Council ratifies parking deals, easements and grants; adopts HUD plan and several appointments

Scranton City Council on the evening’s final business ratified and adopted a series of ordinances, resolutions and easements, including an amended parking concession agreement, temporary and permanent utility agreements, the city’s HUD 2025 consolidated action plan and a Commonwealth redevelopment grant for city hall roof repairs.

The council voted to ratify File of the Council No. 84 of 2025 — an amended and restated set of concession and facilities agreements that updates the 2016 meters-and-garages contracts and reflects the transfer of the city’s metered parking and parking facilities systems to the city — and then approved a slate of related items and appointments by roll call votes.

Why it matters: the measures authorize the mayor and city officials to execute amended concession and lease agreements for the city’s parking systems; permit temporary easements and a right-of-way needed for environmental and stabilization work; approve the city’s HUD plan for community development funding in 2025; and accept Commonwealth funds for a major municipal roof repair project. Together they clear legal and funding steps needed for near-term infrastructure, parking and community development work.

Key actions and outcomes

Votes at a glance (motion text shortened for clarity; vote tallies from roll calls recorded in the meeting transcript):

- Ratify: File of Council No. 84 of 2025 (amended and restated Scranton Metered Parking System concession and services agreement and Scranton Parking Facilities System concession and lease agreement, amending 2016 agreements and related documents). Motion by Chairperson, Committee on Rules; second not specified. Roll call: King — Yes; Shuster — No; Rothschild — Yes; McAndrew — Yes; Smearl — Yes. Outcome: Ratified (4–1).

- Adopt: Ordinance (File of Council No. 88 of 2025) repealing a 1928 provision that prohibited overnight parking on any street in the city. Motion by Committee chair; second not specified. Roll call: King — Yes; Shuster — Yes; Rothschild — Yes; McAndrew — Yes; Smearl — Yes. Outcome: Adopted (5–0).

- Adopt: Ordinance (File of Council No. 89 of 2025) authorizing execution of a temporary easement to Pennsylvania American Water Company for a community environmental project at Roaring Brook. Motion by Committee chair; second not specified. Roll call: King — Yes; Shuster — Yes; Rothschild — Yes; McAndrew — Yes; Smearl — Yes. Outcome: Adopted (5–0).

- Adopt: Ordinance (File of Council No. 92 of 2025) authorizing execution of a grant of right-of-way to PPL Electric Utilities Corporation for stabilization of an existing pool. Motion by Committee chair; second not specified. Roll call: King — Yes; Shuster — Yes; Rothschild — Yes; McAndrew — Yes; Smearl — Yes. Outcome: Adopted (5–0).

- Adopt: Resolution No. 243 of 2025 — appointment of Edward T. Davis to the Scranton Municipal Recreation Authority (term to expire 06/17/2030). Motion by Committee chair; second not specified. Roll call: King — Yes; Shuster — Yes; Rothschild — Yes; McAndrew — Yes; Smearl — Yes. Outcome: Adopted (5–0).

- Adopt: Resolution No. 244 of 2025 — reappointment of Alex Plack to the Scranton Ethics Board (three-year term to expire 08/31/2028). Motion by Committee chair; second not specified. Roll call: King — Yes; Shuster — Yes; Rothschild — Yes; McAndrew — Yes; Smearl — Yes. Outcome: Adopted (5–0).

- Adopt: Resolution No. 245 of 2025 — reappointment of Betsy Moylan to the Scranton Public Library Authority (term to expire 01/02/2028). Motion by Committee chair; second not specified. Roll call: King — Yes; Shuster — Yes; Rothschild — Yes; McAndrew — Yes; Smearl — Yes. Outcome: Adopted (5–0).

- Adopt: Resolution No. 246 of 2025 — ratifying and approving city acceptance and administration of Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funds through the Commonwealth for up to $3,112,254 to be used toward the City Hall roof repair. Motion by Committee chair; second not specified. Roll call: King — Yes; Shuster — Yes; Rothschild — Yes; McAndrew — Yes; Smearl — Yes. Outcome: Adopted (5–0).

- Adopt: File of Council No. 82 of 2025 (formerly 6a) — ordinance authorizing the mayor and other appropriate city officials to take all necessary actions to implement the HUD 2025 consolidated action plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) for the period beginning 01/01/2025. Motion to pass reading by title and to suspend rules to move for final vote; roll call: King — Yes; Shuster — Yes; Rothschild — Yes; McAndrew — Yes; Smearl — Yes. Outcome: Adopted (5–0).

What council members said and next steps

Council members recorded routine committee recommendations and brief comments while moving items. One motion (ratification of File No. 84 of 2025) drew a dissenting roll-call vote from Councilman Shuster; council did not further debate the other measures during the meeting. Several items authorized the mayor and city officials to execute agreements and easements, which the administration must now sign and implement.

Meeting context

The package of votes concluded an otherwise public-comment–heavy meeting in which residents raised concerns about property tax reassessment, tax-exempt institutions, water and sewer rates, road and flood-control repairs, feral cats and animal-control services. Council members and staff referenced ongoing work by city departments, and several council members said they would continue follow-up with engineers, police and other staff over the summer recess.

Ending

All legally adopted items carry instructions for the mayor and appropriate officials to execute the authorized agreements and to proceed with implementation steps, where required. For several items — including the parking agreements, the utility easement at Roaring Brook and the RACP-funded roof work — additional administrative steps and signature(s) by the mayor or department officials are required before projects or changes take effect.