[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6320482,"mediaKeyId","2356331-95660887cd26bed2866c387bc249e6d0","parentId",2356331,"title","Residents, union leaders press city on Code Blue shelter access and firefighter mutual‑aid staffing","audioSeconds",1475,"startMs",182000,"endMs",1657000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2356331-95660887cd26bed2866c387bc249e6d0&start=182&end=1657","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2356331-95660887cd26bed2866c387bc249e6d0/thumbnail_182000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6320482/Scranton/Lackawanna-County/Pennsylvania/Residents-union-leaders-press-city-on-Code-Blue-shelter-access-and-firefighter-mutualaid-staffing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6320482-010f20c24100aa4f8e87471fa1b40771/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164927&Signature=mJtgcOPlrtcSBTftR1OvG4ndiIDrvS-4BpEn9WA6AmA6Sne5n8YQ6YZq2dW3Rth~BYxcBB7VN~Kl3IuPzR6gemxMCmBObjRUpJcAjeqj7QOCNlrqkYZzIepCVzAt9YILGQHsW080aIztmPa82vdxRjlnMJ8YzVV98O6TjaNNAgrWxW-eF990DLH2ikRr2~11dNV5H8Qi7EWHjgMD4JSsIt-15bNUGkM~27Av0~MKaaE5m16~3Dui6zxIoYqoXIYyvsuBYvtI2nbx~9lmAGkNJ6i3E0p57IY1Eb~0mFwW74C83nHOp2h0qCWD3~04UUxn6SEv0WHSiAGpjpG-SiHypA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Scranton, PA","date","2025-02-19T13:15:04Z","article","Multiple speakers at the Feb. 18 Scranton City Council meeting urged the city to ensure shelter access during extreme cold and to address fire‑department staffing and mutual‑aid arrangements.

Joan Juarez, a city resident, asked whether the city had addressed “all the kinks” in its Code Blue protocol after forecasts called for subzero wind chills. Juarez asked specifically about staffing at Weston Field and whether people displaced from the field would have clear directions on where to go when shelters are unavailable; she urged the city to publicize volunteer certification information so more people could assist if staffing shortages persist. Council members responded that a new administrator is expected to arrive in two weeks and that the administration would follow up on staffing and communications.

Alan Lucas, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 60, told council that the union was blindsided by an administration email indicating Scranton units would respond to third‑alarm structure fires in Moscow and North Pocono and to increased alarm requests at the regional airport. Lucas raised safety and staffing concerns, asked whether the city is being reimbursed by neighboring boroughs for apparatus sent outside the city, and asked who would be liable if a firefighter were injured while responding out of city limits.

Council members said they would seek answers from the administration. Council member Voldenberg and others asked staff to check reimbursement records and insurance coverage and to report back. Council member McCandrew and others emphasized the need for the union to have a seat at planning discussions about expanded mutual aid so operational impacts on Scranton residents and firefighter safety are considered.

Residents and council members also raised related questions about outreach to homeless populations during extreme cold, local shelter capacity and who is coordinating Code Blue operations; council asked the administration to provide details on public notice and shelter locations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Scranton City Council 2-18-25","oneSentenceSummary","Public commentators and the firefighters’ union raised concerns about shelter availability during frigid weather, staffing at Weston Field and expanded mutual‑aid responses to neighboring boroughs; council members pledged follow‑up with administration.","taxTitle","Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania","taxId",2973,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6320487,"Council tables appointment of business administrator to pension boards amid dispute over retired-membership",325,4889000,5214000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2356331-95660887cd26bed2866c387bc249e6d0&start=4889&end=5214","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2356331-95660887cd26bed2866c387bc249e6d0/thumbnail_4889000.jpg","/articles/6320487/Scranton/Lackawanna-County/Pennsylvania/Council-tables-appointment-of-business-administrator-to-pension-boards-amid-dispute-over-retired-membership","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6320487-1160fb24ea6f9f66d6626c5728f87eba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164927&Signature=W3TRYLMokaGSASAhYL2KVvFRjutqHHgfTXWxBD1xU74azEOCK5WP-38J8ltre8aJfgqjhxttn9phLvqWYfyqGcdrf7Alwn~6QrDNEVVFam~Y-oWh9IjlY38L6OV7dkRa2BxIcIroeUYI8DNJRs7-BsNnW4WJ4jw0jXBoIByiTTci~-~1A1SZp0ex0EqelGSWKxd1ktfnXu3R4a9JMq3bkHiPOipBACKmLYIYe013HjQi7yJjESPnz4qYThUtwtnSTdcjrXF1YRP9DYRoKGdW~BxeEvB-T2nEhw9NcJ59gAxEqSRfldMfaqu8guDnl4hB3hbCpf4Yh9pafRrC0QVK1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Scranton City Council introduced, then tabled, a resolution on Feb. 18 to appoint the city’s business administrator as the chief administrative officer of the police, fire and nonuniformed pension plans while council members pressed the administration to first seat a retired firefighter representative.

