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Residents raise e‑bike safety, park restroom access and abandoned properties during public comment
Summary
Public commenters at the April 24 Wilkes‑Barre City Council meeting cited rising e‑bike and scooter use, locked park restrooms during events, abandoned properties needing attention, and called for consideration of a homestead exemption and municipal pool.
Several residents used the Wilkes‑Barre City Council public‑comment period on April 24 to raise safety, maintenance and quality‑of‑life concerns.
Tom Gagatek praised improvements at Kirby Park’s restroom facilities and the accessible playground, but said he has seen electric bikes, scooters and off‑road motorcycles riding on paths and dikes where people jog and children play. “They are zipping all over,” Gagatek said, and asked whether the city could work with the state on registration or insurance requirements. He also asked that locked restroom buildings on Public Square be opened during events and policed so families can use them safely.
Resident Sam Troy addressed multiple issues: the building of a proposed fire‑department garage (which he discussed under pending legislation), abandoned and boarded properties at specific addresses, and broader civic ideas. Troy suggested the council explore adopting a homestead exemption to reduce tax burdens for property owners, saying he had discussed the subject with the Wilkes‑Barre School District solicitor. He also urged the city to consider a municipal swimming pool or agreements to bus children to neighboring pools during hot months.
Council response and context: Mayor George Brown and Council members acknowledged the concerns. Councilman Barrett (council staff) said the state currently treats e‑bikes like regular bicycles but noted cities can restrict sidewalk and business‑district use; municipal enforcement options such as prohibiting e‑bikes on sidewalks in business districts were discussed. The mayor said some policing and regulatory options are being reviewed.
Nut graf: Public comment focused on public safety (e‑bikes and off‑road vehicles), park access during events, property blight, and longer‑term policy suggestions such as a homestead exemption and a municipal pool; council and administration representatives said they would continue to examine regulatory and operational options.
Ending: City officials frequently referred questions to staff follow‑up; several residents asked the council to report back with concrete actions and clarified locations or next steps.
