Work equipment is seen outside Wilkes-Barre City Hall on Thursday.
                                 Mark Guydish | Times Leader

Work equipment is seen outside Wilkes-Barre City Hall on Thursday.

Mark Guydish | Times Leader

Also: Brown announces furloughs

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WILKES-BARRE — Even wearing a mask Mayor George Brown did not hide his displeasure with comments questioning his leadership and the efforts of city employees to protect residents in two disasters.

During city council’s virtual meeting Thursday afternoon Brown disclosed he furloughed 10 employees as a result of the storm earlier in the week that tore off a section of City Hall’s roof and made the building unsafe. He also again stood up for the Health Department against criticism it was unnecessary.

“As of Monday people were furloughed from the city and it’s not something that I like to do naturally. But, it’s something that’s necessary. So, “yes there are people that are out on furlough as of now. And that will continue,” Brown said.

The mayor, who wore a protective mask in his temporary office in city police headquarters, directed his first response to Jason Carr, a resident of Saylorsburg, Monroe County, and a city landlord.

Carr submitted comments that were read by City Clerk Jim Ryan toward the end of the hour-long meeting that was streamed by YouTube on the city’s website in order to comply with social distancing measures issued by the health and government officials in an attempt to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Council members participated remotely and the public could only send questions by email ahead of time.

The city was struggling financially before the pandemic and took a further hit when businesses were ordered to close and people put out of work. Yet the city workforce hasn’t been reduced, Ryan said Carr pointed out.

“How can the city afford these expenses when revenues will be delayed or stunted? Is it possible for you to contact (Scranton) Mayor Paige Cognetti and ask her advice on how she successfully furloughed 24 positions in her City Hall and temporarily closed a fire station? How are the taxpayers of Wilkes-Barre to afford your decisions when they are not allowed to work?” Ryan said Carr asked.

Brown responded, “So Mr. Carr, in answering your question if you’re watching right not, you are incorrect in your statement and I did initiate a furlough as of Monday.”

Carr posed his other question to city council members, asking when will they follow the lead of councilwoman Beth Gilbert McBride and take a pay cut. Last month in an executive order Brown reduced McBride’s annual salary to $11,879 from $13,199 — the amount paid city council members, Mike Belusko, Tony Brooks, and John Marconi. Council Chairman Bill Barrett is paid $14,699.

Council members did not respond.

The Health Department question came from Sam Troy and sounded similar to the one he asked previously of the mayor.

“What is the function of the Health Department during a crisis?” Ryan said, reading Troy’s inquiry. Ryan continued that Troy said he called the department about getting tested for the coronavirus and was told to contact his family doctor.

“I don’t think this department is doing its job and I don’t think it’s essential to have these people on salary if they’re not doing anything to mitigate this crisis,” Ryan said Troy stated.

Brown deferred to Health Department Director Henry Radulski to respond.

The department’s mission is to protect the health and safety of the residents and prevent premature death, Radulski said. The department’s focus has been trying to control the spread of the highly contagious and deadly virus for which there is no vaccine, he added

“The pandemic has taken us to our limits to make sure we uphold those goals. I’m happy to say that our staff has answered the bell and have gone above and beyond the call of duty in everything they’ve done,” Radulski said.

The department is an informational center responding to calls at all hours of the day from shelters, daycare centers, laboratories and the city’s police and fire personnel. In addition the three department nurses act as epidemiological investigators, Radulski explained.

“They want to find the origin of the disease. They want to isolate the disease. Then they want to trace it to make sure it’s not spread,” Radulski said. “I am happy to say we have actually made an effort in succeeding and flattening the curve.”

Specific details about the number of cases in the city were not provided, however.

In its official duty, council approved of all items on the agenda for the combined work and public session:

• The first of two readings of an ordinance in support of the city’s 2020 Action Plan using federal Community Development Block Grant programs totaling $1,556,657 and $915,761 in CDBG funds for COVID-19.

• Reappointment of Bob Hogan the General Municipal Authority for a term expiring on Dec. 31, 2024.

• Reappointment of Christine Jensen to the Housing Authority of the city of Wilkes-Barre for a term expiring Sept. 10, 2025.

• Resolutions by the Pennsylvania Municipal League and the National League of Cities in support of state action backing local government during and after the COVID-19 crisis.

• Vacating sections of South Pennsylvania Avenue and East Ross Street to the Luzerne County Transportation Authority for the site of its new operations’ center.

• Extending the state of emergency declared by the mayor on April 13 in response to a storm that caused more than $1 million in damage throughout the city for an additional 30 days.

• Extending the state of emergency declared by the mayor on March 16 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic for 60 days.

• Authorizing the mayor and City Controller Darren Snyder signatories for state funded city projects and for grants and/or contracts with the state Department of Health.

Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.