1  SCRANTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING  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:  Thursday, June 14, 2007  Time: 1:00 p.m.  Location: Council Chambers Scranton City Hall 340 North Washington Avenue Scranton, Pennsylvania  CATHENE S. NARDOZZI COURT REPORTER    2  2 3  CITY OF SCRANTON COUNCIL:  4 MS. JUDY GATELLI, COUNCIL PRESIDENT  5  6 MR. WILLIAM COURTRIGHT, VICE-PRESIDENT  7  8 MS. JANET EVANS  9  10 MS. SHERRY NEALON FANUCCI  11  12 MR. ROBERT MCGOFF  13  14 MR. AMIL MINORA, ESQUIRE, SOLICITOR  15  16 MS. KAY GARVEY, CITY CLERK  17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  MR. NEIL COOLICAN, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK    3  MS. GATELLI: Okay. Please stand  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  for the Pledge Of Allegiance.  (Pledge of Allegiance recited and  moment of reflection.)  MS. GATELLI: Roll call. MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans. MS. - EVANS: Here.  MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Fanucci. MS. FANUCCI: Here. MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff. MR. MCGOFF: Here.  MR. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright. MR. COURTRIGHT: Here. MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli. MS. GATELLI: Here. Dispense with  the reading of the minutes.  MS. GARVEY: Third order. No  business at this time.  MS. GATELLI: Before we start with  motions I just have two announcements. On Sunday, June 17, at Nay Aug Park starting at 8:30 the Villa Capri Cruisers are having their Car Show and I'd just like to wish a happy 50th anniversary to Tom and Mary Conway and may they have many more. Anyone    4  else?  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. COURTRIGHT: I just have two, if  you don't mind. The Marine Corp League this Sunday is going to hold an S.0.S. breakfast Sunday from nine to twelve at the Marine Corp League on East Mountain, that's 1340 Alder Street and tickets will be $7 and you can call if you want more information, 499-3453 and there's going to be a fundraiser for officer Dan Schossler, he's battling cancer. It's going to be this July 8 on Sunday from 1 to 6 at Tink's and the tickets are ten dollars and if you would like to make a donation you could make a donation to Citizen's Bank in care of Dan Schossler, so, again, he's a Scranton police officer that's battling cancer and we would appreciate any help you could give him.  MS. GATELLI: Anyone else.  MS. EVANS: Yes. This Sunday, June  17, there will be free swimming and free use of the water slide for children 15 and under. This day of free swimming is sponsored by the Scranton Lackawanna County Taxpayers' Association, citizens and local    5  businesses. Kids, grab your dads and come  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  out and swim on Father's Day.  Also, the Jonathan Clauss fundraiser  will be conducted on June 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Lackawanna College. Tickets are limited and are available for $15 per person. Musical entertainment will be provided by Dan Delrimple and John Ventry. They are. a keyboard artist and guitarist and for tickets please see Mr. Joe Talimini or  call 961-7476. That's it.  MS. GATELLI: That's it. Anyone  else? Fourth order, Mrs. Evans.  MS. EVANS: Good afternoon, ladies  and gentlemen. Today I ask you to remember in your prayers three wonderful individuals who passed away in the last week and their grieving families who suffer their loss. Lorraine 'Rainne" Narsavage. Joseph A. Hudacko, and Fredrick Serian, Sr. I'm saddened by the loss of these good people and dear, dear family friends and I offer my deepest sympathy to all of their family  members.  Because of the questions and serious    6  concerns about Daron Northeast that have continued over the last few years, I move that Mr. Wallace : actually, let me correct that. I move that Scranton City Council notifies Mr. Wallace that we request his attendance at a caucus meeting in June 2007 in order to discuss zoning violations committed by Daron Northeast. Council further requests that Mr. Wallace will provide copies of all zoning and planning commission paperwork and reports which granted Daron Northeast the ability to construct its plant at the Dickson Avenue location and any and all paperwork, including permit applications, written correspondences, and citations issued by the  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- of Scranton, DEP, etcetera.  MR. COURTRIGHT: Second. MS. GATELLI: On the question? MS. - EVANS: Yes. I spoke with  Attorney Minora prior to our meeting today about the truck traffic at Daron Northeast and he has an update for all of us.  MR. MINORA: A couple of things.  First of all, Daron has greed to reopen    7  their main entrance at the bottom of Delaware avenue so that the truck traffic that was creating such a problem in the 17 of Dickson will be eliminated at least they're doing that voluntarily for the moment. In order for us to ban truck traffic on 17 we first have to have a traffic study, so we need to have a motion that that be done and I honestly don't know the cost of something like that, but we ought to maybe have Mr. Parker give us some idea of what that would cost and once that's done, if it is -- if it shows what we suspect that it will then we can pass an ordinance that will be enforceable.  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  MS. EVANS: Thank you.  MR. MCGOFF: Yeah, I think that we  should get Mr. Wallace into speak, that would be a good idea. I'm not sure that maybe after we speak with Mr. Wallace if we feel that all of that paperwork is  necessary, that at that time we would move to get all the paperwork done. I just think it's really two different motions that we're looking at, there are two different things    8  involved.  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  MS. EVANS: Well, I know what you're  saying, but in order to advance a remedy for the situation, I thought it would be appropriate and helpful if Mr. Wallace came to the caucus with the original paperwork concerning the business because that is one of the issues in question, and were he to have in hand the reports of the planning commission and the zoning commission, I think it would really speed things up and help us to clearly understand immediately how the business was initiated, if it was done properly or improperly. So, it's not that I'm looking for a stack of paperwork, it's only the paperwork pertaining to, you know, those very specific situations and it's only in the hope that we can get a remedy as soon as possible because some of the neighbors are incurring health problems  that are increasing as we speak.  MS. GATELLI: My only question is  why are we not having also Mr. Fiorini?  MS. EVANS: Oh, we can add Mr.  Fiorini.    9  MS. GATELLI: I think he needs to be  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  here.  MS. EVANS: But Mr. Fiorini, I would  think, wouldn't have had too much  involvement with planning and zoning, but I have no objection to having Mr. Fiorini as  well.  MS. GATELLI: Well, he was quoted in  the paper saying there wasn't a problem there, so I think he needs to be here, too, before he leaves, sO we can try to, you  know :  MS. - EVANS: I ask for June. MS. GATELLI: : amend that motion  that we can have them both here next week.  MS. EVANS: Um-hum. Would you like  me to move that now, Attorney Minora?  MR. MINORA: I'm sorry? MS. EVANS: To amend.  MR. MINORA: I thought there was a  motion to amend and was it agreed to?  MS. FANUCCI: Second to amend the  motion.  MR. MINORA: Second to amend the  motion, and not the amended motion would    10  include Bill Fiorini as well as Mr. Wallace and all of the documents you requested.  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  MS. GATELLI: Second. Anyone on the  question? A1l in favor?  MS. EVANS: Aye. MS. FANUCCI: Aye. MR. MCGOFF: Aye. MR. COURTRIGHT: Aye.  MS. GATELLI: Aye. Opposed? The  ayes have it and so moved.  MS. EVANS: I would also make a  motion at this time that a traffic study of Dickson Avenue be conducted by the City of  Scranton.  MS. GATELLI: Second. On the  question?  MR. MINORA: On the 17 of Dickson? I  don't know if you said that.  MS. GATELLI: It might be the 16. MR. MINORA: Or the 17 of Dickson. MS. GATELLI: 16 and 17? MS. EVANS: Yes.  MS. GATELLI: 16 and 17 Hundred  blocks.  MR. MINORA: Okay.    11  MS. EVANS: The two blocks that cover  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  both entrances.  MS. GATELLI: 16 and 17. I seconded  it, yeah. Anyone on the question?  MR. MCGOFF: Do we have any idea  what the cost would be and who would conduct  that?  MS. EVANS: Well, I discussed this  with Attorney Minora, also. We don't believe that the state would be involved as they have been on other requests for traffic studies, however, if, you know, we wanted to continue out to Green Ridge Street then, in fact, perhaps PennDOT would conduct it. Otherwise, I would assume it could just be done by our city engineer who has conducted other traffic studies and that's at no cost  to the city.  MR. COURTRIGHT: And we'11 get it  done quicker if the city does it.  MS. FANUCCI: My problem is now that  he's using the entrance that he always used. The traffic study is going to come back saying, you know, there is not much traffic on the street, there's nothing to worry    12  about, that's what happened. He actually did the traffic study now in the summertime and then when it came back saying it's okay we don't need stop signs because there wasn't enough traffic, so my problem with the traffic study is it's going to show now that he's moved the entrance not to be a problem for trucks because there aren't any  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  trucks.  MS. EVANS: Well, actually, I  understand what you're saying and I agree, but there are a tremendous number of trucks and tractor-trailers coming and going from  that business almost daily.  MS. FANUCCI: Oh, I know, but what  I'm saying is they switched the entrance now. He opened -- I was down there with Daniel this week, they opened the entrance, the original entrance, now they won't be on Dickson they will be going right into where they were before, that's the problem. They will not be traveling on that road.  MS. - EVANS: Well, they're Still on  Dickson. They're at Delaware and Dickson.  MS. FANUCCI: That's right on the    13  Delaware and Dickson, but they just take a quick turn. The 17 will be nothing though.  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. HUBBARD: Right, if you do --if  the trucks   MS. GATELLI: Please. Please.  Nobody from the audience.  MS. FANUCCI: My problem is that the  17 will show no traffic at all for trucks because now they will be just taking the original entrance, so I don't know, but I'm just saying that that might be a problem.  MS. GATELLI: It my alter the study. MS. FANUCCI: Yeah, that's all. MS. GATELLI: Anyone else on the  question? A11 in favor?  MS. EVANS: Aye. MS. FANUCCI: Aye. MR. MCGOFF: Aye. MR. COURTRIGHT: Aye.  MS. GATELLI: Aye. Opposed? The  ayes have it and so moved.  MS. EVANS: Thank you. Typically I  don't engage in shameless self-promotion, but I feel compelled to respond to a question posed last week about lower    14  Greenridge. We were asked, "What have you done?" And I think it may have been within the last year and I just wanted to make note of a few of the things I had been involved with. First, I had the dirt built up along the riverbank in the area of the old Laminations building before a storm in September 2006, and I sat and watched the workers conduct that process for two hours  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  after I left work that day.  Twice I interceded with the Sewer  Authority and, consequently, all flood victims had their sewer rates adjusted. I contacted Mr. Parker and a local news station because I had been in touch with several citizens at the time, and virtually nagged both until the debris was cleared from the bridge area from the river last  summer.  I S served as the contact person  between Wal-Mart and the neighbors for clean-up assistance following the flooding. IV visited the neighborhood during each of the two last floods to speak to the residents and attended all flood meetings    15  Consequently, I've always been aware of the problems of lower Green Ridge and I've addressed those which I am able to assist.  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  Because many citizens have expressed to me a desire to speak on agenda items before a vote occurs and because Council meetings have been adjourned unexpectedly, thereby preventing citizens from addressing agenda items prior to a final vote, I move that City Council return citizens participation to Fourth Order prior to the casting of  votes.  MR. COURTRIGHT: Second. MS. GATELLI: On the question? MR. MCGOFF: I am going to  respectfully agree.  (Unintelligible comments from the  audience.)  MS. GATELLI: Please. Please. No  comments.  