Brown

Brown

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WILKES-BARRE — The city has lost tax revenue from the shutdown orders imposed by the state to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, but the loss might not be as bad as first expected, Mayor George Brown told city council members on Thursday.

During its online combined work session and public meeting Brown discussed the finances and what his administration is doing ensure the city has enough money to provide police, fire, public works and other necessary services.

Council has been meeting remotely to comply with social distancing measures in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 and the proceedings have been streamed live on YouTube.

”At times I’ve projected between $3 (million) and $5 million. We really don’t know the dimensions yet because we haven’t gotten all the data in position yet,” Brown replied to councilwoman Beth Gilbert McBride.

The outlook that was initially grim has improved somewhat with the permit fees for construction and utility projects, including a new building on South Main Street for an adult day care operated by Geisinger and the expected start next month by Sphere International LLC of its long-awaited hotel and residential high-rise downtown.

Demolition permits have been issued for the Sphere project, Brown said. “That is going to be happening. In the June time frame you’ll see some work being done there,” he said.

Still, the city is seeking aid from the state and Brown added he’s been in contact with Gov. Tom Wolf’s office about funds to cover the revenue loss in whole or in part. “I don’t know how much we’ll get, or if we’ll get it or when we’ll get it,” he said.

Each day the finance office provides a cash balance and so far it indicates “we have the money to keep the services going,” Brown said.

But an unexpected consequence of the stay-at-home order that’s going to be lifted for Luzerne County Friday is more garbage and recyclables for the Department of Public Works to pick up and higher tipping fees to get rid of them. Brown estimated there has been a 20 % increase, the figure offered by Director of Operations Butch Frati earlier this month.

“It’s hitting us hard because we’re labor loaded to pick up our normal collections and now we’re utilizing more overtime to pick up the excess, the extra 20 percent,” Brown said.

The mayor asked council members who get complaints from residents whose trash hasn’t been picked up on time to tell them the city’s working on it . He also said he’ll be meeting with each council member next week to hear from them about their districts and the issues they raised, ranging from problem properties, fireworks, clogged storm drains and open burning.

“So what I want to do is sit down with you individually, discuss your areas and we have to put a plan together, so I want to make sure that you’re aware of the plan before we introduce it into the neighborhoods,” Brown said.

The six resolutions on the agenda were all approved. Council authorized the disposal of outdated records from the Finance, City Clerk, Community Development, Controller and City Administrator offices.

The other resolution granted the mayor temporary authority for six months to process requests from restaurants to put seating on city sidewalks. The requests usually require city council’s approval, but the mayor asked that he be allowed to make the decision to speed up the process that could take weeks.

The legislation is timely as the county transitions to yellow from the more restrictive red phase under the governor’s strategy to gradually reopen the state. Wolf further eased the restrictions in yellow-phase counties effective June 5 to permit outdoor, dine-in service for restaurants and bars that serve food. They have been limited to take-out and delivery services.

“I think this will be very important, mayor, with the social distancing that we have to do, restaurants have to abide by. Obviously their capacity is greatly diminished so this will give them room to expand outside as well I’m assuming,” said council chairman Bill Barrett.

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