During a recent Scranton City Council meeting, significant discussions centered around the appointment of Tom Morgan to the firefighters' pension board, a position he has been waiting to fill since being approved by the mayor in March 2023. Morgan, a retired firefighter and vice president of the Retired Firefighter Association, expressed frustration over the delays in his appointment, which stem from administrative complications regarding the term length.

Morgan explained that the two retiree positions on the pension board became vacant in June 2022, and despite the union's efforts to submit names for consideration, the process has been stalled. He emphasized the importance of having retiree representation on the board, stating that both the union and the pension board support his appointment.

Alan Lucas, president of Local 60 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, echoed Morgan's sentiments, detailing the timeline of events and the union's attempts to navigate the bureaucratic hurdles. He noted that while one retiree has been appointed, the second position remains unfilled, which he believes undermines the retirees' voices in pension matters.

Council members expressed their commitment to resolving the issue, with some suggesting that a resolution be prepared to expedite Morgan's appointment. They highlighted that the mayor's approval and the council's prior legislation should suffice for Morgan to assume his role on the board, regardless of ongoing disputes about the term's duration.

The council's discussions underscored a broader concern regarding the representation of retirees in pension decisions, with members advocating for immediate action to ensure that Morgan can participate in upcoming meetings. The urgency of the situation was further emphasized by the acknowledgment of the delays that have persisted for nearly a year, leaving retirees without proper representation in critical financial matters.