MR. MCGOFF: I believe that the  meetings are : that we're able to accomplish the business portion of the meeting much easier, which is really what we're supposed to do, and I think that    16  adequate time is provided for speaking on issues, albeit at the end of, you know, after the business part of the meeting.  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  MS. EVANS: Once again, my concern  was for particularly those meetings that had been adjourned and any future meetings that for any reason would have to be abruptly adjourned. It prevents citizens then from addressing an agenda item that would be voted on the following week in final order. In addition, I'm also concerned that yet another lawsuit can be filed against City Council and, frankly, I've not seen as many lawsuits as I have in the last year in all my time on Council and it is to prevent  such from being filed yet again.  MS. FANUCCI: Well, my feeling on the  whole entire process is that when we had the three minutes for people to speak on agenda items, they were not happy when we had the minutes : no, they had the opportunity for the three minutes to speak on the agenda and we listened to them and they were upset about it, they wanted five minutes together, they got it. If they want to go back to    17  three minutes prior to speak on agenda items and another two to three minutes afterwards to speak on the bell or, you know, who signs in and who doesn't, then we can go back to that, but when I hear people repeatedly discussing non-issues and using time and using this city and this forum for  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  non-issues for city business, I am going to decline that vote unless they want to go back to three minutes on agenda items and maybe two minutes afterwards. So that is my  answer.  MS. EVANS: Well, I'17 just clarify  that. I understand what you're saying, but I'm not suggesting the three minutes and three minutes, I was merely suggesting or moving that we return to the traditional provision of Council which was the five minutes speaking period during Fourth Order prior to the taking of any votes.  MS. FANUCCI: No, I did understand  what you were saying, what I was saying is the only thing I would be willing to even consider is to go back to letting them speak on agenda items for the three minutes, but    18  that is all.  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  MS. GATELLI: Anyone else on the  question?  MR. COURTRIGHT: I guess I need to  say. something now, I wasn't going to. I'm against the three and three. I ( didn't like it. Ie either go for staying the way it is now or going for Mrs. Evans' motion, but the three and three I just didn't think worked out, so I'd prefer to either stay this way or go for whatever motion - not whatever, the motion that Mrs. Evans made.  MS. GATELLI: Anyone else on the  question? The motion is to change it? A11  in favor?  MR. COURTRIGHT: Aye. MS. EVANS: Aye.  MS. GATELLI: Opposed? No.  MR. MCGOFF: No. MS. FANUCCI: No. No. MS. GATELLI: Three/two. MS. EVANS: Also, I received a  response from Mr. Baker, executive Baker of the Housing Authority to the requests of Park Garden residents and I will read his    19  response for them: "I am in receipt of your correspondence to me regarding requests from residents at Park Gardens. As you know, the Scranton Housing Authority has a public meeting monthly at our main office located at 400 Adams Avenue, Scranton, Pennsylvania. Everyone is invited to attend the same, especially our tenants which included Park Gardens residents. I would suggest that forum to answer the resident's questions."  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  Now, I would add to that if the  residents would care to attend one of those meetings to pose your questions to the housing authority, I would be very happy to  attend that meeting with you.  Also, I have a response from Chief  Elliott regarding the intersection of Division Street and 16th Avenue which I'11 read in part: "I have received your request to look into safety concerns at the intersection of Division and Sixteenth Avenue. I will have officers from our patrol division pay close attention to this area and strictly enforce any violations.  As for a possible traffic study being    20  conducted at this intersection, you should contact city engineer, George Parker. Until Ih hear different, the police will do all they can to keep this area safe for all  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  residents."  And, finally, I have citizens'  requests for the week: 1217 Luzerne Street, the back yard resembles a junk yard littered with garbage, beer bottles, mattresses and garbage. The grass is over a foot high in both the front and back of the property.  Across from the corner Grandview Street  and Boulevard Avenue is a former gas  station. A citizen reports the existence of underground gas tanks. Please send a letter of notification to the Department of  Environmental Protection.  1217-1219 Division Street, a  structure has been condemned for several years. Many boards have been removed and people have been observed entering and exiting the house since last winter. The residents of this block are very concerned for their own safety. When will the  structure be demolished?    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  The 3000 block of Division Street in  West Mountain, residents report a serious problem with ticks. Several individuals have been treated at area physician's offices and hospitals for tick removal. Residents are infected while mowing lawns and sitting outdoors and children have been infected while playing outdoors. Send a letter to the appropriate agency requesting immediate attention to this health hazard.  And that's it.  MS. GATELLI: Thank you. Mrs.  Fanucci.  MS. FANUCCI: I have nothing at this  time.  MS. GATELLI: Mr. McGoff?  MR. MCGOFF: I'd just like to, we  received a note or a letter from Comcast concerning switching of channels. I had a number of people talk to me about the contract that Comcast has and if the  switches that they are making are within the rights or within the contract that's as stated. It seems though they're switching over digital cable analog cable and while    22  the rates aren't going up I'm told, since I don't have cable, I'm told that in order to to the digital cable you need to have some type of box or something that goes  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  go  with it and if you need additional  along  boxes for the time house that they are : that they cost so that, in fact, the rates are if you want to keep getting the service  that you  have as they switch all of these  channels and the one here is ESPN classic, you know, that's now going to their digital line up, yeah, you won't get it on the analog and so now you, need to go out and buy a box for each of the televisions that you have which really does add to the cost, and whether that is, again, is that within the fee schedule that is, you know, the contract that Comcast has with the city or are they violating the contract by, you know, making all of these switches? It is just a concern, and I thought I would bring it up.  MS. - EVANS: Mr. McGoff, I somewhere  at home in my files have a copy of the contract the original agreement with the Adelphia which I'm sure is still, you know,    23  in use since Comcast bought out Adelphia and I - would be very happy to share that with you  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  and we could look that up.  MS. GARVEY: Actually, it's in the  office. Kay has a copy of it. You can get  a - copy before you leave.  MR. MCGOFF: Thank you. And if there  is something, you know, I think that, you know, we probably should look into their compliance with that contract, and that's  all. Thank you.  MR. COURTRIGHT: I just have one  thing, Mrs. Gatelli brought about 5-B on the agenda tonight, the police athletic league account, it has nothing to do with the skate park or the crime watch building on Jackson Street it's just solely to establish an account. The police have received funds for  athletic  donations and they  a - police  league  need to open an account up to put the funds into, so when I asked Dave Elliott about it he said it has absolutely nothing to do with the building or the skate park, it's just an  act, and that's all I have.  MS. GATELLI: Okay. And the only    24  thing I have is there was an article about Connell Park swimming pool being closed. It is only going to be closed for approximately two weeks. They are up there today putting the roof on and they're fixing the  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  filtration system, so we can expect the park to open in approximately two weeks.  Also, I talked to Mike Hanley from  United Neighborhood Centers and he said that of the children from the projects in that particular area have signed up to go to Project Hope up at Camp St. Andrew so they are also being serviced with that. And the South Side Renaissance Center was serving free lunches to children 18 and under. They haven't been very successful at it, they haven't had many customers, so I had the woman call Mike Hanley from United Neighborhoods and they're going try to possible do it in one of the projects where  many  it maybe public  more successful. So, just so the knows, there are free lunches for  children under 18 years of age and it is now at the South Side Renaissance Center at 705 Pittston Avenue and all children are    25  to be 18 and under. And  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  welcome. You need  that's all I have. Mrs. Garvey.  MS. GARVEY: Fourth Order. 4-B. FOR  INTRODUCTION - A RESOLUTION - REAPPOINTING ROBERT SHUMAKER 702 STAFFORD AVE, SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, 18505, AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS FOR THE CITY OF SCRANTON. MR. SHUMAKER'S ORIGINAL TERM WILL EXPIRE ON JULY 1, 2007, AND HIS NEW TERM  WILL EXPIRE ON JULY 2, 2010.  MS. GATELLI: At this time I'11  entertain a motion that 4-B be introduced.  MR. COURTRIGHT: So moved. MS. FANUCCI: Second.  MS. GATELLI: On the question? A11  those in favor?  MS. EVANS: Aye. MS. FANUCCI: Aye. MR. MCGOFF: Aye. MR. COURTRIGHT: Aye.  MS. GATELLI: Aye. Opposed? The  ayes have it and so moved.  MS. GARVEY: 4-C. FOR INTRODUCTION  A RESOLUTION - REAPPOINTING RAY DOMINGUEZ, 2010 FARR STREET, SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA,    26  18504, AS ALTERNATE NO. 1 MEMBER TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, FOR THE CITY OF SCRANTON. RM. DOMINGUEZ'S ORIGINAL TERM WILL EXPIRE ON JULY 1, 2007 AND HIS NEW TERM  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  WILL EXPIRE ON JULY 1, 2011.  MS. GATELLI: At this time I'11  entertain a motion that 4-C be introduced.  MR. COURTRIGHT: So moved. MS. FANUCCI: Second.  MS. GATELLI: On the question? A11  those in favor?  MS. EVANS: Aye. MS. FANUCCI: Aye. MR. MCGOFF: Aye. MR. COURTRIGHT: Aye.  MS. - GATELLI: Aye. Opposed? The  ayes have it and so moved.  MS. GARVEY: 4-D. FOR INTRODUCTION -  A RESOLUTION - AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND OTHER APPROPRIATE CITY OFFICIALS TO EXECUTE AND ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH HORSEPOWER HARLEY DAVIDSON, INC. TO LEASE ANNUALLY FOR THREE YEARS POLICE PACKAGE  MOTORCYCLES.  MS. GATELLI: At this time I'11    27  entertain a motion that 4-D be introduced.  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. COURTRIGHT: So moved. MS. FANUCCI: Second.  MS. GATELLI: On the question? A1l  those in favor?  MS. EVANS: Aye. MS. FANUCCI: Aye. MR. MCGOFF: Aye. MR. COURTRIGHT: Aye.  MS. GATELLI: Aye. Opposed? The  ayes have it and so moved.  MS. GARVEY: Fifth order. 5-A.  READING BY TITLE - FILE OF COUNCIL NO. 98, 2007 - AN ORDINANCE - CREATING AND ESTABLISHING SPECIAL CITY ACCOUNT NO. 02.229586 ENTITLED SCRANTON POLICE CRIME SCENE UNIT INVESTIGATION TO RECEIVE AND DISBURSE FUNDS FROM AND FOR THE CRIME SCENE UNIT OF THE SCRANTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.  MS. GATELLI: You have heard Reading  by Title of 5-A, what is your pleasure?  MR. COURTRIGHT: I move Item 5-A pass  Reading by Title.  MS. FANUCCI: Second.  MS. GATELLI: On the question? A17    28  those in favor?  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  MS. EVANS: Aye. MS. FANUCCI: Aye. MR. MCGOFF: Aye. MR. COURTRIGHT: Aye.  MS. GATELLI: Aye. Opposed? The  ayes have it and so moved.  MS. GARVEY: 5-B. READING BY TITLE  FILE OF COUNCIL NO. 99, 2007 - AN ORDINANCE CREATING AND ESTABLISHING SPECIAL CITY ACCOUNT NO. 02.229587 ENTITLED SCRANTON POLICE DEPARTMENT ATHLETIC LEAGUE" TO RECEIVE AND DISBURSE FUNDS FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR CITY RESIDENTS AND PURCHASING EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR SUCH PROGRAMS.  MS. GATELLI: You've heard reading by  title of 5-B, what is you pleasure?  MR. COURTRIGHT: I move Item 5-B pass  reading by title.  MS. FANUCCI: Second.  MS. GATELLI: On the question? A1l  those in favor?  MS. EVANS: Aye. MS. FANUCCI: Aye. MR. MCGOFF: Aye.    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  MR. COURTRIGHT: Aye.  MS. GATELLI: Aye. Opposed? The  ayes have it and so moved.  MS. GARVEY: Sixth order. 