will take ages to get out of. Time to clamp down on them and other unions.  Do I expect you to ever do  this--no--because you want their votes more    31  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  than you care about all of us. Some day your  attitude will catch up with you.  Again I will say as I do every week  - have yet to get one reply from one council person. Why don't you all write me a check for my part in paying you to do nothing. You have us held hostage to your insane rules of never reading our questions out loud--never responding to us. You should be ashamed but that will never happen. People like you don't  know what shame is. Fay Franus  (End of Public Comment)  MR. GAUGHAN:  Okay. Mrs. Reed,  Fifth Order.  MS. REED: Thank you. FIFTH ORDER.  5-A. MOTIONS.  MR. GAUGHAN: Thank you. Councilman  Schuster, do you have any motions or comments?  MR. SCHUSTER: Not at this time. MR. GAUGHAN: Thank you. Councilman  McAndrew, any motions or comments?  MR. MCANDREW: I don't have a    32  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  motion. But I have a comment just that I'm happy with last night's Supreme Court ruling the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects LGBTQ Americans from discrimination in employment.  That's all I have, Bill. Thanks.  MR. GAUGHAN: Thank you, Councilman  McAndrew. Dr. Rothchild, any motions or  comments?  DR. ROTHCHILD: No, I don't have any  motions at this time. I'd just like to echo Councilman McAndrew's comments. I a also am very excited about the ruling. For a long time I was an advocate on the statewide level for Pennsylvania to pass that type of legislation which protects people and Scranton as a municipality had these protections.  But there were still I think at  least 17 states in our country that did not. And just to be clear, that only covers  workplace discrimination. So LGBTQ people can still be discriminated against in terms of housing or public accommodations.  But it is still a start and  certainly willing to celebrate. So I am exited about that. And it's very fitting that comes    33  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  during Pride Month.  MR. GAUGHAN: Thank you, Dr.  Rothchild. Councilman Donahue, do you have any  motions or comments?  MR. DONAHUE: Just quickly regarding  what the article in the paper this morning that the Recycling Center won't be accepting commingles for the foreseeable future. Idid reach out to : in my meeting with Mr. Preambo last week the topic of recycling on the  commingles was discussed.  So he's looking at looking into  getting the contract for : and I also talked with Attorney Hayes about it about looking at the contracts we have with Lackawanna County Solid Waste Management Authority regarding  recycling.  Ialso think we have to start  exploring different avenues where they're not going to continue - if they're going to continue to not accept commingles that we find different companies or different facilities to  take that recycling too.  So I think the first step is just  seeing what the contract says and then moving    34  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  on from there. But I also, you know, we should probably -- I'11 be reaching out to the administration, you know, to start drafting  alternatives to that.  And then also on the recycling  thing, it was disappointing to read last week of Keystone Sanitary Landfill's threat of Dunmore Council for sending their letter for the lawsuit. So I might be wrong, but I don't think the Mayor has weighed in on this or has  addressed the lawsuit.  So, Miss Reed, would we be able to  send just porrespondence to the Mayor - and I meant to ask her and I missed it on my list, but whether she'17 be planning on sending a letter to DEP regarding the Keystone Sanitary  Landfill?  And then I have a couple things that  I'm following up on from previous weeks that I will hopefully have answers to next week. And that is including this very large list of bills currently in the PA Legislator regarding COVID  assistance.  So I'm going to go through those and  see what ones would be of great impact to the    35  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  City. And that's all I have for tonight.  Thank you.  MR. GAUGHAN: Thank you, Councilman  Donahue. I just have two comments. Number one, I would also like to have our Solicitor review the contract or agreement that the City has with the Lackawanna County Solid Waste  Management Authority.  It is concerning to read that the  Recycling Center may not accept bottles, cans, and jars for the foreseeable future. I - do think that recycling is very important. One of the things that this may affect is our 904 Performance Grant that we get based on how much  we recycle.  