[{"_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",6298882,"mediaKeyId","2499667-34c7ec6c2522f86adbe6f75bc28170a0","parentId",2499667,"title","Votes at a glance: Council adopts flood easements, waives contractor rule for stormwater work, approves community-development resolution","audioSeconds",136,"startMs",6440000,"endMs",6576000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2499667-34c7ec6c2522f86adbe6f75bc28170a0&start=6440&end=6576","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2499667-34c7ec6c2522f86adbe6f75bc28170a0/thumbnail_6440000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6298882/Scranton/Lackawanna-County/Pennsylvania/Votes-at-a-glance-Council-adopts-flood-easements-waives-contractor-rule-for-stormwater-work-approves-community-development-resolution","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6298882-09fb4d80f0be1578aede099d9f37d6f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770432682&Signature=TStQuV4-OGfrbfZOiwM3t9qHaTZe84Y6fodhIdYIgULi17k1cY-e11AG6RPuHChFPPSfsArHCy1bMHuJ2qNRTibRdpEWdKPSQOVgCh7McCa-EavMy0YPrGzlPAUdlMBRCLU~ShJTSq-Ynvpg6KBoE3rQ9Hi5RgTyEO5akfjQwFWzkYzrrmVggEuY6QdpRQvEvlnvwpKy3NNByaacIo~O7z6mEVR44YdiszKbj~~CJtR0-bSCNmpORYRXrjLvNreyFCv1JwSHiN9Q6aJRkrbeJn2A8MjaWTcvxS5f6-KvjybyNXSPQG-I6lWIhUkQEtBWekOxATVaC-2lxVx64mnitw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Scranton, PA","date","2025-03-05T14:14:27Z","article","The Scranton City Council took several formal actions at the meeting, adopting three resolutions on final passage and introducing multiple items for committee review.

Final actions (roll call recorded)
- Flood‑protection easements (Item 7a): Council approved and authorized acquisition of permanent and temporary easements required for Group 1 of the flood protection project and authorized the filing of a declaration of taking under the Eminent Domain Code, if required. Roll call recorded: King — Yes; Shuster — Yes; Doctor Rothschild — Yes; McAndrew — Yes; Smearle — Yes. The chair declared item 7a legally and lawfully adopted.

- Responsible‑contractor waiver for Froud Avenue stormwater improvements (Item 7b): The council's Committee on Public Works recommended final passage and council adopted the resolution by roll call. Votes recorded: King — Yes; Shuster — Yes; Doctor Rothschild — Yes; McAndrew — Yes; Smearle — Yes.

- Community development resolution (Item 7c): The Committee on Community Development recommended final passage of Resolution No. 182 2025 (plan revision for new land development in the 400 block of Davis Street), and council adopted the resolution by roll call: King — Yes; Shuster — Yes; Doctor Rothschild — Yes; McAndrew — Yes; Smearle — Yes.

Introductions and committee referrals (voice votes)
- Item 5b (Grama broadband/cable contract) — introduced into committee (voice vote: ayes). A public speaker had raised FCC-related questions during citizen participation prior to introduction.
- Item 5c (temporary construction easement agreements for parcels at 1771 McDonough Ave and 1804 Bloom Ave) — introduced into committee (voice vote: ayes).
- Item 5d (Resolution authorizing execution of agreement with Peterson Inc. for Connell Park engineering and design services) — introduced into committee (voice vote: ayes).
- Item 5e (Plan revision for 400 block of Davis Street) — introduced into committee (voice vote: ayes).

Other procedural motion
- Item 6a (ordinance regarding the Rubicon/Routeware contract) was read by title and a motion to pass reading by title was made and seconded; the item was advanced to the seventh order for potential final passage next meeting. Council members noted that final action may be tabled if remaining questions are not resolved.