6-A. FOR  CONSIDERATION BY THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - FOR ADOPTION - RESOLUTION NO. 150, - 2007 - AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND OTHER APPROPRIATE CITY OFFICIALS FOR THE CITY OF SCRANTON TO ENTER INTO A LOAN AGREEMENT AND MAKE A LOAN FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM, PROJECT NO. 150.10 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $120,000.00 TO VIDA TAPAS BAR & GRILL, INC. TO ASSIST AN  ELIGIBLE PROJECT.  MS. GATELLI: What is the  recommendation of the Chair on Community  Development7  MS. FANUCCI: As Chairperson for the  Committee on Community Development I recommended final passage of Item 6-A.  MR. COURTRIGHT: Second.  MS. GATELLI: On the question? Roll  call.  MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Evans. MRS. EVANS: Yes.    30  MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Fanucci. MS. FANUCCI: Yes. MR. COOLICAN: Mr. McGoff. MR.. MCGOFF: Yes.  Z 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  Mr. COOLICAN: Mr. Courtright. MR. COURTRIGHT: Yes. MR. COOLICAN: Mrs. Gatelli.  MS. GATELLI: Yes. I hereby declare  6-A legal and lawfully adopted.  MS. GARVEY: Seventh order.  Citizens' participation.  MS. GATELLI: Douglas Miller. MR. MINORA: Mrs. Gatelli, do you  wish to use the bell as the timing device?  MS. GATELLI: Do you have the bell? MR. MINORA: We brought it. MS. GATELLI: Okay. Douglas. MR. MILLER: Good afternoon, Council.  Doug Miller, Junior Council. An issue has been raised regarding the sign-in sheet out in the hallway and I would like to address this. I don't like to disrespect others, but each week Mrs. Franus and others continue to cross my name off the sign-in sheet. Junior Council has been speaking    31  first for the last year so why it's becoming an issue all of a sudden I don't understand. f follow the rules for the sign-in sheet and b believe Mrs. Franus and others should do the same. I, as well as any other Junior Council member, have the same right as they  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  do to address this Council.  Last Saturday we had a park cleanup  at the Dorothy Street playground and if you didn't notice there was a picture in the paper showing our Council cleaning the park. You know, Mrs. Franus and others knew this was taking place and I didn't see any of them there nor did I see them last year and they are the first ones to come here and complain about the parks. Isay if you want respect from us, respect us. Respect is earned, not demanded. I believe we here as the Junior Council have been trying very hard to earn the respect from the people of  this city.  Moving on, on behalf of Junior  Council I would lake to thank all of the volunteers who assisted us in cleaning the Dorothy Street playground last Saturday. It    32  was a great day and the park looks wonderful and I ask everyone to continue to support  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  our parks.  Again, I'17 continue to announce  this, Junior Council is raising funds to purchase a children handicapped accessible swingset for Nay Aug Park and we continue to ask for your support by sending a donation here to city hall 340 N. Washington Avenue,  Scranton, PA, 18503.  Finally, yesterday I had the  pleasure of meeting with the West Side Crime Watch Association. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss what could be done to save the Jackson Street playground. The playground is in dire need of an extreme makeover. The skate park has not been repaired in years and the current jumps are eight years old. The pavement is cracking and potholes have formed. A section of the fence has been cut out by kids who sneak in to the skate park and the children have also littered the entire complex. After  completing the tour of the complex with the West Side Crime Watch, it appeared to me    33  that park is not safe for children. The city has invested 10 million dollars into city parks and I don't understand why they continue to ignore this playground. The administration has promised the crime watch association that they would invest into the park and they have yet to do that. The children in that neighborhood need a place to go to keep them off the streets and we don't an alternative skate park to offer the children. West Side Crime Watch has been committed to volunteer and supervise the entire complex and they have done a wonderful job and they should be commended for their efforts. Representing Junior Council last night I promised the West Side Crime Watch that we would do everything we could to make sure the park gets a makeover,  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  and we keep our promises.  The Junior Council will hold a park  cleanup at the Jackson Street playground on Saturday, June 30 at 9 a.m. It will be selling Tunch to begin raising money for the park. Today I ask Council to show your concern and begin looking at ways to raise    34  funds to invest into this park. I hope to see all five of you there on June 30th at 9 a.m.. Please show your support, and I am asking everyone in the City of Scranton so to show your support for the Jackson Street playground and please come on June 30th.  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.  MR. MCGOFF: Mrs. Gatelli, may I  just respond a second to Mr. Miller's : it's really up to the president and up to Council when people will speak. That's our collective decision and, you know, we have so far, you know, decided that it's appropriate for a representative of Council to speak first. However, I really do think it's inappropriate for members of the council, the Junior Council, to mention the names of other people and to question their  actions. I just thought it was  inappropriate and I think that maybe in the future you should consider and others of junior council should consider who they're it talking to, address Council and, you know, let us decide what's appropriate.  MS. GATELLI: Thank you. Mrs.    35  Franus.  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  MS. FRANUS: Fay Franus, Scranton.  Mrs. Gatelli, I'd like to ask you a  question. Could you look at me, please, and stop writing maybe? Okay. Mrs. Gatelli is looking down and not even -- and writing away. I'd like to ask you, Mrs. Gatelli, if you as an individual, not as an elected official, are using taxpayer funds to sue the taxpayers of the City of Scranton in a liable action. Dead silence. Well, I guess, you know, if it was me, if it were me and I was not using taxpayer funds I would be automatically saying, no, I am not using them which only leads me to believe that you probably will be using them so I think that Mrs. Evans, and since that you are in the finance, I would hope you could look into this when the time comes to make sure that Mrs. Gatelli is not using taxpayer funds to finance her legal bills because it's theft,  it's out and out theft.  Now, another thing, when Chief  Elliott was on the radio, I discussed this last week but Mrs. Gatelli wasn't here, I'd    36  like to point this out, Chief Elliott said that if somebody is called out order and if they don't step down and Mrs. Gatelli tells them to the police officer will come if they don't go that they will be : maybe file criminal charges. I - just want to give the people an idea of Mrs. Gatelli's actions, she is still not even looking at me. This is the times, just some of the times that Mrs. Evans : I'm sorry, Mrs. Gatelli, Mrs. Evans has never called anybody out of order, Mrs. Gatelli has called the people out of action: Dan Hubbard, November 11,2006. February 22, '07. April 19, '07, and there was two other times. Phyllis Humphrey, January 19, 2006. January 26, 2006. April 20, 2006. May 4, 2006. July 6, 2006. Bill Jackowitz, March 1, 2007. Ray Lyman, March 5, 2007. Julie Jones, February 2, 2006. Jim Davis, February 2, 2006, July 27, 2006, Bob Bolus October 28 2006. Joe Talimini November 30, 2006. Myself, December 14 2006  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  and Mary Ann Wardell.  Now, another point I want to make  about that is the fact that Mrs. Gatelli    37  only calls certain people out of order and some of these people were called out of order because they spoke over the five minutes or three minutes at the time possibly. Well, other people have spoke over five minutes or three minutes many, many times and Mrs. Gatelli never said one word to them which only leads me to believe that she only saying it to certain people because she does not like what they say to her. She's an elected official and she has to take whatever she has coming. We have a  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  right to our opinion.  I want to also make some quotes here  that Mrs. Gatelli said because the budget is coming up and I just want to refresh  mind about Mrs. Gatelli ran on the  people's  platform that she was not going to raise the taxes, that's how she supposedly got elected. September 23, 2006, Mrs. Gatelli said, "I do not have all the answers, but I do not think now is the time. The buck will stop here and there will be no more  borrowing."  November 9, 2006, "We have to forge    38  ahead. I don't like borrowing and I was against $44 million, but I am not against  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  all borrowing."  Then she goes on with pictures of  her grandchildren in hand. "This is a debt beyond my grandchildren. Now we are talking about my great grandchildren," but yet there she was she when she passed the budget 25 percent, and the budget is coming up again, IV would like ask Mrs. Gatelli, "Are you going to vote for another 25 percent increase? No answers. I don't know what she comes here for. June 13, 2006, a year ago Mrs. Gatelli stated, "Trash collection taxes and street maintenance are the most important things to the residents."  Well, isn't it funny how she hasn't  done a thing about it except raise these taxes and cause residents undue hardship. It's. outrageous and she's a Council  President? That's another thing, she should step down as Council President because, you know, we can't do anything, the citizens, we're certainly not being represented. She's even told me, "I don't represent you."    39  Well, apparently she doesn't because  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  here she is. She picks and chooses who she wants. Well, here's the deal. She spoke she didn't answer me before, then it came election time then all of a sudden she was answering me, her husband was running for election so she had to appear nice. Now all of a sudden the husband doesn't win, we're back to not answering me again. What does that tell you? I see. Then she goes on about being threatened. I could go on and on and in quotes about, "I'm threatened, I'm afraid, let's have the cops here. People tell me, 'Mrs. Gatelli, I'm going to get you,' that's why I have to have police  here."  Well, how many times did she say  that, she said she's threatened7  Is that one minute left? MR. MINORA: That's five minutes. MS. FRANUS: Again, Mrs. Gatelli,  you are the worst Council President in the  City of Scranton.  MS. GATELLI: Thank you. Andy  Sbaraglia.    40  MS. EVANS: Mr. Sbaraglia, just  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  quickly before you speak, Mrs. Franus jarred my memory on a financial issue. I wanted to announce that the independent auditors have begun the field work on the 2006 independent audit a few weeks ago, so the process is underway, but I'm sure we have to understand that it's going to be fairly late this year.  Thank you.  MR. SBARAGLIA: Andy Sbaraglia,  citizen of Scranton. Fellow Scrantonians, 4-D we are going to lease some motorcycles, are we leasing : we're getting, from what I  read, five free motorcycles?  MR. COURTRIGHT: Right. We're  getting five, we're giving them four back, three which are in use, one which would be the fifth one, I don't know if they are going to take it back, was destroyed in an  automobile accident.  MR. SBARAGLIA: From what I read on  the legislation they own the motorcycles, not the Indians, the five Indians that are used are not ours, but their, right? The company donated them, I believe, to the    41  city. Okay, this is the free ones. Now, they donated to us but we have to lease five  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  brand new ones.  MR. COURTRIGHT: The five new ones  that we are going get for the first two years we won't pay anything, and then for the second year we will pay 200 and some,  it's in here somewhere :  MR. SBARAGLIA: You don't have to  get into the figures, I read them, too, but we have to pay to have these furnished. Who  is doing the furnishing?  MR. COURTRIGHT: What do you mean  furnished?  MR. SBARAGLIA: Well, they have to  be brought up to police specs.  MR. COURTRIGHT: Well, they have to  put a police package on them.  MR. SBARAGLIA: Yeah, who is paying  for that?  MR. COURTRIGHT: I believe the city  will be paying, but there's :-  MR. SBARAGLIA: Yes, the city is. MR. COURTRIGHT: And it will go  from--    42  MR. SBARAGLIA: Who is doing the  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  work on it?  