So that is a concern because we use  that funding to pay for a new recycling truck, red bins, blue bins, things of that nature that really help the City and our DPW. So I do agree with Councilman Donahue that it would make sense to have Solicitor Hayes review that agreement and to see if there are any other options available so that, you know, people are  able to recycle.  And, you know, just the fact that    36  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  the Recycling Center isn't accepting bottles, cans, and jars because they can't use the prison labor, to me that is not acceptable. I think we should really look into that. And we should ask the County Commissioners to look  over that contract as well.  Idid receive a concern from a  citizen in the Keyser Valley area. Ia asked Mrs. Reed to send something over to Chief Graziano and Mr. Preambo our DPW Director. This is a fairly common occurrence in the area of Briggs Street. North South Road, it turns into Briggs Street. It's right next to Orlando  Foods.  There has been vehicles that have  driven through a gentleman's fence, someone who has young children. Like I said, this has happened three times within the last nine months, five times since that individual's lived there. So I did ask Mrs. Reed to send that to Chief Graziano and Mr. Preambo.  Also, this Thursday there will -- I  will be involved in a meeting regarding the issues that the residents of Third Avenue are facing. I - asked for this meeting a few weeks    37  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  ago. And it was put together by the  administration.  So I will fill everyone in on that  once that meeting has concluded. And hopefully there is a way we can resolve the trouble in terms of tractor-trailer traffic and : truck traffic rather on that street. And that's all  Ih have. Mrs. Reed?  MS. REED: Thank you. 5-B. FOR  INTRODUCTION - A RESOLUTION - AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND OTHER APPROPRIATE CITY OFFICIALS FOR THE CITY OF SCRANTON TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH SCRANTON AREA FOUNDATION, INC. TO ESTABLISH THE CITY OF SCRANTON SMALL BUSINESS FUND, A PASS THROUGH FUND WHICH WILL DISTRIBUTE GRANTS IN THE AMOUNT $2,500.00 TO VARIOUS SMALL BUSINESS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SCRANTON AS PART OF THE CITY OF SCRANTON'S SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. (EMERGENCY CERTIFICATE ATTACHED).  MR. GAUGHAN: Thank you, Mrs. Reed.  At this time I'11 entertain a motion that Item 5-B be introduced into its proper committee.  DR. ROTHCHILD: So moved. MR. DONAHUE: Second.    38  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  MR. GAUGHAN: On the question? A11  those in favor of introduction signify by  saying aye.  MR. SCHUSTER: Aye. MR. MCANDREW: Aye. MR. DONAHUE: Aye. DR. ROTHCHILD: Aye.  MR. GAUGHAN: Aye. Opposed? The  ayes have it and sO moved.  MR. DONAHUE: I make a motion to  suspend the rules to move Item 5-B to Seventh Order based on the attached emergency  certificate.  DR. ROTHCHILD: Second.  MR. GAUGHAN: On the question? A17  those in favor signify by saying aye.  MR. SCHUSTER: Aye. MR. MCANDREW: Aye. MR. DONAHUE: Aye. DR. ROTHCHILD: Aye.  MR. GAUGHAN: Aye. Opposed? The  ayes have it and so moved.  MS. REED: 5-C. FOR INTRODUCTION  A RESOLUTION - AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND OTHER APPROPRIATE CITY OFFICIALS TO EXECUTE AND    39  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF SCRANTON'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND NEPA ALLIANCE TO ASSIST THE CITY OF SCRANTON IN PROVIDING CREDIT CHECKS ON APPLICATIONS FOR THE  CITY'S SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF PROGRAM.  MR. GAUGHAN: At this time I'11  entertain a motion that Item 5-C be introduced  into its proper committee.  MR. DONAHUE: So moved. MR. MCANDREW: Second. DR. ROTHCHILD: Second.  MR. GAUGHAN: On the question? On  the question, I just want to point out -- I meant to mention this in the caucus at the top of the meeting tonight. We had to make a small correction to 5-C. There was an error discovered with regard to the backup for 5-C that has been since fixed and it's been sent  out to all Council members.  The corrected version will appear on  next week's agenda with the memorandum of understanding included in the backup. Anyone  else on the question?  MR. DONAHUE: Kevin, just on that    40  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  point, because it's backup, does that have to be amended at all? Like, do we have to approve that or does that - just because it's backup  as long as : okay.  