Ending: With the final roll calls recorded and committee referrals made, the council adjourned the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Scranton City Council 3-4-25","oneSentenceSummary","The Scranton City Council adopted three final actions on flood‑protection easements, a responsible‑contractor waiver for a stormwater project and a community development resolution, while introducing several items for committee review.","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},6298888,"Scranton council advances Routeware (formerly Rubicon) waste contract after heated public criticism",5218,723000,5941000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2499667-34c7ec6c2522f86adbe6f75bc28170a0&start=723&end=5941","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2499667-34c7ec6c2522f86adbe6f75bc28170a0/thumbnail_723000.jpg","/articles/6298888/Scranton/Lackawanna-County/Pennsylvania/Scranton-council-advances-Routeware-formerly-Rubicon-waste-contract-after-heated-public-criticism","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6298888-bf67cf45bc1d3cd6ebe6bcf62120ef5c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770432682&Signature=XFnWDasHoZDZcUXn-A1D5ApTw7BdKaFJmGBsi9H4WKFgwLiRgkwd0p9ROYQlXOIGQpiG67dPKxlZITiFYXwkUtqg7plEPWUoi2GzClkY~zlZJRzKuCyaHXfgz-J50Wixn4MlUjJV9LRIV2c34QGwBd-p~XmAtOQhok1I~tUdYB2xx0CMmh2eoPlHwiDeQFQtFXjt~7dVAp~D4ti7kzgkcXqaoNLpojrWi-OIOLMKNQsxpdLiU8nVmQ0hyRmGKJS5RuwZ5-iM2ftZuN7s1T9ZKgUDL187Xf9si735nxDjluCHicnoKbAhYTyzRG4ZSkht1eTpbzMda~uyfhqs4MAWzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Scranton City Council on the evening of the regularly scheduled meeting advanced an ordinance to final-reading that would amend the city's contract with Rubicon Global LLC — renaming the vendor to Routeware, Inc., extending the term by 60 months and updating the price schedule. The move followed public comment and council debate over performance, vendor lock-in, and safety obligations under a new distracted-driving law.

The ordinance (File to Council No. 59 2025; amending File to Council No. 92 of 2021) was read by title and the council voted to move the item to seventh order for possible final passage next week. Council members and residents urged caution and asked for additional operational data before a long-term renewal.

Why it matters: The contract governs the Department of Public Works' routing, data collection and operations-management software for the city's solid waste and recycling fleet. Council members and public speakers said the product has not produced promised savings, and DPW staff reported repeated route errors, alley omissions and equipment concerns since the system's rollout.

Bailey Simrill, a Scranton resident and technology consultant, urged council to delay a multi‑year extension. “I think we should really pause before renewing or extending this contract,” Simrill said, warning that the city had not seen itemized budget savings or independent verification of the product’s return on investment. Simrill also questioned whether taxpayer-funded route and collection data were being used by the vendor to develop commercial products.

Several council members echoed that concern and asked for written contract language about termination rights and performance thresholds. “They failed miserably to perform the past three years,” Council Member Buchanan said of the vendor during debate, adding that leaving a five‑year contract would require proving failure to perform. Council Member King asked the administration for the original renewable-language clause in the contract to clarify whether the city retains a 30/60/90‑day opt‑out.

DPW drivers who met separately with council members told the council that drivers have spent substantial overtime correcting route mapping and that the system’s turn‑by‑turn guidance sometimes resets when drivers deviate to service courtyards or alleys. Council Member McAndrew said drivers have invested time and corrections in the system and that some vehicles are equipped with weight‑recording hardware, though not all trucks were confirmed to have functioning onboard scales.

Council members also raised the impact of Pennsylvania’s new distracted‑driving statute (Title 75) taking effect in June and how mounted versus handheld routing devices might be affected. The administration told council that mounted devices align with state safety standards and that the city retains options to pursue contract remedies if the vendor fails to perform to specifications.

The council's action was procedural: the ordinance passed first reading/reading by title and will appear for possible final passage during next week's meeting. Council members said they could still table the ordinance at final passage if outstanding questions are not answered.

The council also recorded data reported by administration staff that since route optimization launched in December, drivers logged 1,885 \"not outs\" in the system; the presentation used a previously estimated cost of $63 per go‑back as a reference point. Council members asked for clearer definitions distinguishing a \"not out\" (driver-logged instance) from a formal go‑back that produces extra trips and costs.

Next steps: Council expects follow-up documentation on the original renewable language in the contract, the number of trucks with functioning scales, an ROI breakdown and responses to CDL/distracted‑driving compliance questions before the item returns for final consideration.