MR. COURTRIGHT: The company that's  giving us the :  MR. SBARAGLIA: So we know where  they're going to make some money, okay. Let's get onto this : you already voted on it, but that's okay. Your 6-A, is that a 108 loan? Is this one you just voted on for the block grants enter into with this Vida Tapas Bar and Grill, is that a 108 loan?  MR. COURTRIGHT: I don't know if it  is or not.  MR. SBARAGLIA: Okay. Because I  don't like to see 108 loans subordinated.  MR. COURTRIGHT: I don't think it is,  but I'm not sure.  MR. SBARAGLIA: These are the  patterns that we have with these things. We vote to give them : we're number one when we vote for them, six months later they're subordinated and now we don't get nothing if they go under. This is the pattern that has come before Council many, many times so there's no - I'm just telling you now    43  because I'11 bring it up probably when it comes up again for subordination that what you're doing you've got to make sure they're not 108 loans. I - don't care if they're UDAG, but 108 loans we've got pay back and the more of them loans you subordinate the worse our financial position as a city gets.  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  Okay. As you know, there's a free swim program at the local pools and I know you sent some type of a letter to the Recreation Authority asking them to do something up at Nay Aug. But you know what, you have the power to do it. You don't need to send out letters begging for it, you could just send out legislation to take back the pool. Just take back the pool. The mayor don't care less about the pool, he can do whatever he wants with the park, but you should take back the pool. The pool should be with Parks and Recreation where it is that way they would have free swimming, all you have to do is write legislation on it and oversee a veto in case it happens. But instead of just. sitting there begging, we don't have to beg, you're a legislation branch. You don't    44  beg nothing. You order them. And that's all got to do is order it. If you got your four votes to override his veto it's done.  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 things that happen on this Council  aren't the best. That legislation you passed last week with the delinquency is the worst thing I ever saw in my life. How you could even entertain it was beyond me. It's immoral. It's an Immoral piece of  legislation. And if the school board goes along with it, it could even be more immoral because, as you know, you did it only on the city part of the taxes. You have no control over the taxes put on by the school board. Now they in turn when we had this little conference with them people earlier said they. were talking to the school board. You realize what would happen if they signed a piece of legislation like you did?  MS. FANUCCI: The school board  already enacted that. They already used that program and have already done that, that's already a done deal. That's already  been going through the process.  MR. SBARAGLIA: Don't you realize    45  what's going to happen when they go into delinquency for three months if you are going to get a penalty on our taxes and then a penalty on the school board taxes? Both of them on there at the same time? Think  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  about what you're doing.  MS. GATELLI: Reverend Simmons. MS. SIMMONS: Good afternoon City  Council and Junior Council. My name is Reverend Catherine Simmons, Florence Midtown Crime Watch. I have come here for the past ten years talking off and on about a group called crime watch. We came together in my area in my neighborhood to help and aid all areas of justice whether it be city or county we furnished aid to help clean up our. neighborhood and to teach those who were anti-law to turn around and come on back to the true positive and prosperous side of life. Because we have been helped by so many over a period of time, crime watch felt that the city and county should join together and honor those who have worked so hard. But we are a poor, quote, poor financial organization. So, when we do our    46  annual dinner to honor those who struggle so hard during the year, we have to look to others to help us out. So Florence Midtown Crime Watch has to go beg to go help put its dinner on. We don't look all year long for funding because that's not what we're about. We're about keeping our neighborhoods clean, keeping the drugs out and the drug doers straight. Crime Watch was promised donations to pay for the dinner that they put on this year from the political and economic community. Well, the donations never came but the dinner went on. The few dollars which did come in helped cover a very small part of the cost of the dinner. We are in deep, deep debt and there are two ladies that sit on our financial part of our. organization who's jobs, as I said last week, are in jeopardy. I was asked recently what I felt about a medical school moving into the midtown area. I didn't give my opinion, but I'm going to give it now. My thought is this, if the business and  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  political community of this area cannot keep a promise to support a simple dinner, why    47  would I listen to them keep promise about a medical school? I believe nothing they say to me. Get the checks in the mail and get this bill paid. That's all I have to say.  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  MS. GATELLI: Thank you. Mr. Davis. MR. DAVIS: Salaam aleikam. The  first on the agenda, Item 4-A -- I'm sorry, Item 5-- 6-A, did we ever get any  information on who this organization or who this restaurant is and what are their vital  statistics?  MR. COURTRIGHT: It was all brought  up last week, Mr. Davis.  MR. DAVIS: A11 right. And you're  satisfied with them? You see, when we ask you to do things like have us talk to you before you vote on these things, it might give you more insight into what we might know about these organizations or what we might have ascertained from other information that you may not have heard. It's impossible for to you learn everything there is about one of these  even just one of these things and in the period of time that you, from time you get this until the    48  time you sit here and tell us about them. Now, I'm not degrading your abilities or anything like that, but I know as a student there's only sO much you could understand with all the information that's is out there about individual or things. And, like, I question that we're going to do the right thing if we don't have all the proper information about these things. If you allowed us to bring forth what knowledge we may have before you vote it seems more American, it seems more Democratic. But we're saying that we are not Democratic. This union, this group, is no longer Democratic. You are going to make the motions, you are going to okay the motions and you're going slam them down our throats. You are going make sure they stand whether we look it or not. We have to go by what you find to be true without our information without information we might have, without questions are question that we might have about these things and I don't think it's very Democratic. It's hard for me to tell the kids down at the progressive center or  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25    49  the Boys Club, "Come to City Council and listen to the City Council you'11 learn about Democratic rule before you can go and sit there and before you can speak them."  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  And I keep telling them, "Don't be  afraid. They are not going to go bite your head off. They're not going hurt you."  But the thing is we have to become a  party of : if we are teaching democracy in our schools and we're saying we're a democratic nation and went our kids to believe in us, and believe in what we say and what we do, then we've got act democratic and you're not in my respect. Because speaking to you now after the thing has been done it's like closing the barn door, you know, you remember that, right?  MR. COURTRIGHT: This was the third  time we had it though, it's in Sixth Order.  We spoke on it two other times.  MR. DAVIS: You spoke on it twice? MR. COURTRIGHT: Two times other than  today, you weren't here though.  MR. DAVIS: No.  MR. COURTRIGHT: Right.    50  MR. - DAVIS: I sat here last week and  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  Ih heard it, and I heard it at home because I did listen to it there, but I'm saying that by the time you spoke about it nobody in the audience could speak about it, they could speak on it but very few people : they had their own agenda when they come here so, therefore, what is on the menu does not get said. Maybe it's our fault. It is, it's our fault. If we don't question like I'm doing now, then we have no right to say anything. But it's late. The barn door is closed. And I'm saying we are stuck with the decisions. Your children, your grandchildren, as was said before, they're going to be stuck with the taxes, these people do not come through. So, I'm telling you like this, if you want us to respect you as a Democratic overseer, legislature for us, then you have to give us the right to question you. When you say up there, "Are  there any questions?"  You should be asking the audience,  "Do you have any questions as well?"  That would open it up a little bit    51  more, so if we have no response to you whatsoever then we're in trouble. Excuse me, I heard the bell. Thank you very much.  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  MS. GATELLI: Thank you. Don Guzzi.  Did I say it correctly?  MR. GUZZI: My name is Don Guzzi, I  live at 104 0live Street in Scranton. I'm hear in reference to the mission that's illegally operating. I'm going read a statement that happened to me in the last-- over the last two weeks and then I have a  few questions as to why.  On the weekend of June 3 my wife was  sitting out in the yard, I live right next door to the mission. My wife was sitting out in the yard on the swing, three homeless  people came down the street, were intoxicated beyond belief, threw a cigarette, a lit cigarette butt and it landed at the feet of my wife while she was sitting in the swing. My wife jumped and apparently they didn't realize she was sitting there and my wife says, "Hey, what  are you doing?"  The response was, and I've got to be    52  careful here, "Screw you, lady. Who the -" the four letter word, "think you are? You fat," four letter word again, "pig. We can do what went to do," and continued onto the mission. I was around the back of the house, she called me, come to the front, I called the police, "Can you identify the  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  people?"  "No."  "Well, we can't help you."  That's not right. Second thing, it  really aggravated me even more because I called Mike Wallace to see if he could do anything or help me and point me in the right direction, I called the law  department, no one was there to help me. I finally contacted someone and they told me to go down to the police department. I went down to the police department, it was the exact same thing they told me over the telephone. Unless I can finger the person who said it, there's nothing they could do. Okay. That was on the weekend, two weekends ago. This past weekend on Saturday I was sitting out the front my wife, three or four    53  -- t think it was four people this time came back from the mission and they walked past and all of a sudden I realized the voices weren't going away. I got up off the swing, I turned around, I looked around my house, in front of my house and one of the men were urinating on my house. When I yelled at him he literally turned and continued and did it on his buddies and walked up the street. Again, I called the cops. Well, can you identify them? No, they're not there. Is that right? Now, I'm telling you. It ain't right for them to do that to my wife and me. It's not right. What rights do I have? That mission is operating illegally and nobody is doing nothing about it. The zoning board voted 5 to nothing not to grant to that mission. It was appealed. They still opened it. Is that legal? I'11 ask you, Mr. Minora, is it  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  legal?  MR. MINORA: I don't know the case, I  think not, I just can't answer it without  seeing everything. I C can't :  MR. GUZZI: Well, that's what    54  everybody is telling me. I get nothing and I'm getting the abuse, the verbal abuse.  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  MS. GATELLI: Mr. Guzzi.  MR. GUZZI: You people mentioned it  the last time here, the verbal abuse you  get. It isn't nice.  MS. GATELLI: Mr. Guzzi, no, it  isn't nice.  MR. GUZZI: What do I do?  MS. GATELLI: Mr. Wallace will be  here next Thursday and we will make sure we  bring up the mission.  MR. GUZZI: Well, let me tell you,  I've talked to Mr. Wallace several times, they tore down the notice he put up and he did it on TV. They called Channel 22 and brought them in and he tore it down on TV and he's still operating. Is that right?  Can I do that?  MS. GATELLI: No. MR. GUZZI: Why?  MS. GATELLI: He shouldn't be allowed  to do it either early.  