[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6384812,"mediaKeyId","2121321-8b38622da4a364ca59c6cb569914ec1a","parentId",2121321,"title","Scranton council approves appointments, a FEMA grant application and equipment purchase; asks administration to meet with PA Ambulance","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4553000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2121321-8b38622da4a364ca59c6cb569914ec1a&start=4553&end=4553","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2121321-8b38622da4a364ca59c6cb569914ec1a/thumbnail_4553000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6384812/Scranton/Lackawanna-County/Pennsylvania/Scranton-council-approves-appointments-a-FEMA-grant-application-and-equipment-purchase-asks-administration-to-meet-with-PA-Ambulance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6384812-5e3a336973398b26bc0f8a0eb7e93870/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191496&Signature=SwQAsCJfj8KefKtnteqqHjHIbPUqDyRVoNWMiNJHOYUcmwD9qEBAYmzQ-vAfBHiSRWC8Rgd-ImgKVcWH0HefzCGUjctlAu2kjQYUubtpAPa5BB24ffWD0NOEkjpTb~3laz1hvrXyu0QgWkXvhfDiN4EhWB8AqcwMm4O5lNOXOb-aNqgWqFwHkqZVt-jpfe-05mmJxPN1ScZsbVXtrVoa0FiBQrWCZuZbt5LxG02lnnMShnVcxzdkzIecrrxkqeKZte8NplmYWFWDT2AN~ChVt0SoBDxwof4fomCoL5Z7lGL~jPoH2Pj86KTD7AY2fYoWtHiiu-qNT3IuIpBUzsCPEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Scranton, PA","date","2025-01-15T13:03:41Z","article","The Scranton City Council voted to send a letter requesting that the mayor, the city business administrator and the fire chief meet with Pennsylvania Ambulance to negotiate a contract or resolve outstanding issues in the city’s working arrangement with the provider. The motion passed unanimously by roll call (King, Shuster, Rothchild, McAndrew, Smearl: yes).

Separately, the council adopted several resolutions and approvals recommended by committee. The council approved the appointment of Steven Hines as parks and recreation director (appointment effective Dec. 16, 2024; final passage recorded Jan. 14, 2025), authorized the mayor to apply for and accept a FEMA Fiscal Year 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grant, ratified an intergovernmental agreement for a community-violence-intervention memorandum of understanding with Lackawanna County (introduction recorded), approved the appointment of Sherry Frable to the Lackawanna County Land Bank board for an unexpired term through Dec. 31, 2025, and authorized procurement and a lease-purchase agreement for a bucket truck from Structural Metal Fabricators Inc. (resolution recorded).

Council members described the ambulance discussion as prompted by conflicting reports presented to the body and said a direct conversation with Pennsylvania Ambulance could clarify service, liability and coverage questions. Councilman King moved the letter request and the motion was seconded and then approved by roll call.

On procedural items, the council introduced an ordinance to establish a PennDOT-conforming no-parking zone on the 300–400 blocks of Cedar Avenue and introduced a resolution to ratify an intermunicipal transfer and amendment related to a restaurant liquor license (Calandez Cafe to Warranty Dalton LLC) as required by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The council also introduced a reappointment to the board of ethics and a resolution relating to community violence intervention cooperation with Lackawanna County.