Alan Lucas, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 60, told the council he had discussed the appointment with pension‑board legal advisors and urged council to use leverage to obtain a response from the administration about seating retired firefighter Thomas “Tom” Morgan, who union speakers said has been waiting about two years to be seated.

Council member King moved to table the appointment until the retired member’s seating issue is resolved; the motion was seconded and approved by the council. Attorney Gilbride clarified parliamentary procedure during the floor debate.

Council members said the change arises in part from a statutory reference to Act 205 of 1984 included in the resolution. Several members said an auditor‑general communication prompted action on pension governance and that council wanted the board balanced before approving an administration appointee.

Council directed City Law and administration to report back with a status update on the retired‑member vacancy and to provide any legal findings related to appointing the business administrator to the pension boards before the council proceeds.","A resolution to appoint the city business administrator to police, fire and nonuniformed pension boards was introduced Feb. 18 then tabled after council members and the firefighters union raised concerns about a long‑pending retired member seat.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6320491,"Council adopts higher crossing-guard pay, OKs property purchase; several measures introduced",611,4843000,5454000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2356331-95660887cd26bed2866c387bc249e6d0&start=4843&end=5454","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2356331-95660887cd26bed2866c387bc249e6d0/thumbnail_4843000.jpg","/articles/6320491/Scranton/Lackawanna-County/Pennsylvania/Council-adopts-higher-crossing-guard-pay-OKs-property-purchase-several-measures-introduced","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6320491-ba0861ec953a557a95a0c21f04b9cd5a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164927&Signature=MD9gYUVs3GfATQFNzVSqSydZgVyls1entjy02tVYgVywaxDA66K3I6OobgMO2s9VPFhijh8aqSjEGKP0Dv~QNG1V7XsUMl8MMhe~xYHUxvIkMrcs40pnjTy9CZKyHsrSr7h1A472fgV76eHplRrLzEYx7HPdkH2JAuz8awp4BUXkl8AmLLTM5yLSLK0hqvcc6DQoIx2yxxYcw4BsAD9J1WzuvWyIwrZpVj9qPSG-AYIMxTaVFxUY2JN7BfvLSCs~2LudsU9lZXD0kztwrOxv~T9x1fJ7dyxZ4rdvBeXrb-WWmwfg41VXoi53nQQwXumbZmOnw8hljb7uyHMmXpjZfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Scranton City Council on Tuesday approved a pay raise for school crossing guards and authorized purchase of a city parcel, while introducing multiple infrastructure and grant measures and tabling a pension-board appointment.

The council voted unanimously to increase crossing-guard compensation to $30 per day, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Council members recorded “yes” votes during a roll call that included Council member King, Council member Shuster, Council member McAndrew and Council member Smearle.

In other final actions, the council approved a resolution authorizing the purchase of property at the southwest corner of Albright Avenue and Marion Street in Scranton. The measure passed on a roll call vote; council declared the item legally and lawfully adopted.

Several items were introduced or moved into committee for further consideration: ordinances and resolutions authorizing easements for the Kaiser Valley flood-protection project and the East Mountain stormwater and drainage improvements (both introduced), and a resolution to allow the mayor and appropriate officials to submit a grant-reimbursement agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for an approximately $1,110,200 Multimodal Transportation Fund grant (introduced).

A resolution to appoint the city’s business administrator as chief administrative officer of the police, fire and non‑uniformed pension plans was introduced and then tabled after council members discussed outstanding questions about representation on pension boards.

A public hearing on a liquor-license transfer was held and the council scheduled the final vote for the following meeting.

Council President: “All those in favor of introduction, signify by saying ‘aye,’ ” and the motions were carried or otherwise advanced as recorded on the Feb. 18 agenda.

The council adjourned after completing the evening’s business.","The Scranton City Council on Feb. 18 approved an increase to crossing-guard pay and voted to buy a parcel at Albright and Marion, introduced several easement and grant items, and tabled a resolution appointing the business administrator to pension boards.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents, union leaders press city on Code Blue shelter access and firefighter mutual‑aid staffing

Council tables appointment of business administrator to pension boards amid dispute over retired-membership

Council adopts higher crossing-guard pay, OKs property purchase; several measures introduced