MR.  GUZZI: Well, then why -isn't  against the law not to : force the law.    55  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  MS. GATELLI: Yes.  MS. - GUZZI: Well, who is breaking  the law here, the city or him?  MS. GATELLI: I know we have a  problem somewhere else with the a similar situation and they have 30 days to appeal Mr. Wallace's notice to cease and desist. So maybe there's a time frame problem here, but we will check with Mr. Wallace next  Thursday.  MR. GUZZI: And if this happens  again and it starts to get violent and something happens to my wife who do I blame?  Would do I come after?  MS. GATELLI: You need to continue to  call the police and ask who you're speaking  with.  MR. GUZZI: Yes, and in terms of if  IH keep calling the police what happens if my wife is injured, who is responsible? Who is both financially, legally and morally  responsible for that?  MS. GATELLI: I'm not sure, but  absolutely call the police whenever you have  a problem.    56  MS. - GUZZI: The minister that's got  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  money behind him up the kazoo? It's not  right.  MS. GATELLI: No, it isn't.  MR. GUZZI: It is not right. I have  rights, too, and I'm getting screwed royally  and something should be done.  MS. GATELLI: We will ask Mr. Wallace  next week.  MS. EVANS: Sir, I know that : MS. GATELLI: Mr. Jackowitz. MS. EVANS: If I just might, I know  that letters were sent to the individual who is in charge of that mission from Mr. Wallace and the law department telling him to cease and desist operations. Now, I would think since he's continuing that the law department can and should do something about him immediately - As for the police, I agree with Mrs. Gatelli you need to call them every time so that you have  documentation of complaints that are being  registered.  MR. GUZZI: Untranscrible comments.) MS. GATELLI: You ask for their NAME    57  and you keep a log yourself of what time you  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  called and who you talked to.  MR. GUZZI: Untranscrible comments.) MS. GATELLI: It's a disgrace. MS. EVANS: And there have been many,  many complaints.  MR. GUZZI: It's wrong. MS. EVANS: It is wrong. MR. GUZZI: And no one is doing  anything about it.  MS. GATELLI: We will investigate it,.  I promise you, we will investigate it.  MS. EVANS: Yes, we will look into  it, but I have just one more question, you said the first time this happened the three individuals went into the mission, why didn't the police go into the mission then?  MR. GUZZI: No. What happened was I  called them and I said, "They went into the  mission."  "Can you identify them?" She  couldn't identify them. She was very  emotional, you know.  MS. EVANS: I know. I agree with  you.: This is very wrong.    58  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  MS. GATELLI: We will check it out  for you, Mr. Guzzi.  MR. GUZZI: Untranscribable  comments.)  MS. GATELLI: Thanks, Mr. Guzzi.  Bill Jackowitz.  MR. JACKOWITZ: Bill Jackowitz,  South Scranton resident, retired United States Air Force. I'm going to read you a letter which you all have copies of, also Mayor Doherty has a copy of it and Mr. Minora, I'm going to delete some of the words naturally. This letter was sent to me in the mail yesterday, I received this in  the mail yesterday.  "Dear Bill, I'm sure you are the  same Pollock piece of," it's a four letter word. that starts with "S" and ends with "T", "That goes to City Council meetings. Who the," another four letter word that starts with "F" and ends with "K", "do you think you are and who gives," again begins with an "S" and ends in "T", "if you are in the service?" I want all veterans to listen to this one, "Lots of people were in the    59  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  service and most of them were morons who could not go to school or get a job. You are nothing but a big dumb hate filled Pollock would got screwed your whole life because you were such a loser. I'11 bet a million bucks your Pollock kids are losers, too. You couldn't shine Doherty's shoes and he wouldn't --" it starts with a "P" and ends with an "S", four letter words, he loves four letters words, "On you if you were on fire. You and your other Pollock friends like the Pilcheskys lunatic hate the Irish because they are smarter, more educated, more sociable, richer, more connected," that's a key phrase right there, "And way more successful than you will ever be. Next time you go to the podium please don't think we give a," again, four letter word begins with an "S" ends with a "T", "If you were in the Army, and be assured that we all are laughing our," starts with an "A", two "SS's" off as you spew your hate and ignorance. Sincerely yours, Jack off, the  Southsiders.  First of all, was a crime committed?    60  Probably not. Should the person who wrote this sick letter be identified? Probably sO. But the most important part is the person was kind enough to leave his  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  fingerprints, nice clear fingerprints on the envelope. The envelope has, will be turned over to authorities, hopefully I can get assistance, the mayor said he will help. Hopefully the county district attorney so on and so forth will because this person needs to be found and needs to be found immediately. You want to talk about me, talk about me to my face. I got thick skin, I could care : I've been through so much in my life that you can't believe it, but don't talk about my brothers and sisters in the military. Don't call them morons, and I hope every one in this city who just heard what I just said agrees with me. This person needs to be found and needs to be  found immediately.  First of all, Jackowitz is Slovak,  it's not Pollock. Second of all, I was never in the Army, 20 years in the Air Force. 97 percent of the military members    61  have a high school education. 78 percent of military personnel either have a college degree or two or more years of college education, the highest percentage of any career in the nation so they are far from being dumb. I have no children. I would never shine Doherty's shoes and I never expect him to shine mine. My father's name appears on the back of two monuments in courthouse square, General Pulaski's and General Casheskell's, check it out. It says William Jackowitz on the back of both of those monuments. I know many people of Irish dissent, mostly good people including my brother-in-law of 42 years. I probably served with many airmen, soldiers, sailors and Marines who are Irish. How about you, Southsider? I do not believe you are a Southsider, we have no cowards living in South Side. The FBI and postal inspectors will be very interested in the fingerprints, hopefully, the D.A. will also and the Scranton Police Department. It was nice of you to leave those nice prints for us. If you intend to intimidate me, you didn't. I  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25    62  had no intentions of being here today, this afternoon, the only reason I'm here is because of this letter. I think it needs to be made public. I took another day off from work to be here. So anyway, I'm not going  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  to be intimidated.  And Sunday, 17 June '07, Father's  Day, free swim and slide, at Nay Aug Park sponsored by the Scranton Lackawanna Taxpayers' Association, all children under 15 are invited to participate. Paid for by citizens and contributors, which all five of you on City Council did contribute . You know, this swim thing, in actuality we only have 8 to 12 good swimming days of the year,  think about it.  MS. GATELLI: Thank you, Mr.  Jackowitz.  MR. JACKOWITZ: This envelope is  perfectly preserved.  MS. GATELLI: Mr. McCloe.  MR. MCCLOE: Good afternoon. My name  is Brett McCloe, Scranton resident taxpayer. Today I want to talk about a few things that seem to cross my mind over the past week.    63  First off, as a private citizen I want to welcome those will be attending I believe it is the 108th Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities next week at the Hilton June 20 through June 22. As a private citizen I hope those who attend will choose to get off the yellow brick road, I'm sure some of them have laid for them and actually get off the beaten path and immerse yourselves into the city. If there is an itinerary of places to go and see, by all means check it out, but also take the time to just stop the car and get out and talk to the people wherever they may be. I'm not sure what the schedule is, but at some point leave the cocktail party atmosphere and spread out and head off into the city on your own. I - think you will find us a very interesting and hospitable people. Be spontaneous and avoid the horse and pony  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  show.  Ia also want to mention and highlight  the success of a failed attempt at a stable smoking ban. A lot of money was lost and gained elsewhere during that period. Isay    64  it was a success because it seemed that it improved one important thing, and I said it before, people still use free will and choice to determine where they want to eat and what kind of atmosphere they want to eat in. There was never a need for a smoking ban in this city. Both restaurants with and without smoking sections are doing just fine now. Free will has prevailed. I say it before and I'11 say it again, defense of free will and the responsible use of choice should always remain paramount when passing legislation. AT1 this plan proved was this Council could pass anything off as law and threaten to impose unjust punishment which is why the people in all of the cities of Pennsylvania and municipalities need to take a better look at their elected officials in respect to their unchecked use of the Home Rule Charter. It's time for the people to reexamine their system of local government. IV would like to see a more representative  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  government in Scranton.  Due to the fact that I heard  something that was said last week or the    65  week before, "I represent those who put me in office," which totally excludes and disenfranchises everyone else who didn't vote to put this person in office or wasn't at the cocktail party where grants and loans are passed out like our hor'd'eovers. Lack of public trust would naturally follow from such a statement, a better more ethical city government official might have said, "I represent those who are put me in office and would redouble my efforts to represent those who haven't, - instead of complaining I think it's time for the people of this city to re shape its government not by voting in new people but voting ourselves in as a new branch of government. The technology and rapid access of information is here and now. Let us use it to move this city forward. Let's examine how the people could vote on some of : some, but not all of these city  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  business.  I believe there was a system at one  time, the ward system, I believe, let's modify some neighborhood associations and encourage the population to become more    66  aware, knowledgeable and active in affairs of the. .city. Let's find a way to give the average citizen a means to influence legislation. I'm not saying get rid of the City Council, I'm saying let's find a way to tip the scales in favor of the wishes of all the people. One second, of course, this might be an expensive undertaking, but as the saying goes, freedom is not free. Thank  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  you.  MS. GATELLI: Thank you. Mr. Quinn. MR. QUINN: Ozzie Quinn, president  of Lackawanna County Taxpayers and Citizens Association, Incorporated. First I want to address the fact that the 3/2 vote that was turned down on Mrs. Evans' motion to have the speakers address the city business prior to it being enacted, the fact is that a couple years ago there was a city : I think it was Judge Minora, not Judge Minora, excuse me, Judge Mazzoni ruled on that and, in fact, a decision came down that the citizens have to speak before the Council addressed the city business. Now, the Taxpayers Association is going to meet next    67  week or the week after and we're going to consider a mandamus filed with the court that would be a legal action against the City Council here to make the City Council follow through with the decision of judge okay? So if you want legal action, we will take legal action and I'm sorry we have to do this because it costs us money, and it costs us money again when you fight us. Okay, the second thing is, Mr. Courtright, you asked for : last week I requested the zoning and the development planner, the CPC, did we get any response from that?  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. COURTRIGHT: I don't know if we  even -- I - don't know if we got out yet, there was a lot of things to be sent out. We didn't send it out yet, did we, Kay?  MS. GARVEY: Is he asking for  minutes and everything, we don't have the :  MR. QUINN: No, we're asking  he  was asking for you to write a letter to the zoning and the planning commission for the minutes they approved the development plan  and they approved the zoning.  