Ending: The first‑reading move preserves the council’s right to table or defeat the ordinance at final vote; members requested supplemental documentation from administration in the coming days.","Scranton City Council voted to move an ordinance to a final-reading agenda that would rename and extend the city's waste-management software contract (Rubicon Global LLC to Routeware, Inc.) by 60 months after residents and council members raised performance, data-use and safety concerns.",{"_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},6298877,"Public commenters press Scranton leaders on homelessness, shelters and hospital uncertainty",365,153000,518000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2499667-34c7ec6c2522f86adbe6f75bc28170a0&start=153&end=518","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2499667-34c7ec6c2522f86adbe6f75bc28170a0/thumbnail_153000.jpg","/articles/6298877/Scranton/Lackawanna-County/Pennsylvania/Public-commenters-press-Scranton-leaders-on-homelessness-shelters-and-hospital-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6298877-a043757e26bce395e0ff7b9b4305981c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770432683&Signature=oKVwZGmlkyHXqe6M0aZy~lYpaWijPydoyS89ffhpK-WtQqrQU5b7-vqDrrMjgNu847ubrDASL4JCIW11y65Kb9BeuI0X~GkT54sTTpKIxpJ55-PQ3KeMiRE07losUkEdxqAtk3IjXSqZqnMOiAGZFmneRJyJCMfPp7gefClLnJTYPaw5VVFoOfOCeJcQ-SQwrqu8T8FqcNy0tNb-eYcUnxRx90Xc4NA0ZlV01SVekPRdL-TNjJxdTDapFowNY~~yEBpx5KGAsIrjYdSu3DXgsRdpWwkzozZqa94EWSUbi0W36aXxAzrDMs3XCXhWk7Fll0bDMmE9OJOoc3CZ5dR3XQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several members of the public used the council's citizen‑participation period to press officials about homelessness, shelter services and the uncertain future of area hospitals.

Justin Barrons of Keystone Mission (acknowledged by a council member in announcements) spoke to the council in an earlier presentation (not included verbatim in the meeting minutes excerpt) about the agency’s work. A council member who met with Barrons reported that Keystone Mission said it now has the staff to operate a Code Blue shelter, though the speaker did not specify remaining days of the season.

“...they do have the staff now to be able to staff that,” the council member said, referencing Code Blue shelter operations. The council member encouraged residents interested in volunteering to contact Keystone Mission and said the mission will use the Community Intervention Center’s day room to avoid duplicating services.

Other public remarks:
- NEPA Youth Shelter: A council member alerted the public that Maureen Gray, founder and executive director of NEPA Youth Shelter, is retiring in June and the shelter is accepting applications for a new executive director. The deadline for applications was announced as Friday, March 21 at 5:00 p.m.; applications can be sent to NEPAyouthshelterboard@gmail.com.

- Hospitals and town halls: Joan Hodowan urged residents to attend a March 10 town hall on Medicare and Medicaid cuts and to a March 13 regional hospital town hall regarding Regional Hospital. She said that the community still lacks clarity on the fate of Regional Hospital and Moses Taylor and urged residents to get informed.

- Street‑level homelessness and public‑space cleanup: Council members and speakers raised concerns about tents, encampments and trash near the Keystone Mission and along railroad right‑of‑way areas. A council member reported a multi‑agency meeting on Feb. 28 (SPD, DPW and legal, plus Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority and Keystone Mission) to plan a spring cleanup of public areas.

- Volunteers and services: The council heard multiple requests for volunteer coordination and better communication about shelter needs, mentorship opportunities and how to address neighborhood impacts of unsheltered individuals.

Ending: Speakers urged action and transparency from the administration and nonprofit partners as they work to balance services for people experiencing homelessness with neighborhood health and safety concerns. Council members requested follow‑up with agencies on cleanup plans and shelter capacity.","Residents and speakers urged the council to monitor shelter capacity, volunteer opportunities and hospital closures; Keystone Mission staff said Code Blue shelter staffing has improved and NEPA Youth Shelter announced an executive director application deadline.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Council adopts flood easements, waives contractor rule for stormwater work, approves community-development resolution

Scranton council advances Routeware (formerly Rubicon) waste contract after heated public criticism

Public commenters press Scranton leaders on homelessness, shelters and hospital uncertainty