Bill Barrett, left, gets sworn in as Wilkes-Barre City Council Chairman while his family members, Ben Barrett and Betty Jane Barrett, stand with him.
Hannah Simerson | Times Leader
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Stan Mirin, left, declares his oath of office as a Wilkes-Barre City Councilmember during Tuesday’s reorganization meeting inside the F. M. Kirby Center while his family members, Evin McGinley-Mirin, Sadie Grace McGinley-Mirin and Helen Anne McGinley-Mirin watch.
Hannah Simerson | Times Leader
WILKES-BARRE — In a change of leadership on Tuesday, city council nominated Bill Barrett as council chairman and Tony Brooks as vice chairman during the annual reorganization meeting.
Previously held by Councilman Mike Belusko and Barrett, the newly appointed council chairman and vice chairman positions will remain in place until the next reorganization meeting.
Also during the meeting, where crowds left only standing room inside the F. M. Kirby Center, new council members Stan Mirin and Jessica McClay took their oaths of office.
During their four-year terms, Mirin and McClay will represent Districts C and E, respectively.
Incumbent city council members Belusko, District A; Brooks, District B; and Barrett, District D, were also officially sworn in for their terms, as well as Mayor George C. Brown for his second term as Wilkes-Barre City Mayor and Tony Thomas for his first term as City Controller.
After the nominations were passed for chairman and vice chairman by unanimous vote from council, Belusko offered reassurance that the future of council rests in good hands.
“I think we have a good group. I know our mayor has helped the city out so much in the past four years, and he is going to continue to do the same. Now let’s get to 2024 business,” Belusko said.
As he took the reins, Barrett expressed similar feelings of optimism looking ahead.
“There will be challenges in the next four years — some small, some not so small, but we have the team in place to address those challenges. We can make things happen and we can overcome any obstacles,” Barrett said.
As for Brown, he also anticipates even more progress for the city thanks to his reelection. While plenty of setbacks made for a rough first term, his second term as mayor will prove to be even more fruitful, he said.
“I want to thank everybody that helped us get another term as mayor. The first term was difficult, and the first two years were terrible as you know with the COVID situation, the roof blowing off of City Hall, the elevator crashing, replacing the flooring on the second third and fourth floors and the flooding during the Ida hurricane,” Brown said.
“However, the last two years have been unbelievably successful, so we are back and the City of Wilkes-Barre is alive and the people at this table tonight are going to help lead us through the next four years,” he added.
Tuesday’s meeting also established the 2024 Holiday Schedule and meeting dates for council, which are as follows:
City Hall will be closed:
• Jan. 15, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Feb. 19, President’s Day
• May 27, Memorial Day
• June 14, Flag Day
• July 4, Independence Day
• Sept. 2, Labor Day
• Oct. 14, Columbus Day
• Nov. 11, Veterans Day
• Nov. 28, Thanksgiving Day
• Nov. 29, Day after Thanksgiving
• Dec. 25, Christmas Day
• Jan. 1, New Year’s Day
The scheduled council sessions will take place on:
• Tuesday, Jan. 9 — WS
• Thursday, Jan. 11 — RS
• Tuesday, Jan. 23 — WS
• Thursday, Jan. 25 — RS
• Tuesday, Feb. 6 — WS
• Thursday, Feb. 8 — RS
• Tuesday, Feb. 20 — WS
• Thursday, Feb. 22 — RS
• Tuesday, March 5 — WS
• Thursday, March 7 — RS
• Tuesday, March 19 — WS
• Thursday, March 21 — RS
• Tuesday, April 9 — WS
• Thursday, April 11 — RS
• Thursday, April 25 — CS
• Tuesday, May 7 — WS
• Thursday, May 9 — RS
• Tuesday, May 21 — WS
• Thursday, May 23 — RS
• Tuesday, June 11 — WS
• Thursday, June 13 — RS
• Tuesday, July 9 — WS
• Thursday, July 11 — RS
• Tuesday, Aug. 6 — WS
• Thursday, Aug. 8 — RS
• Tuesday, Sept. 10 — WS
• Thursday, Sept. 12 — RS
• Tuesday, Oct. 8 — WS
• Thursday, Oct. 10 — RS
• Tuesday, Oct. 22 — WS
• Thursday, Oct. 24 — RS
• Tuesday, Nov. 12 — WS
• Thursday, Nov. 14 — RS
• Tuesday, Nov. 26 — CS
• Thursday, Dec. 5 — CS
• Thursday, Dec. 19 — CS
Key: WS — work session; RS — regular session; CS — combined session
All council sessions will take place in City Council Chambers on the fourth floor of Wilkes-Barre City Hall beginning at 6 p.m., except for combined sessions, which begin at 5:30 p.m.