MS. GARVEY: No, I didn't :    68  MR. COURTRIGHT: We'11 look it up in.  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 minutes, they had an awful lot to do  last :  MS. QUINN: Fine. I think Mrs. Evans  is following through on that anyway.  MS. GARVEY: Their minutes aren't  like ours.  MS. COURTRIGHT: It should be on the  tape; right.  MR. QUINN: Okay, I got my time, the  clock is tick here, I'm sorry, okay? The other thing is that in regards to that development plan down there, if that was approved as such and they were using the Dickson Avenue entrance or exit, okay, then that probably, and Mr. Minora said, Attorney Minora said, they're now using the right entrance that they -the development plan approved, so they're illegally through all of these years operating illegally down there in regards to the development plan  that they submitted.  MR. COURTRIGHT: That was only a  couple of weeks, Oz, they only did that for  a couple of weeks.    69  MR. QUINN: It doesn't matter. If  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  they are going to change again they have to come back before the planning commission with this development plan, not just the : not to the City Council it has to start a process. Okay, the other thing is this here, I'm going speak about this resolution on Vida Tapas Bar and it's not singling out anybody, okay, the fact is that it's a two-way treat for economic development, one is the employer and one is the employee. They're spin off, okay, by the employer and by the employee, but when an employee, and I spoke to an employee, not that specific tavern this week and it's all across the nation, they get $2.83 an hour, okay? So, hopefully that person will be able to maintain enough tips, okay, to meet the minimum wage, okay, but I will condemn the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the OECD, for filing this application and ultimately the Council for approving it because you are perpetuating poverty in the City of Scranton with these low income jobs. Now, why don't we give    70  these people the health benefits, not the four : these people that are waiting on tables and waitresses and waiting on tables, help them along because every time if they break an arm and go to CMC emergency it costs them $300 and that's a shame and when you're only getting $2.83 an hour you have to make up over $100 in order just to make the minimum wage. If you don't have a good boss that's going give you something at the end of the day you are really suffering and that's a shame. In regards to this we go a along, we have a service industry, that's what Scranton is, economic development in regards to manufacturing it's not there, there isn't job. Now, there's a two-way street, as I said, and we are in debt. Now we have the county, which we have 70 million of the 191 million in the city all coming out of the same taxpayer's pocket, we have the city which is the quoted about 300 million of the Doherty debt, okay, and we also have the school board which is $152, 500 at the end of 2006. Now, we have a 25 percent tax coming up on us next year and  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25    71  also I want to let you know that the school teachers the S.F.T. contract expires in August, and that's going to be an increase, okay? They're looking for the best teachers and it's going to be an increase so I want to you keep this many mind sO we're talking now over a half a billion dollars just of the city's taxpayers coming out of the same  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  pocket. Thank you very much.  MS. GATELLI: Thank you. Lee Morgan.  Not here ? How about Mr. Patilla, is he here? Is Lee in the hall? No? You can get  him for the next :  MR. PATILLA: Good afternoon. Mrs.  Evans and Mr. Courtright. Last week before Ie entered Council chambers a young lady, one of the Scranton residents by the name of Yvonne from Dickerson Street approached me in tears and she explained to me she just come from the doctor's and he advised her she lost 40 percent of her breathing  capacity. And you know this really bothered me. A1l the way up until right now, I tried to lie down, it would pop into my head. I tried to do something else, it would pop    72  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  into my head. I : actually have one of my computers at the house with nothing but Daron Northern, nothing but Daron Northeast, corporate searches, you name it, I'm running it, and I want the people out there to know that, you know, Psillocosis isn't nothing to play with, you know? The employees who work at this the company the dust gets in your clothes, it gets in your mustache, it gets in your eyebrows, it gets in your hair, you transport that to your house. There is schools in that area when the wind blows it's covering the kids. I believe it was Tuesday or whenever the day before the thunderstorms that area was covered in : covered in that dust, I mean, literally covered in that dust. And I want the people out there to know you have to contact the Secretary of the Department of Health Calvin B. Johnson, M.D., MTH, you have to contact Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker-Knoll. You have to contact Estelle Richmond, Secretary of Public Welfare. You have to contact Kathleen McGinney, Secretary of Environmental Protection, those of you who    73  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  know me I have a list and I'11 make the numbers available to you, but our time here is short so I wouldn't provide that you with you now, but I have it and you can just go the PA Gov home page and you can get it from  there. A11 right.  Back to that subordination  agreement, those of you who have parents and grandparents in this city you need to stand up and really recognize what's going on. You know, people who pay their mortgages via their banks don't have to worry about it because their taxes are going to come you via escrow or whatever, the bank will pay it for you, but those who own their homes, especially senior citizens, will all the tax increases, with all the fees, increases in the fees that this city is now undertaking, you know, your parents, your grandparents, your great-grandparents are at risk of these people taking your homes because they will. They're in it for net profit, they're in it for the money, they're not in it to be nice, okay, and you really have to get on the ball and understand what is going on here because    74  they will take your home. I worked in collections years ago and I will tell I will take your home, that's my job, and that's what they're going to do, they are going to  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  take your home.  A11 right, next week we have the  League of Cities here, plenty of mayors from all over the country wi7l be in this area, some of which I know, some of which I will be speaking to once I pull them to the side and let them know exactly what's going on around here because, you know, it's one thing to want to run a business, it's another thing to run a business that you're bankrupting and the mayor of this city is doing just that. He's pankrupting this city because there aren't any revenues coming in. The medical school, from what I understand the owner the property kept jacking up his price, kept jacking up their price, and I said it before when it was first mentioned, that medical school is not coming here. Just like I stated before, an honest employer. is not going to move his business here because they care about their    75  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  employees, something this administration not all, some of the people in this  administration don't care about the citizens of this city. A11 right? They're not going to bring their employees here because of the taxes, because of the increases in the fees and because you cannot survive here. I've spoken to people outside this area. and I've made theme aware of what is going on, I'm talking people all over this country and letting them know exactly what is going on because I'm not going anywhere. I'm not turning my back on the senior citizens. I'm not turning my back on the kids, because surely they found the money, $10,000 or whatever to fix Connolly Pool, that's because the mayors are coming here next week. Talk to me six months down the line when your job or when the news media isn't on the line and everything goes back to normal and all of a sudden the money is no longer there, all right? And my main pet peeve I want you kids to get down to 135 Jefferson and register to vote because come November there will be changes made, come    76  prior to November there will be changes made. I - don't care who says they're not going anywhere, things are going change around here because some of us actually care for the City of Scranton. We care for the for the residents, we care for one another. This is one happy family, all right? The pay to play politics is done. You think you're going leave here and go another place in the state, it's not going happen because  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  I'm going to follow you.  MS. GATELLI: Mike Battle. MR. BATTLE: Mike Battle, Scranton  resident, first I want to thank council for the concern they showed for my neighbor, my neighbor, Mr. Guzzi. I'm lucky enough to be around the corner from the mission so I don't have the same impact, although, I'm certainly concerned. Just to review, this is a faith based drug and alcohol  rehabilitation program for homeless men that was denied it's claim to be entitled to a variance as a house of worship by both the zoning board, the Court of Common Pleas, Commonwealth Court. We just found out    77  they're know appealing to the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court. I don't think it's likely they're going to get allocuter : authorization for the appeal, but they're trying it, because it is clear there is a lost money, I presume, behind this effort. Im mean, they have a 4 by 6 foot sign on this building now, permits said the sign cost $3,300, so, I mean, they have money to spend, they are very well financed. My presumption is that at some point it will be a cash COW if they get it in they'11 get drug and alcohol rehab money for these men and they'11 make it pay. The reverend is associated with a number of other rescue  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  missions.  As I said, I was very glad to see  the concern Council showed and I hope you'11 make sure that the city does take every step because I think even if they're denied the appeal at the Supreme Court, there's federal legislation that impacts zoning decisions on area groups that claim to be religiously oriented so there maybe federal appeals. So, I think we have to make a real effort to    78  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  make sure that while they're appealing they don't get a free ride. I think the normal course is that if you lose the appeal you're closed down until you win the appeal. These people are acting as if they can proceed until every appeal has been lost and it takes a very great toll on the neighborhood, as you can see from Mr. Guzzi, and I  appreciate the concern you showed and I hope that you'11 make sure the city law  department is taking every step. I - think at some point fairly soon they should be accruing fines if they stay open because they haven't won once yet, they have been denied every time yet they persist. And I also hope, you know, that other people who are listening to this realize that this could happen to other neighbors, other people in Scranton and I hope, too, I mean, we've seen some people from Baptist Bible College come down in vans and everything, I hope this is ostensibly a Christian organization and yet it persists trying to shove this down the throats of people who don't want it, they're not legally entitled    79  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  and I hope some of the supporters would consider that and just think how Christian is this to keep doing this? I mean, it's interesting their website used to list. churches. At one point I thought of going to those churches and picketing or :- churches aren't listed anymore as far as I know so we don't quite know who is  associated with them, but I know we've seen some Baptist bible, students. Again, they're not even local, they're from out of the area. It's kind of like we -- I mean, we know, we're the city we get to be the cat's Madeira for a lot of social problems, we have the services and I don't even this is possibly a useful program though from the way they act, I doubt it, I think it's a S cash cOw, I could be wrong, but two blocks up there's lots of available real estate in Scranton. Lord knows we have no problem in finding buildings that could be purchased and rented that these people would persist against all of this opposition and I really thank you for your support on that.  