Wilkes-Barre Mayor Brown headlines City Council meeting

WILKES-BARRE — Although it was City Council’s show, Mayor George Brown was the headliner Thursday night, answering most of the questions and providing updates on what’s happening.

There were just four items on the agenda and Council approved all of them during the combined work session and public meeting live streamed on YouTube.

As COVID-19 cases began to surge because of the omicron variant Council has held virtual meetings with no public attendance at City Hall. The arrangement will remain in place through March.

The resolutions dealt with the disposition of outdated records from the Finance Office, the reappointments of Leon Schuster to the Zoning Hearing Board, Frank Majikes and Phil Latinski to the Police Civil Service Commission and appointment of Bill Barrett, who also serves on Council, to the Commission.

Brown asked that the Commission spots be filled because of the need to hold a civil service test to create a pool of candidates to draw from in order to add new officers to the department due to current and future retirements.

“We are going to be hiring at least eight new police officers if not more in the future, so it’s imperative that we reappoint these gentlemen,” Brown said.

In April 2021 Brown added eight officers to the police department in a COVID-19 compliant swearing-in ceremony at the Scandlon Gymnasium at King’s College.

Brown said he is keeping his promise to fully staff the police and fire departments.

“There will be no defunding the police under my mayorship. They’ll get the staffing they need. They’ll get the training and all the materials that they need as far as equipment and so forth,” Brown said.

The mayor also addressed topics raised by people who called in.

Bob Kadluboski asked Brown to do something about changing the existing policy that allows Council members to receive generous benefits and apply their part-time service toward a pension.

Brown responded that he was powerless to make the requested changes. “It is something that only can be changed through the state legislature,” he said.

Jerry Reisinger of Kingston again brought up the harmful effects overgrowth has on flood channels along the Susquehanna River in Nesbitt and Kirby parks.

Brown said he held several meetings after Reisinger’s call during the Jan. 27 Council session. The most recent meeting was Wednesday with representatives of his administration, the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority, the Diamond City Partnership, the Riverfront Parks Committee and a state game warden. They discussed the conditions identified Reisinger.

Brown said the panel recommended the city keep the pathway through the Kirby Park natural area clear, spray for the invasive Japanese Knotweed and remove trash when necessary.

“But do not remove anything. It’s natural. It’s a natural forest and that’s their recommendation,” Brown said.

Responding to a caller who said vehicles illegally park in the handicapped designated spots on North Washington Street next to City Hall, Brown the city will identify additional parking spots.

The problem is caused by the construction of the new elevator and stairwell tower at the rear of City Hall that should be finished in either May or June, Brown said.