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Council approves consent agenda; residents press for action on student parties, library fountain and election-code changes
Summary
Wilkes-Barre City Council approved its consent agenda and heard multiple public comments urging the city to work with King's College on disruptive student parties, fix a library drinking fountain, consider repurposing a vacant state building, create a handicap parking spot, and review election-code recommendations at an April 16 public meeting.
Wilkes-Barre City Council approved the consent agenda during its regular session; council members recorded unanimous support in the roll call vote taken on the motion.
During public comment the council heard multiple neighborhood concerns. Council members were asked to engage King's College about recurring large student gatherings on North Main Street after complaints about property damage and public disorder; one council member asked staff to discuss ways the college can help control disruptive gatherings before they occur.
Resident Linda Johnson announced a bipartisan election‑task‑force meeting set for April 16 at 6 p.m. in the courthouse council chambers. She said the group produced eight recommendations to revise the state election code — including a proposal to extend the mail‑ballot request window from seven to 14 days to reflect postal delays — and invited local lawmakers, poll workers and voters.
Resident Eugene Francis Wallace requested repairs to an out‑of‑order drinking fountain at the public library and asked whether the city could repurpose a reportedly unused state building on North Washington Street for temporary homeless services or municipal use; the mayor and council clarified that the public library is a private nonprofit with its own board and that city or county governments do not directly control the library's operations.
Several residents requested a handicap parking space near a deli; council/staff advised that traffic/parking committees handle placement and that medical documentation is required for designation.
In a later exchange resident Sam eulogized former city official Rick Gazinski and then sharply criticized the city's fiscal decisions, asking for details about a $6 million borrowing and arguing for targeted relief for struggling residents. Mayor George Brown defended the administration, saying the city has not enacted a tax increase in seven years, that a recently increased sewer fee averages about $1 per week and is intended for aging sewer infrastructure, and that a $3 million tax‑anticipation note is paid when tax revenues arrive.
What comes next: council members suggested staff follow up with King's College and traffic/parking committees; the election‑task‑force meeting is scheduled and open to the public; procurement and formal proposals (if any) would return to a future agenda.
