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WILKES-BARRE — Having worked for five mayors, Malcolm Barber liked what he saw in the city’s newest.
Barber was among the several hundred people Monday who crowded into the lobby of the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts on Public Square to witness George Brown take the oath of office as Wilkes-Barre’s 24th mayor.
“I have high hopes for George,” Barber said after the ceremony.
A former horticulturalist for the city and member of Brown’s campaign committee, Barber shared the advice he offered to the mayor. “I had told him, get after the crime, pick up the garbage, pick up the recycling, plow the streets and people are going to be happy,” Barber said.
Without having done any of what Barber advised, the crowd applauded Brown’s shedding the mayor-elect title and welcomed his promise of better days.
“It’s heartwarming because I have never seen a turnout like this for a swearing in ceremony and the people here, because they believe in change,” Brown said. “They want change and they’re going to get change and they believe in the new council, myself and the controller, we can all work together to do that.”
Brown, 68, has been waiting in the wings since May after he had a convincing win over the then incumbent Tony George in the Democratic mayoral primary. It was their second contest after George won the first in 2015, while they were on city council, and went on to become mayor. In November general election Brown ran unopposed and has been preparing to transition from retirement to putting his decades of management experience in the private business sector to work running the largest city in Luzerne County.
“The next four years are going to be difficult,” Brown acknowledged. “We’ll make some choices that are not going to be very easy to make,” but they’ll be made for the benefit of the residents, he added.
Brown’s immediate focus has been on the $52.6 million balanced budget proposed by George for this year. Council did not approve it and the city charter permits Brown to submit his own budget for council’s approval by Feb. 15.
The new mayor received support from the five member of city council and City Controller Darren Snyder, who also were sworn in, to work together.
In its reorganization at the start of the year, council approved the nomination of Bill Barrett to serve as chairman and Tony Brooks as vice chairman. Council also presented outgoing City Administrator Rick Gazenski with a resolution recognizing his service for the past 13 months.
“The bar is already set very high for this council and all of us here for 2020,” said Barrett, who began his fifth, four-year term on council. “I am confident that this council is up to that challenge. I’m looking forward to working with Mayor Brown, his administration and all of council in open communication, open transparency, an open council. We’re all open.”
Brooks, who was elected to a second term and the only Republican on council, lauded the turnout and noted the audience was filled with city employees, members of neighborhood associations, non-profits and directors of boards of various organizations.
“I think you can tell in this room there is a spirit of cooperation and hopefully this cooperation will absolutely continue because we’re going to make this city the best small town in America,” Brooks said.
Councilwoman Beth Gilbert McBride, also elected to a second term, commented on her own optimism and that of the crowd.
“For the first time in a long time I’m very hopeful about the city of Wilkes-Barre,” Gilbert McBride said.
Former chairman of council Mike Belusko and the newest councilman John Marconi were the only ones who thanked George for his service. They also looked forward to the new administration.
“I’d like to welcome Mayor George Brown with your fresh ideas and your hard work, working with this council, the city and the administration it will have a fantastic future,” Belusko said.
As the least senior member of council, Marconi was offered the final the comment. He replaced Mike Merritt, who did not seek reelection.
“I think that we’ll be able to move this city forward for the betterment of our residents,” Marconi said. “Also I would just like to thank everyone who came out here as well. Peace everyone, thanks.”
Council will hold its first work session of the year at 6 p.m. on Jan. 14 at City Hall. Its public meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Jan. 16.
