Residents urge action on clogged drains, stalled sewer-easements and landfill leachate during Scranton public comments

SCRANTON, Pa. — Dozens of residents and visitors used the public-comment portion of the Scranton City Council meeting on April 22 to press for swifter action on stormwater and sewer problems, and to ask for testing and transparency about landfill waste moving through area sewer lines.

Why it matters: Residents described repeated flooding in downtown sidewalks and fronting the cathedral, clogged basins and a filled retention ditch that they say redirects stormwater over roadways and onto private property. One speaker raised concerns that Keystone Landfill accepts fracking waste that is radioactive and that waste flows in local sewer lines and creeks, prompting calls for testing and public answers.

What residents said

Joan Holderness of Scranton told council she has seen sidewalks and approaches to the cathedral flooded after severe night storms and asked whether the Department of Public Works cleans storm drains on a schedule. She said at least twice she encountered water “halfway up the sidewalk” in front of the cathedral and reported visible debris in downtown street drains.

Lenny Cerebro (Geyser Valley) described chronic flooding on the 2200 block of Lafayette Street. Cerebro said a retention pond near the corner of Lafayette and Dewey fills frequently and that a 36-inch drainage pipe and an associated ditch are clogged with leaves and branches. He asked the city’s DPW to use its suction machine to clear the ditch.

Mike Mancini of Scranton raised a separate, longer-standing concern about Keystone Landfill and what he described as “4,000,000 metric tons” of radioactive leachate being accepted and routed through local lines. He asked when the city last tested lines to ensure safety and whether host fees are being received. He said the landfill accepts fracking waste and that leachate flows along creeks and the Lackawanna River, and called for public answers.

Administration responses and follow-up

Mr. Boldenberg (City staff) told council earlier that he had been told there were about 80 easements remaining before the sewer authority could “officially fold.” He said he had received a recap recently and would provide an update to council. During public comments a representative said a water-company basin had been reported and the water company planned repairs "within the next two weeks."

Council members asked staff to pass specifics to the DPW: Mr. Shuster asked that a request be sent the following morning to clean the ditch on Lafayette; another council member agreed to follow up on missing stop signs and utility-pole cleanups raised in public comment.

Clarifying details recorded at the meeting

- The administration indicated (via Mr. Boldenberg) that roughly 80 easements remain related to the Sewer Authority’s outstanding property work.

- A water company told the city it would be out within approximately two weeks to repair a reported basin that had been causing local flooding near the cathedral.

- Lenny Cerebro identified the flooded location as the 2200 block of Lafayette Street at or near the corner of Dewey; he requested DPW cleanout of the ditch and pipe.

- Mike Mancini described Keystone Landfill as accepting fracking waste and asked for testing and host-fee disclosures; the transcript does not record a city technical response to the leachate claim at the meeting.

What the record does not show

Speakers raised tests, host-fee receipts and the amount of material moving through sewer systems. The council transcript records those questions but does not include technical test results, dates of last testing, or administration confirmation of host fees — those items were not specified during the meeting.

Ending: Council members asked staff to follow up and report back; residents were told staff would provide updates on the sewer-easement status and that DPW would be asked to inspect and, if needed, clear the reported clogged ditch and related infrastructure.