Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

WILKES-BARRE — The city might receive some help with paying the $45,000 quoted for a preliminary study approved by council Thursday night that could lead to the lease or sale of its parking assets.

City Administrator Ted Wampole informed council that the Wilkes-Barre Parking Authority might contribute up to $20,000 for the study to be performed by Chicago-based Desman Design Management.

Wampole said he followed up on the recommendation made at Tuesday’s work session by councilman Bill Barrett to reach out to the authority to inquire if it was interested in partnering in the study. Wampole said he spoke with authority Executive Director Tom Torbik who pledged to assist with the cost. The full authority would have to approve the funding, Wampole pointed out.

The authority operates some of the garages and surface lots to be looked at in the first phase of the study to determine if it would benefit the city to monetize the assets as a way to stabilize finances. Depending upon the findings of the study, the city could choose to move into a second phase, at a cost to be determined, to put together a deal for assets.

“I think the Parking Authority does see the need for that as well,” Wampole said.

Council approved the contract with Desman on a 3-2 vote. Barrett along with council chairman Tony Brooks and councilman Mike Merritt supported the contract. Council vice chairman Mike Belusko and councilwoman Beth Gilbert opposed it after trying to have the agenda item tabled so that Torbik and authority solicitor Murray Ufberg could be involved in the discussion.

Gilbert said that Ufberg and Torbik were “intimately involved in previous negotiations” in 2012 when the city sought a long-term lease of parking assets to raise $20 million. She also noted the Mayor Tony George, who was on city council when the lease was being considered, did not support a similar study or leasing or privatizing the assets at that time because “he indicated he wanted what was best for the city.”

“We all want what’s best for the city, but there needs to be clear rationale and intent for what we as council will vote on,” Gilbert said.

While other council members were lobbied by Wampole for approval of the study, Gilbert was not.

“I was just curious as to why I wasn’t involved in the discussion,” she asked Wampole.

“In all due respect Beth, I didn’t anticipate, based upon the comments that were made (during the work session), I didn’t anticipate your approval,” Wampole replied.

Gilbert asked to be included in future discussions.

Outdoor seating OK’d

Council also approved four other resolutions:

• The disposition of boxes of parking tickets from 2010, 2015 and 2016 and property taxes from 2014.

• The placement of outdoor seating on the sidewalk outside Leo’s on Mane for consumption of food and beverages, including alcohol.

• The installation of a temporary sign on city property on the corner of West Market and North River streets, the former Hotel Sterling site, by Big Brothers Big Sisters to advertise its fundraiser March 24.

• Rescinding a resolution from Dec. 21 related to the Local Share Account grant application for renovation of the historic Wyoming Valley Art League building and submitting a new application for $749,570 to be used over a three-year period: $209,072 in the first year; $290,949 in the second year; and $249,549 in the third year. The money would upgrade the building to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and cover exterior repairs.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/web1_WB-City-logo-5.jpg.optimal.jpg

By Jerry Lynott

[email protected]

Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.