And I am going to address one more    80  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  thing very quickly, I was surprised, a co-worker told me they went to swim at Nay Aug and apparently it is $3 to swim and $3 to use the slide. And, I mean, it seems to me that that's just in simple economics, I mean, I have a daughter, if I take her to use the slide I'm going go and waddle around in the water a little bit and I'm going spend $6. It seems to me that even in terms of the total amount of money made a dollar to swim would get more swimmers and parents with kids, I don't know if you - I know you don't have the standing because it's the recreational authority, but maybe somebody could talk to them about that. It seems to be simple economics that $3 is possibly correct for the slide and the cost, but it's too much just to swim and you'd probably make more money by going down to a dollar and getting swimmers not even to mention the kids on : the kid on Madison Avenue who can't walk up to the pool now because he and his two brothers have to have $9 to go for a swim. I mean, I don't know if you have to go sO far as taking the pool a way from the    81  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  authority, I think maybe if the Scranton Recreation Authority thought about what was involved in their decision to price it that way, I mean, it's just obviously it's not worth $3 and it makes it hard for someone to go with a child who wants to use the slide for $3. It would seem to be common sense to get it down to a dollar, but thank you for  Mr. Guzzi and for all of us.  MS. GATELLI: Mr. Dobson.  MS. EVANS: Kay, could we get an  update before we meet with Mr. Wallace from Attorney Farrell on the Scranton Rescue Mission? If you could please notify him of what Council speakers have described today, the problems that they've encountered in the last. two weeks and, as I said, if he could update us on where that situation stands or what further measures he would take in light  of recent developments.  MR.. DOBSON: Good afternoon,  Council. Dave Dobson, resident of South Scranton. I'd like to discuss today a potential for modifying our June 7 6-A passing of the legislation. I basically    82  agree with Andy Sbaraglia and Ozzie Quinn on this, especially for old people. It's one thing if it's an absentee landlord that's racking off or running a slum house and not paying his taxes as they're due and taking advantage of city services, but in a case where somebody is nearly destitute, especially senior citizens and so forth where possibly a wife passed away or a husband passed away, if at all possible, and Id don't know if it's possible legally, we'd probably have to ask Mr. Minora if it would be legal to differentiate between these people. I'm not exactly certain whether the government can do that, but I feel it's really important that we develop a different strategy other than to hit these people with a - ton of extra fees and it's down to the wire. People are getting hit with everything from energy. The federal government stripped energy and food costs off of our : Mr. Bush was quoted in saying, I'11 quote him, "That energy and food costs have nothing to do with the inflation rate."  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  I mean, is that mindless? If I was    83  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 president of Yale I'd lift his diploma. I'd lift his diploma. Shame on him. Shame on him. And a lot of these problems that get discussed here are not always Council's doings, but if we get a grass roots movement going maybe we can work together and make it a - little bit of a better world in our own little way, but I'd really like to see someday that soon that before this gets too far gone that people that are behind on their taxes if there's a very good reason and they don't have any foreseeable funds such as a miser sitting on a $500,000 CD that he doesn't want to cash in or some nonsense like that, I would like to see where older people could be - retirees and so forth could be helped into a reverse mortgage or even a homeowner that's maybe sick or something like that and owns his own home or their own home possibly helped in or a - reverse mortgage or whatever and possibly Mr. Minora could comment on that at some time in the future, he's not present right now, he's off, but, thank you, and have a  good afternoon.    84  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  MS. GATELLI: Thank you. Anyone  else?  MR. HUBBARD: Good afternoon,  Council. Daniel Hubbard. Just a couple of quick points today, Scranton Rescue Mission just kind of falls under that whole area of not being able to enforce our zoning laws for the violation of the zoning laws and I think that you carries across the board to a multitude of companies in this city, one which would be Daron that we have zoning violations and this : the rescue mission as well has been shut down, I mean, they received their order to decease, they are not. It's really kind of appalling that we can't enforce our own laws. We have these zoning ordinances, we have a zoning board, we have all of this in place to protect the residents of this city, that's why we have building inspections and zoning ordinances and all of that is to protect us, but yet when someone is in violation of these we are absolutely helpless to enforce those ordinances. One, probably because we have an unqualified zoning officer; two, I don't    85  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  think that Council has much power to enforce these when Mr. Wallace states that he only answers to the mayor, repeatedly he only answers to the mayor. Well, then maybe the five of you should go downstairs to Mr. Doherty's office and have Mr. Doherty tell Mr. Wallace to enforce the zoning laws on the rescue mission because that in itself if it was in my neighborhood I certainly wouldn't be as calm as I am just on the Daron issue. That's appalling. And the fact that children have to walk by that facility during the school year is even more insulting to the residents of the city that they can't get that place shut down so, you know, I'd like to see some enforcement of our zoning ordinances would be nice in the  city.  I have a couple of questions, you  know., recently in the paper Mr. Doherty said that he moving people around in the city to protect them. Well, who's going protect us from Mr. Brazil when he's running the DPW? Imean, at least Mr. Parke was remotely qualified to be a city engineer and the    86  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  director of the DPW. I 1 think that the director of park and recreations, a lateral move for him to the DPW director is kind of like putting Mickey Mouse in charge of a ship, I really don't think that there's the - I'm not going to argue with what he does with the parks and recreation, but let's face it, a director of parks and recreation, some of the parks are in disrepair, Nay Aug is a mess, but what the hell is going to happen when that guy, who can't even keep Nay Aug clean, is running the DPW? Is our trash going to stop getting picked up? Who am I going to go to for help with storm drains and flooding and things like that? Are we going to have to hire more consultants? Is this just one of those  situations?  MS. EVANS: Mr. Hubbard, that's A  perfect time to interrupt, I really don't know that this is absolutely true, but I have heard that Mr. Parker will be hired  I'm - sure that wasn't five minutes : Mr. Parker will be hired as a consultant to Mr.  Brazil.    87  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. HUBBARD: He will be a  consultant to Mr. Brazil while he works for  a I private firm.  MS. GATELLI: No, no .  MS. EVANS: I have heard that. MS. GATELLI:NO, that's not true. MR. HUBBARD: So if Mr. Brazil has  problems running his department then he will  obviously be hiring :  MS. GATELLI: There was always two  people. There was a DPW director and there  was a city engineer.  MR. HUBBARD: But in the paper it  said he is going to be the DPW director and  the new city engineer.  MS. GATELLI: No, that was a mistake. MR. HUBBARD: I should have known. MS. GATELLI: You don't believe  everything you read in their, do you,  Daniel?  MR. HUBBARD: I'm sorry, you're  right. The skateboard park, what happened to it? What happened to the skateboard park? Back to Mr. Brazil, the skateboard park was supposed to be done at Weston    88  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  Field, it was supposed to be concrete, there was designers called in, they were applying  for the grants, what happened?  MS. GATELLI: You were on that  committee, weren't you?  MR. HUBBARD: No, I was never called.  - was a little too outspoken against the administration to be called to get involved in that, Judy, I tried. Sandy 01shenski stopped returning my calls I'm sure under  the order of Mr. Brazil.  MS. GATELLI: Well, let's ask Jackson  to look into it.  MR. HUBBARD: I think that instead of  putting money into the disrepair of parks that we have we would probably just to get the park that we were planning on building for the kids in this city finished. Now, let's touch on Daron a little bit. As of 1:30 this afternoon there were 60 trucks in and out of Daron Northeast today, 60 trucks. Now,. let's talk about the traffic study. If the site plan review was correct and done per procedure, the traffic study should have been part of that because they need to make    89  sure that they have a viable ingress and egress for their trucks and their traffic for the business, so if the site plan review was filed correctly and procedure was followed with that it was reviewed but site plan : site planning commission that we, I'm pretty sure it wasn't, but the traffic study should be in there because they would have had to met the criteria for a viable ingress and egress for the amount of trucks that they would have stated in the site plan review that they would be receiving on average 100 trucks per day every day of the week included Saturdays. And if you do a traffic study on Dickson Avenue there is no way that traffic study is going to say that any block of Dickson, Delaware or Sanderson was ever intended or designed to handle 100 full-size, fully loaded 18 wheelers a day. This company is skirting the issues in this city and they are being protected by somebody in this administration because nothing can get done to slow them down, stop them or get them to obey the laws that they are required to follow, so somebody in this  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25    90  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 is benefiting from Daron Northeast. Somebody somewhere is getting money from this company for them to be protected like this and it's a shame that the residents have to suffer from long-term lung damage that they will never recover from sO that somebody can line their pockets. It's  appalling.  Now, let's get to Daron real quick  because I know I'm running out of time, 2004 Daron Northeast received $84,805 from Governor Rendell to rehabilitate the tracks at their masonry facility so that they could continue to receive or ship raw material and finished product by rail. They've done nothing with the tracks, where is the $84,000 that they got to do this work with, they never did the work, if they would actually live up to what they said and use the rail system that they said was part of the reason they moved there then maybe we can cut down on some of the truck traffic in and out of there, but that would probably cost them money and we know not that's not  profitable.    91  Onto the flood issues, two flood  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  control relocation specialists at $30,000 a year. The Army Corp project stops at 0live Street. There's nobody left to relocate. That's $60,000 a year we're spending on two people that have no job because there is no one left to relocate. So why are we paying two flood relocation specialists 60 grand a year to do nothing but sit in the flood control office because there's nobody left to relocate. We have a flood control project coordinator, who is this gentleman or woman? Do they have a name? Do they exist? Do they actually leave the little trailer that's parked down in the Plot that they, call the flood control office. Flood control engineer, another one, where the hell is this guy? I could use some flood control engineering in lower Greenridge, maybe he can come down and help Mr. Parker fill the spots on the river bank that he said he would do which I hope he would before he leaves in July but we know he  won't.  One more thing, we have an assistant    92  flood control engineer at $35,000 a year so, you know, we're looking at almost $200,000 a year in salaries to people that really aren't involved in any of the flood projects. So they all have titles for it and they all have jobs and we're all paying their salaries and they do nothing.  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  MS. GATELLI: Thank you. MS. EVANS: Mr. Hubbard, I  eliminated a number of those positions in my  budget.  MS. KRAKE: Good afternoon, Council.  