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Scranton City Council approves pay increases for mayor, council and tax collector; adopts several resolutions
Summary
The Scranton City Council voted to raise salaries for elected positions and approved multiple ordinances and resolutions at its meeting, including measures to increase the mayor—s pay to $95,000, council pay to $18,000 and the tax collector—s pay to $72,000.
The Scranton City Council voted to raise salaries for elected positions and approved several other ordinances and resolutions at its meeting. Council members approved an ordinance setting the mayor—s salary at $95,000, increased city council pay to $18,000 and raised the tax collector—s salary to $72,000; the council also ratified a no-parking zone on Cedar Avenue, approved an intergovernmental agreement for a community violence intervention program, and authorized a liquor-license transfer.
The salary measures were read by title under the 6th order and passed after council members moved them to a voice vote. Dr. Rothschild, a council member who moved one of the salary measures, said she viewed the increases as "fair and reasonable" and argued that updating pay could attract more candidates for elected office. One council member said last week they opposed the mayor—s increase; during the reading on the floor that opposition was reiterated before the motions passed by voice vote.
The council also adopted Resolution 17 32,025, an intergovernmental memorandum of understanding with Lackawanna County to create a comprehensive community violence intervention and prevention program, and unanimously approved the transfer and amendment of a restaurant liquor license required by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Those measures passed by roll call, with each council member recorded as voting yes.
Votes at a glance - Item 6A: Ordinance ratifying a no-parking zone on the 304–100 blocks of Cedar Avenue to meet PennDOT sight-distance specifications — Passed (voice vote). - Item 6B: Ordinance increasing the mayor—s salary to $95,000, effective Jan. 1, 2026 — Passed (voice vote). Dr. Rothschild moved the item and argued the increase was warranted; one council member voiced opposition on the record. - Item 6C: Ordinance increasing city council salaries to $18,000, effective Jan. 1, 2026 — Passed (voice vote); at least one council member voiced opposition during debate. - Item 6D: Ordinance increasing the tax collector—s salary to $72,000, effective Jan. 1, 2026 — Passed (voice vote). - Item 7A: Resolution approving an intermunicipal liquor-license transfer (Calandey's Cafe & Restaurante Inc. to Warranty Dalton LLC, 515 Center St.) as required by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board — Adopted (roll call; unanimous). - Item 7B: Resolution ratifying an intergovernmental agreement with Lackawanna County for a comprehensive community violence intervention and prevention program — Adopted (roll call; unanimous). - Item 7C: Resolution reappointing David E. Falczyk to the Scranton Board of Ethics through Aug. 31, 2027 — Adopted (roll call; unanimous).
Council action also moved one lease-extension item (5B) to the committee stage: the council introduced an amendment extending the lease with Street Cats and Dogs Inc. for the Ash Street Firehouse (1409 Ash St.) for 12 months; the item was introduced into the proper committees by motion and second and the introduction was approved by voice vote.
Several measures were read and advanced under the council—s reading-by-title procedure; some were adopted after roll call. The meeting record shows both voice and roll-call procedures were used depending on the item. The council did not specify detailed roll-call tallies for all voice votes on the record.