ATTY. HAYES: I think we're fine  because it's referencing -- it's referencing the proposed memorandum of understanding that has been circulated. And they'11 understand what that is. I think we're okay.  MR. DONAHUE: Okay. Thank you. MR. GAUGHAN: Anyone else on the  question? Okay. A11 those in favor of introduction signify by saying aye.  MR. SCHUSTER: Aye. MR. MCANDREW: Aye. MR. DONAHUE: Aye. DR. ROTHCHILD: Aye.  MR. GAUGHAN: Aye. Opposed? The  ayes have it and sO moved.  MS. REED: 5-D. FOR INTRODUCTION :  A RESOLUTION - APPOINTMENT OF CARL DEELEY, 711 NORTH WEBSTER AVENUE, SCRANTON,  PENNSYLVANIA 18510 TO THE POSITION OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2020. MR. DEELEY WILL BE REPLACING PATRICK J. SHERIDAN.    41  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  MR. GAUGHAN: At this time I'17  entertain a motion that Item 5-D be introduced  into its proper committee.  DR. ROTHCHILD: So moved. MR. DONAHUE: So moved. MR. MCANDREW: Second.  MR. GAUGHAN: On the question? On  the question, I did request, Mrs. Reed to send a - note to the administration asking that they provide a resume for Mr. Deeley before final passage next week. That was not included in this legislation. Anyone else on the question? A11 those in favor of introduction signify by  saying aye.  MR. SCHUSTER: Aye. MR. MCANDREW: Aye. MR. DONAHUE: Aye. DR. ROTHCHILD: Aye.  MR. GAUGHAN: Aye. Opposed? The  ayes have it and so moved.  MS. REED: SIXTH ORDER. 6-A. No  business at this time.  SEVENTH ORDER. 7-A FORMALLY 5-B -  FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR ADOPTION RESOLUTION NO. 37    42  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  2020. AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND OTHER APPROPRIATE CITY OFFICIALS FOR THE CITY OF SCRANTON TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH SCRANTON AREA FOUNDATION, INC. TO  ESTABLISH THE CITY OF SCRANTON SMALL BUSINESS FUND, A PASS THROUGH FUND WHICH WILL DISTRIBUTE GRANTS IN THE AMOUNT $2,500.00 TO VARIOUS SMALL BUSINESS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SCRANTON AS PART OF THE CITY OF SCRANTON'S SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. (EMERGENCY CERTIFICATE ATTACHED).  MR. GAUGHAN: Thank you. What is  the recommendation of the Chairperson for the Committee on Community Development?  Dr. ROTHCHILD: As Chairperson for  the Committee on Community Development, I recommend final passage of Item 7-A.  MR. GAUGHAN: Is there a second? MR. MCANDREW: Second.  MR. GAUGHAN: On the question? Yes,  on the question, I just want to reiterate what s said last week that I think this Small Business Relief Program is very, very important  for the City of Scranton.  If anyone is interested, any small    43  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  businesses out there, you can go to  www.scrantonworks.or9: I already received a quite a few questions about it. So if you go to that website, it is laid out plainly and clearly as to what you have to do, what information you have to have before you apply  for either the grant or the loan.  And the process : the application  process begins tomorrow I believe at 10 a.m. Anyone else on the question? Roll call,  please.  MS. - CARRERA: Mr. Schuster. MR. SCHUSTER: Yes.  MS. CARRERA: Mr. McAndrew. MR. MCANDREW: Yes.  MS. CARRERA: Dr. Rothchild. DR. ROTHCHILD: Yes. MS. CARRERA: Mr. Donahue. MR. DONAHUE: Yes.  MS. CARRERA: Mr. Gaughan.  MR. GAUGHAN: Yes. I hereby declare  Item 7-A legally and lawfully adopted. If there's no further business, I'11 entertain a  motion to adjourn.  MR. MCANDREW: Motion to adjourn.    44  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  MR. GAUGHAN: This meeting is  adjourned. Thank you everyone.    45  1 2 3  CERTIPICATE  Ih hereby certify that the proceedings and  4 evidence are contained fully and accurately in the 5 notes taken by me of the above-cause and that this copy 6 is a correct transcript of the same to the best of my  7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22  ability.  Maria McCool, RPR Official Court Reporter  (The foregoing certificate of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means unless under the direct control and/or supervision of  23 the certifying reporter.)  24 25    Gure8 20  bserestor City Cancil E RECEIVED  JUN 10 2020 COUNCILICITYCLERK OFFICE OF CITY  dnink  Wherk ype forypu gov  1 Cnldnib ayaeikue  hene actialky betnb AAAMNA theri    He hob then R    saly? MCMipeN fuik pfawpy  AAEA  S1L  E4 chulyayishe deceotazu  ank.dasathkpl MApwifangasn)  wnba hecooebk  phhh  Mmer A-MEr fhugashtfacs Solulens Immedehly  didthp weng therg  dttky  Spyasw. Council - Aihy #470,000 tchling  eedpsymnh  themonay  Spnkm 4fmhy4m  14 wng mevery mhuwnyr    SCRANTON! 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