My name is Nancy Krake. First I would like Council perhaps to request, and I'm also requesting personally, that the Council meeting be replayed Thursday evenings at 6:30, it's normal time, since we are having it at 1:00. I'm hoping 61 can accommodate us because I know that's when people are  used to watching it.  MS. GATELLI: They maybe watching it  then again.  MS. KRAKE: Yes, all the better. MS. GATELLI: Very shortly.  MS. KRAKE: I would like to say that    93  f feel that the speakers have to do the Scranton Times' work for them since the Scranton Times never portrays any side on any issue except the mayor's. Stacy Brown, the reporter for the Times, just called me out in the hallway to tell me that they're doing an article on Council speakers. They're not doing an article as they should have been for the past six years on anything that the mayor has done that maybe  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  uncomplimentary. This is rascinating to me. So he asked me if I would make a comment. He asked me if I thought that people who don't have much to say, basically this is the way he put it, or maybe don't know as much about this city shouldn't be talking at Council. I thought that was horrendous. If this is going to be the gist of that article this is even sadder : this newspaper has reached a new low. My remark to him was that everyone's issue is important to them. I'm making sure I'm saying it at the podium because Lord knows what will appear in the newspaper. I personally don't purchase it, but if anyone's reading it that is the    94  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  remark I gave to him, and apparently there was also a gentleman here today taking photographs of speakers. How very sad. Why aren't they out reporting on the real news? IV would also Tike to say, Mrs. Evans,  thank you very much for trying to put speaking back in Fourth Order and at five minutes and thank you, Mr. Courtright, for affirming that. Two Council people  apparently care and take into consideration what everyone has to say before they vote. What I say and what everyone says should have a direct effect on the business part of the meeting. I think we are we already proved a few weeks ago that what anyone says apparently can't be remembered to the next week. That's understandable. That's why it was in Fourth Order before the voting.  Ia also feel that Council people  should not try and differentiate between what they feel is an issue or a non-issue. Everyone's issues are important to them. I would lake to make a suggestion. Maybe Council if you feel I'm wording this correctly or if you would like to change it    95  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  would make a motion that a Council person cannot vote unless they stay for the entire meeting. I feel that would give us somewhat of a level playing ground. Not totally, but somewhat. Mrs. Gatelli did not stay last week, we had the vote on these outrageous fines and fees which people have already approached me and are very, very frightened about how they're going to make these payments. I can't believe anyone felt they were reasonable. I know for a fact you could not possibly, and if you did it's even worse, have understood what all these fines and fees are. I would like to know when they will be implemented because I'm sure  everyone has researched that.  How much money : or, Mrs. Evans, I  know you indicated to me once that you met with the mayor and that he felt this money, the monies from these fines were already plugged into the budget somehow?  MS. EVANS: I don't believe he said  that. He felt that the amount of money missing from the budgeted figure as compared to what MRS would provide the city, he felt    96  that that missing piece would be provided  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  through NCC.  MS. KRAKE: Then that's part of my  one of my questions since I will be asking on this every week. Well, I'11 continue it  next week. Thank you.  MS. GATELLI: Anyone else? MS. HUBBARD: Good afternoon,  Council, Elizabeth Hubbard, Scranton resident. I have a question, is there a noise ordinance in the City of Scranton?  MS. EVANS: Yes.  MRS. HUBBARD: Okay. There's a bar  on Greenridge Street Cosgrove's they have an outdoor patio, they're three blocks away from where I live and on Friday and Saturday night at 1:30 in the morning I can still hear their music. I - called the COM Center or whatever, three times. Once two Fridays ago and then this last Friday and Saturday, and they said they were going to send a car to my house first, it never came, and I finally called them and told them don't bother because it was like after 2:00 and I wanted to go to bed. I understand they did    97  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  send a car there last Saturday night, but then it filtered back to me by somebody that is familiar with the place or whatever that Ib better get myself a pair of earplugs because the mayor was there dancing on Saturday night and there's no way they're going to have to turn that music off. Now, Im mean, I don't care who dances there on Saturday night I shouldn't have to listen to their band from three blocks away. And it's not that I'm not a music lover, and the one night I was on the second floor of my house with the windows closed and the air  conditioners on and I still heard the music three blocks away. So, I don't know what to  do about.  MS. EVANS: I would continue to call  the police and document :  MR. HUBBARD: But I get a 911 person.  Is there a number for the police themselves?  MR. COURTRIGHT: You can call 911 or  if you call 348-4141 it still goes to the  Com Center.  MS. HUBBARD: Right, and that's what  IC called.    98  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. COURTRIGHT: And they'11 send it  over to the police department.  MS. EVANS: But, as I said, we do  have a noise ordinance and there is certain hours during which you cannot play music or  create any type of noise.  MS. HUBBARD: This is 1:30 in the  morning, I mean, the noise ordinance should  be well before that.  MS. EVANS: It is.  MR. HUBBARD: Anyway, Sherry, did  you find out about that Northern Lights loans, what we're owed on them? You said  you were going to do that.  MS. - FANNUCI: I didn't hear what she  said.  MS. GATELLI: I can't hear her  either.  MS. HUBBARD: The loans, Northern  Lights.  MS. FANUCCI: I didn't find how  much, but I did find out that it was : it was : he : it's been taken care of.  MS. HUBBARD: Oh, okay.  MS. FANUCCI: But I didn't find the    99  amount out, I'm sorry. I can find out what did he pay back or if you want to know that. How much the loan was for in the beginning, Id don't recall what the loan was for in the  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  beginning and how much it was.  MS. HUBBARD: Well, I thought it was  125 and another 50 or something, I have it written here. I just wondered if they were you were going see how much of it had been paid back. Really that's it, but I want to thank you, Janet, for all of the help that you gave us during the two flood emergencies and the bank that was done down by Laminations and whatever, but that still  doesn't :  MS. EVANS: I agree.  MS. HUBBARD: Parker promised that  they would fix the bank and they still haven't done it. They're down there cutting the weeds along the street. So, I don't know why they can't just dump some dirt in the holes that the river created.  MS. EVANS: Nor do I. MS. HUBBARD: So, that's it.  MS. EVANS: Well, maybe when the new    100  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  DPW director takes over hopefully he's going to be more amenable to the people's needs. That's at least one avenue that we can consider, but I agree with you, we get a lot of lip service and very little action.  MS. HUBBARD: Another thing, I heard  something on the news last night about Mahanoy City where they were doing some  the city was doing some sort of a project to alleviate the degree that was coming from this creek and creating flooding and here's a city doing something new to help people with a flooding problem and we can't even get the City of Scranton to repair the damage done from two floods ago.  MS. EVANS: I know.  MR. HUBBARD: So, I mean, it's sad.  It really is sad especially when you look at all of the other things that are done in the city, you know, I don't know, I guess we don't count down in lower Greenridge.  MS. EVANS: You count to me. MS. HUBBARD: But anyway, we really  appreciate all of your. help, we really do.  MS. EVANS: Thank you, but that's my    101  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  job, I work for you, I'm just doing my job.  MS. HUBBARD: I know. Very good,  too.  MR. STUCKER: Hi, Mr. Courtright.  We have a little problem. Mrs. Fanucci, what about that note I give you last two weeks, three weeks ago for that light on the pole down there where I live on that Church  Avenue, Church Street?  MR. COURTRIGHT: Who are you talking  to Jim?  MR. STUCKER: Her.  MR. COURTRIGHT: Mrs. Gatelli? MR. STUCKER: Yeah, Mrs. Gatelli,  yeah, I'm sorry.  MS. GATELLI: Did you give me the  number?  MR. STUCKER: Yeah, I give you the  number where I live.  MS. GATELLI: I sent them in. MR. STUCKER: We didn't get no  light.  MS. GATELLI: We will send it again. MR. STUCKER: And they took the sign,  the city took the sign down that says "No    102  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  Parking", it is all rusty. What they did, the took it down, the city took it down, it says, "No Parking" they didn't put another sign up. Is there a reason : do they have ar right to take the sign off and don't put one up where it says "No Parking" next to the restaurant down that one way street? I can't think of the name of it. Yeah, Makowitz, that's it, Makowitz.  MR. COURTRIGHT: The north Scranton  people know all of this. We will talk to them, Jim, we will get it up for you, Jim.  MR. STUCKER: We have another one,  the TV shop, how could the city pick up the TV's and they wouldn't pick up our garbage on the same : around the corner next to the restaurant, that one way street? We put our garbage out on Monday and, I mean, some of it they won't take it. How can they take TV's in a garbage truck, the city picks them up, puts them in the truck to take them away, the garbage truck? Is that right for them to do that? And that TV shop, everybody want to get it closed down. I heard a lot of people put petitions up to    103  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1Q 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  get closed and that Ross, the TV guy, he's not doing his job. There's a lot of people going down them steps everyday, 11, 12:00 at night, 2:00 in the morning they go up and down them steps in the front and they hang in front of the TV shop and they hang in front of the barber shop in front of Mike  Murphy's Bar.  MS. GATELLI: We will find out for  you.  MR. STUCKER: We need the police over  there all the time. I would like to get that place closed down, that TV shop, they're getting out of hand. I would. Everybody else would like to get it closed. Okay, what about Parrot Avenue about the holes again? Did you see about that again  for me?  MR. COURTRIGHT: When we close the  TV shop we will get the hole done. We're  looking at it, Jim.  MS. GATELLI: You are supposed to  take care of west side, Bill.  MR. COURTRIGHT: A11 right. MR. STUCKER: Okay, we have school    104  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  kids running across the roads on Parrot Avenue and there are cars going down through there pretty fast, Pat, my buddy, told me to tell about you it, I'm afraid somebody is going to get hit by a car, Pat, too.  MR. COURTRIGHT: Okay, Jim. MR. STUCKER: On Main Avenue,  Wyoming Avenue on Main Avenue that new hoagie place, the other day you seen a wreck, a brand new blazer, the whole hood got smashed. We need a light there by that pizza shop, donut shop, hoagie place on Wyoming Avenue. There's two ways that goes across, two roads. There's Wyoming Avenue, we need a Tight there, we just seen the people got a wreck there last week. We need  the police there for something.  MR. COURTRIGHT: Thanks, Jim. MR. STUCKER: A1l right? MR. COURTRIGHT: Okay.  MR. STUCKER: A17 right. Thank you.  Have a good vacation all of you.  MS. GATELLI: Anyone else?  MS. EVANS: Kay, could we also talk  to 61 about the request made by Mrs. Krake    105  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  if they could possibly run the meetings at 6:30 or seven, whatever the normal time was on Thursday evenings, so that those who are accustomed to tuning in will find it?  MS. - GATELLI: Motion to adjourn. MR. COURTRIGHT: So moved. MS. EVANS: Second.  MS. GATELLI: A17 in favor? MS. EVANS: Aye. MS. FANUCCI: Aye. MR. MCGOFF: Aye. MR. COURTRIGHT: Aye.  MS. GATELLI: Aye. Opposed? The  ayes have it and so moved.    106  1 2 3 4 5  ERTIPICALE  Ih hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence are contained fully and accurately in the notes taken by me on the hearing of the above cause and 6 that this copy is a correct transcript of the same  7 to the best of my ability.  8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  pl RA  CATHENE  bh  S. NARDOZZI  OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER