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Pitch made to Wilkes-Barre Mayor Leighton, who replied, “We’re working on it.”
In this file photo from January, Wilkes-Barre City Council Chairman Tony Thomas, right, presents the Key to the City to Mayor Tom Leighton.
BILL TARUTIS/FOR THE TIMES LEADER
WILKES-BARRE – City Council Chairman Tony Thomas Jr. told Mayor Tom Leighton on Tuesday that, “It’s time to take care of the Square.”
Thomas said he has received numerous complaints about the condition of Public Square. He said benches are broken, the pavement is torn up, trash can lids are broken and children are running through the fountain and getting hurt.
Council met in work session Tuesday and will meet again at 6 p.m. Thursday at City Hall.
“It’s time to fix these problems,” Thomas said. “I was hoping most of them would have been fixed by this Thursday.”
Thomas said the Farmers’ Market – held every Thursday – is an event that attracts hundreds of people to the downtown. He said Public Square needs to be in better shape.
“We’re working on it,” Leighton responded.
Thomas was most concerned about children playing in the fountains. The city has banned anyone from running through the fountain, but Thomas and council Vice Chairwoman Kathy Kane said the ban is being ignored. Kane said somebody told her a police officer said it was the responsibility of the health department to monitor the fountain.
“I spoke to (Police Chief Gerald) Dessoye about it, and he will address the issue,” Kane said. “It’s time to stop passing the buck and enforce the ordinance so nobody gets seriously hurt.”
In other business, council on Thursday will consider:
• Filing a request with the traffic committee to conduct a 90-day study at North Washington and Beatty streets by temporarily creating a four-way stop sign intersection. The item was removed from last month’s council meeting and Kane requested it be presented on Thursday.
• Authorizing the city administration to review five bids received from potential operating management groups for the Ice-A-Rama at Coal Street Park.
• Suspending an ordinance to allow open consumption of alcoholic beverages on Public Square for the Aug. 29 “Summer’s Cool on the Square” event.
• Approving paving Plymouth Avenue from the Hanover Township line to Willow Street, Bryson Lane from Liddon Lane to Peters Lane, Brazil Street from Mayock to Scott streets, and Stucker Avenue from Scott to Mill streets.
• Accepting a proposal from Joyce Insurance Group for all city insurance at $589,292 – a 6 percent increase over last year.
• Authorizing the administration to request a study of the traffic patterns on Route 315 near the Interstate 81 ramps.
• Granting approval for the Osterhout Free Library to install a handicapped-accessible ramp at the North Branch building at 28 Oliver St.