Scranton council approves school‑zone changes, street conversion and $3.1M RACP grant; several ordinances pass unanimously

Council President Smearl presided over a July 22 meeting of the Scranton City Council at which members approved several ordinances and resolutions affecting parking, traffic patterns and redevelopment, and moved to accept a Commonwealth grant of up to $3,112,254 for repairs to City Hall’s roof.

The most immediate actions approved by roll call will change traffic and parking near Francis Willard Elementary School: the council adopted an ordinance establishing school‑zone restrictions at four intersections (Hampton Street at South Main Avenue; Hampton Street at Twelfth Avenue; Inon Street at South Main Avenue; and Inon Street at Twelfth Avenue), established a no‑parking zone at the mid‑block crosswalk near Francis Willard, and approved converting Hampton Street to a one‑way eastbound street between Twelfth Avenue and South Main Avenue. The votes on those items were recorded as unanimous in the roll calls during the meeting.

Why it matters: the measures affect vehicle flow and curbside parking near a neighborhood elementary school and are intended to formalize traffic controls the council said were previously lacking.

Other ordinances advanced or adopted at the session included:

- Final passage of an ordinance (filed as 88‑2025) repealing a 1928 provision that prohibited overnight parking citywide; councilmembers said the text was antiquated and approved removing it from the municipal code.

- Approval of a temporary easement to Pennsylvania American Water Company for a community environmental project at Roaring Brook (filed as 89‑2025).

- Authorization of a grant of right‑of‑way to PPL Electric Utilities Corporation for stabilization work along an existing pool (filed as 92‑2025).

- Final adoption of a code change amending Chapter 18, Article 6 to revise provisions governing the Vacant Blighted Property Review Committee (filed as 86‑2025).

- Final adoption of a resolution to name the North Scranton Mini Park (1800 block of Wayne Avenue) in honor of Anthony “Tony” Walsh (filed as 87‑2025).

- Final adoption of a plan revision resolution related to a property listed in the record as “newly undelivered” at 1225 North Keizer Avenue (Resolution No. 242‑2025, filed as 7‑c).

Council also moved several items into committee for further consideration or introduction: the appointments of Edward T. Davis to the Scranton Municipal Recreation Authority (to replace Sonia Lobo, term to expire 06/17/2030), Alex Plack to the Scranton Ethics Board (three‑year term to expire 08/31/2028), and Betsy Moylan to the Scranton Public Library Authority (term to expire 01/02/2028) were each introduced into their proper committees by voice vote.

On funding, the council introduced for committee consideration a resolution ratifying and approving the city’s acceptance and administration of Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant funds through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for up to $3,112,254 to be used toward City Hall roof repairs. That item was introduced into committee by voice vote.

The council also set a public hearing for the city’s HUD 2025 Consolidated Action Plan for Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 5:45 p.m., giving the public an opportunity to comment before final action on that plan.

Votes at a glance

- File 86‑2025 (vacant/blighted property review committee amendment): final passage; roll call yes: King, Shuster, Dr. Rothschild, McAndrew, Smearl. Outcome: adopted.

- File 87‑2025 (naming North Scranton Mini Park for Anthony “Tony” Walsh): final passage; roll call yes: King, Shuster, Dr. Rothschild, McAndrew, Smearl. Outcome: adopted.

- File (Resolution No. 242‑2025 / plan revision at 1225 N. Keizer Ave): final passage; roll call yes: King, Shuster, Dr. Rothschild, McAndrew, Smearl. Outcome: adopted.

- Files 81‑2025, 82‑2025, 83‑2025 (school‑zone markings at Francis Willard intersections; no‑parking at mid‑block crosswalk; Hampton Street one‑way eastbound): taken from the table and placed in seventh order; final passage by roll call unanimous. Outcome: adopted.

- File 88‑2025 (repeal of 1928 overnight parking prohibition): passed reading by title and approved by voice vote.

- File 89‑2025 (temporary easement to Pennsylvania American Water Company at Roaring Brook): passed reading by title and approved by voice vote.

- File 92‑2025 (grant of right‑of‑way to PPL Electric Utilities Corp.): passed reading by title and approved by voice vote.

- Appointments introduced to committee: Edward T. Davis (Scranton Municipal Recreation Authority); Alex Plack (Scranton Ethics Board); Betsy Moylan (Scranton Public Library Authority). Outcome: introduction to committee (no final vote recorded at this meeting).

- Item introduced to committee: Ratifying acceptance/administration of up to $3,112,254 in RACP funds for City Hall roof repairs. Outcome: introduced to committee.

What council members said: councilmembers who spoke repeatedly framed the parking and school‑zone changes as correcting outdated or missing provisions in the code and as safety measures near an elementary school. No roll‑call opposition was recorded on the adopted items.

Context and next steps: several items were either adopted immediately or placed into committee for further review. The RACP grant item and the HUD consolidated action plan will proceed to public comment or committee review before final administrative steps. The introductions of board appointments mean those names will be considered by the appropriate committees before final confirmation.

(Editors’ note: all vote tallies and item numbers listed here reflect the motions and roll‑call statements recorded on the meeting transcript.)