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WILKES-BARRE — The new restrictions aimed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus prompted city council to switch its in-person meeting Thursday to a virtual session.
The combined work session and public meeting will begin at 6 p.m., but it will not be held in council chambers at Wilkes-Barre City Hall, council Chairman Bill Barrett said Wednesday.
The fourth-floor chambers had been prepared to be in compliance with social distancing, after council had met for months online. But the combined session was scrapped because it would have been in violation of Gov. Tom Wolf’s order prohibiting indoor gatherings and events of more than 25 people.
Wolf imposed the new restrictions to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday in response to an increase of new COVID-19 cases in the state.
Council provided the following addresses and instructions for public participation:
• The combined session will be streamed on YouTube. The link will be posted on the main page of the City’s website at www.wilkes-barre.city.
• Public comments can be sent by email to [email protected], by 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Please include your name and indicate whether your comment is on an agenda item or for other council matters.
• Public comments can be made by phone at (570) 208-4177. Comments at the start of the meeting are limited to items on the agenda on the City’s website at www.wilkes-barre.city/citycouncil, under the City Council Meeting Agendas section.
• Public comments at the end of the meeting can be on any related council matter.
Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.
