Scranton Council introduces multiple federal funding requests, including Pittston Avenue and emergency operations center

The Scranton City Council on May 13 introduced a package of resolutions asking for federal community project funding that would fund street and brownfield projects and a proposed emergency operations center.

The council voted to introduce a resolution seeking up to $3,000,000 for the Pittston Avenue infrastructure and streetscape project, and separately introduced a $363,618 request for Pine Brook brownfield cleanup and site preparation. Council members also introduced a request for up to $1,000,000 for an additional 2026 community project and a separate request for funds for an emergency operations center (EOC) — the transcript records the EOC request as "2,343,750" — tied to the Career & Technology Center property. All items were moved, seconded, and carried for introduction into committee by voice vote.

Why it matters: the requests would connect federal community project funds to local infrastructure and cleanup needs; the EOC proposal, if funded, would establish a county-serving operations center on property associated with the Career & Technology Center. During public comments, residents asked whether the Career & Technology Center site is intended to replace prior references to other facilities and whether the proposed city EOC would be coordinated with the county emergency center in Jessup. Those were presented as questions rather than formal commitments by the administration.

Council action and next steps: each funding request was formally introduced into its appropriate committee for further review. The introductions do not allocate funds; they authorize submission of community project funding applications (federal appropriations requests). Additional committee hearings, intergovernmental coordination and any required matching or permitting would be required before contracts or construction could proceed.

What council members and residents said: the introductions were handled during the consent/legislative portion of the meeting and drew few substantive floor debates; in public comment, Joan Hodowan (resident) asked whether the Career & Technology Center location is aligned with the county emergency center in Jessup and suggested the city and county consider a memorandum of understanding to ensure mutual support in an emergency. The council did not announce a formal MOU or intergovernmental agreement during the meeting.

Background: the council used the meeting’s introduction votes to move the applications forward. Introducing a request into committee is the procedural step that allows staff and council committees to review scope, potential matches, permitting and scheduling. None of the introduced items were adopted as appropriations at the meeting.

Meeting context and timing: the introductions were procedural approvals to pursue federal community project requests; they do not represent final funding awards. Further committee review, possible public hearings and coordination with federal and county partners will follow.