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WILKES-BARRE — Two speakers came to city council Thursday night to talk about slinging mud.
While resident Linda Joseph disapproved of it in a city council race, activist Gene Stilp offered to get dirty slinging mud building a new monument for the one removed from Public Square.
Their remarks came on an evening when council also gave first reading to an ordinance regarding animals left unattended in motor vehicles.
Stilp steered clear of politics when he came to the podium and focused on finding a new home for the monument that spurred controversy when it was discovered that one of the brick attached to it contained the name of a Ku Klux Klan group, the East Coast Knights of the True Invisible Empire. It was taken down, last month, ostensibly because the city said it didn’t fit in with the planned renovations to the Square.
A city native who now calls the Harrisburg area home, Stilp was charged with disorderly conduct last month for attempting to deface the brick. He’s reached out to King’s College and Wilkes University and suggested that the city do the same to private landowners in the downtown to host the monument, which has been in safekeeping at the Department of Public Works garage.
“My trowel’s ready. My plumb bob’s ready. My level’s ready. I’d be glad to (build a superstructure for the bricks) for you and make it exist again,” Stilp said.
There was no word Thursday on whether city officials would take Stilp up on his offer, but they thanked him for speaking.
Campaign comments
Joseph, president of the Rolling Mill Hill Residents’ Association and a supporter of Councilman Tony Brooks — who’s running for reelection in District B as a Republican — blasted the attacks on him on social media. She linked them to Democratic challenger Mark Shaffer and his supporters.
“How sad that this candidate and his allies want to run a negative and slanderous campaign against the councilman who responds to residents’ concerns immediately when contacted,” Joseph.
Shaffer, who was not given the opportunity to respond at the meeting, later said he’s not associated with Greater Wilkes-Barre Taxpayers Coalition but looks at its Facebook page.
“I’m not affiliated with this group. I follow a lot of local groups,” Shaffer said. “And I like all kind of posts.”
Other action
In regular business, council approved:
• An insurance package with the Joyce Insurance Group of Pittston at a cost of $426,849 for Professional Services, Property & Casualty and Professional Liability.
• The first of two readings of an ordinance dealing with animals in inclement weather and unattended motor vehicles. Similar to Libre’s Law, signed by Gov. Tom Wolf in August 2017, it sets a 30-minute limit for animals to be left outside and unattended in weather below 32 degrees or about 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The second and final reading of an ordinance to make Wright Street one way flowing out to West Ross Street.
• The application of an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $21,519 for firearms/TASER instructors’ re-certifications, tactical and non-tactical police trainings and saturation patrols for violent crime areas.
• Applications to the Pennsylvania Department of Health for $113,041 for immunization services and $181,382 to provide public health preparedness services.
• The reappointments to the Police Civil Service Commission of Frank Majikes, Phillip Latinski and Joseph Moran for terms expiring Dec. 31, 2021. They have been serving in expired terms since Jan. 1, 2018.
