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Residents press Scranton council on reassessments, roads and utility 'ghost poles'; council members condemn hateful public remarks
Summary
Dozens of public commenters told the Scranton City Council they are struggling with recent property-tax reassessments, persistent road damage and dangerous ‘ghost poles.’ The meeting also included a sharply worded anti-immigrant rant that two council members publicly condemned.
Several residents used the Scranton City Council public-comment period to press elected officials about recent property-tax reassessments, ongoing road and infrastructure problems, and dangerous utility poles left standing after companies install replacements.
Joan Hodowanec opened the night’s comments by saying the city has been focused on data centers and ICE but not on reassessment. "One thing we haven't heard anything about, and that is reassessment and property tax bills," Hodowanec said, and advocated for an automatic reassessment schedule — "at least every 10 years" — to avoid unpredictable large increases.
Local commentator Mike Mancini delivered a longer “state of Scranton” critique, saying many longtime residents "remember a city that felt safer, cleaner, and more cared for than it does today," and he highlighted limited shelter capacity and maintenance pressures on parks, pools and streets.
Resident Les Bender publicly thanked Department of Public Works crews for one repair but urged deeper oversight of pave-cut inspections and utilities, saying, "These roads have never been as bad as they are now," and reported a long-unrepaired pave cut near North Main Avenue and Clearview Street.
Lee Morgan and several others pressed the council for transparency about payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs). "When you start talking about lieu of taxes, you should tell them what the monetary figure is that they've given the city in lieu of taxes," Morgan said, asking the administration to list amounts tied to PILOT agreements.
Public commenters and council members also raised safety concerns about so-called "ghost poles" — old utility poles left standing after companies install new ones. A council member cited House Bill 825 (introduced March 2025) as an example of state-level attention to mandatory removal timelines, registries and penalties.
Kathy O'Malley sought clarity about a "no parking" sign posted at the end of South Irving Avenue, saying an email from Tom Riley’s engineering office showed the curbside spaces were legal and that the sign as installed incorrectly restricts parking. She requested the name of whoever authorized the sign and asked the administration to remove or correct it.
The public-comment period also included a strongly worded anti-immigrant speech by Ron Elman that several council members found unacceptable. Elman described his personal grievances in harsh terms, at one point calling demonstrators "anti-American." After the remarks, Dr. Rothschild addressed the chamber: "I stand with immigrants, and I denounce the hateful, disgusting comments that were made here tonight," she said, and urged colleagues to reject vitriol.
Council members used the rest of the meeting to request follow-ups: a breakdown of emergency invoices tied to the January storm, updates on the walkability study and pools, DEP materials for Meadow Brook, clarification about which department handles homeless-camp cleanups, and confirmation that background checks are run for hires and board appointments.
Next steps: Council requested the administration and department heads provide written clarifications on PILOT figures, the South Irving signage and the storm-related billing; they also asked the city engineer and law department to develop an ordinance pathway if required.