Roll-call results were recorded on the adopted resolutions: the parks and recreation director appointment, the FEMA grant authorization and the bucket-truck procurement each passed with unanimous roll-call votes (all listed council members voting yes). The meeting concluded after the council declared each item legally and lawfully adopted as recorded in the minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Scranton City Council Public Meeting1-14-25","oneSentenceSummary","The council voted to send a letter asking the mayor, business administrator and fire chief to meet with PA Ambulance, and adopted a set of administrative resolutions including an appointment to parks and recreation, a FEMA grant application, land bank and procurement approvals.","taxTitle","Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania","taxId",2973,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6384818,"Scranton council advances pay increases for mayor, city council and tax collector despite public opposition",1483,619000,2102000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2121321-8b38622da4a364ca59c6cb569914ec1a&start=619&end=2102","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2121321-8b38622da4a364ca59c6cb569914ec1a/thumbnail_619000.jpg","/articles/6384818/Scranton/Lackawanna-County/Pennsylvania/Scranton-council-advances-pay-increases-for-mayor-city-council-and-tax-collector-despite-public-opposition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6384818-10ef2e539142accfb610688212878aff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191496&Signature=H-8pSIuiLZMc6E1d6xdLi1bQKWCTuebghpt-ca4kWu8XcmRwY9vKsvzegNYA80skpk9wukNGrdbcBnpnltaIHHyilVY19g5Om3pNI670qKxHZ7GkdJsXw-Outi70dGKz4wGRPMZzXfw52JH0W6238nKWOzOu-qKANDCPALUoLiiVeXUKvZdUmoByHzSGMpe40ZQ~oUwmlmXsz4ZY80CJE14e-R7kE~j3zPPL9rAcLhWk188dnXilYC9lVOluYAO6~iHgRwaIFnvaBwxJHLaJBMsYtE6WWJakCli6a6jROqahGNLnvAPIT6583nBR2Qs6p~9AqvAK5aS04McArgOhkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Scranton City Council voted to introduce three separate ordinances to raise elected-official pay, moving forward proposals that would set the mayor’s salary at $95,000, city council members at $18,000 and the tax collector at $72,000 effective Jan. 1, 2026. The measures were introduced after public comment and council discussion; the mayor and council proposals passed introduction by a 3-2 vote and the tax-collector proposal moved forward by majority vote.

The proposals drew repeated criticism during the citizens participation period, when multiple residents and local union leaders urged council to prioritize housing, homelessness and existing municipal costs instead of raising salaries. Joan Hodowan, a Scranton resident, referenced the city’s charter when questioning the timing: “Under Article 13, Section 1304, salaries for elected officials are handled separately … compensation of any elected officials occupying these positions shall not be increased or changed in any way during their elected term of office,” she said, arguing the ordinance should address the office and not the incumbent.

The debate continued with Virgil Argento, who called the raises “out of step” with reported homelessness and other city needs, and Alan Lucas, president of IAFF Local 60, who contrasted recent multi-year wage settlements for firefighters and police with the proposed one-time increases for elected officials. Lynn Labroski, a taxpayer and business owner, described the timing as inappropriate during an “election year” and questioned where funds for the raises would come from.

Council members framed the vote as consideration of the positions rather than the current officeholders. Councilman King said he wanted to introduce the measures to allow further committee review, and Doctor Rothchild and others noted the proposals would not take effect immediately and are intended to align the city’s compensation with market rates. Council members cited the long intervals between prior increases: the mayor’s salary had not changed in 13 years; council pay had not been increased in 26 years, several members said.

The council’s action was procedural: introductions send the ordinances to committee for further debate and two subsequent readings before final passage. Council members and several speakers also noted a separate legal question flagged during public comment — whether an incumbent sitting in an office at the time of an increase could receive it during that term — citing the home rule charter language read aloud at the meeting.

If ultimately adopted, the mayor and council increases are scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2026, which the council said means they would apply to the person elected to those offices in 2026 rather than automatically raising pay midterm for an incumbent. The tax collector increase would be shared with the school district: council members noted the city and Scranton School District each pay 50% of that office’s salary.

The ordinances will return to committee for staff analysis and public hearings. Council members said they expect more discussion between introduction and any final votes; no final salaries were adopted at the meeting.","The Scranton City Council voted to introduce ordinances that would raise the mayor's salary to $95,000, council members to $18,000 and the tax collector to $72,000 effective Jan. 1, 2026. Introductions passed after public comments decrying the timing amid homelessness and recent rent increases.","actionData","errors"]

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Scranton council approves appointments, a FEMA grant application and equipment purchase; asks administration to meet with PA Ambulance

Scranton council advances pay increases for mayor, city council and tax collector despite public opposition