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WILKES-BARRE — The praise heaped on city council for bundling nearly $1.2 million in grants to pay for a new ladder truck was short lived Thursday night as the tone turned negative and accusatory.
Not having to tap into general fund budget money this year or next for the apparatus to replace a 16-year-old ladder truck that’s often out of service pleased residents John Suchoski and Mark Shaffer.
A combination of funding from the city’s Office of Economic and Community Development and a $420,000 state Local Share Account program grant from gambling revenues at the Mohegan Sun Pocono casino in neighboring Plains Township will be used to purchase the 2020 Pierce Enforcer 107-foot tractor drawn aerial ladder.
“That’s the way you guys should always use the grants,” Suchoski said.
“If there’s any other fire equipment you guys need, you know, look to copy and paste and use the same plan,” Suchoski encouraged council before it approved the purchase.
“It’s good to see that the city’s using LSA grants for what they’re meant for,” added Shaffer, a Democratic candidate for the District B council seat.
The tone changed when residents Jim Burden and Jason Carr spoke during the public comment period.
Burden, of Taft Street, went through a list of problems he wants addressed, from painting crosswalks on East Northampton Street, requiring new city employees to live in Wilkes-Barre, to a problem house near his.
The city and Luzerne County haven’t delivered on their promises to do something about the house, Burden said.
“My next step is the state and federal government. OK, I don’t want to bring them in, but if I got to I’m going to step on toes,” Burden told council.
Carr, a landlord from Saylorsburg, questioned what council vice chairman Bill Barrett has done over the last four years. Carr singled out council chairman Mike Belusko and councilman Tony Brooks, accusing them of playing politics and being rewarded with appointments in return for their votes to raise fees and taxes and support grants for special interests.
Belusko, along with other council members, voted to approve his nomination to be Wilkes-Barre’s representative to the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority. Carr said Brooks was awarded an application to the Luzerne County Visitors Bureau board.
“Where is your loyalty? Is it with the special interests within the city? Or is it with the citizens who are struggling terribly right now with a filthy city, an opioid epidemic, blighted properties, taxes that people can’t afford? Where are your loyalties?” Carr asked.
Carr closed with a question to Belusko. “Can you ask councilman Brooks to be a man and debate Mr. Shaffer,” Carr said.
Brooks, the Republican incumbent in the race for District B, and Shaffer have not come to terms on a debate with less than two weeks before the Nov. 5 general election.
Other agenda items council approved were:
• The installation of a sign for The Bank building on South Franklin and West Market streets. The sign will be at the South Franklin Street entrance.
• The purchase of a 2020 Mack tandem axle dump truck with a plow and salt spreader at a cost of $180,827 from Triple Cities Mack Sales and Service in Scranton through Co-Stars, the state’s cooperative purchasing program.
• The purchase of $49,909 of fire equipment from Witmer Public Safety Group of Coatesville for the new ladder truck.
• The amended application to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for the installation of an AT&T antenna on a traffic signal at the intersection of Spring, Pine and Sherman streets.
