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Council rejects appointment to Recreation Authority over residency concerns
Summary
Council voted down the nomination of Samuel Kuchwara to the Scranton Municipal Recreation Authority after members said the nominee does not live in the city and argued board seats should be prioritized for Scranton residents; the motion failed on a 1–5 roll call.
The Scranton City Council on May 6 rejected the appointment of Samuel Kuchwara to the Scranton Municipal Recreation Authority, with members citing the authority’s preference for city residents and questions about why the administration submitted a nonresident’s name.
The nomination (Resolution No. 40 6 2026) was presented for final vote after committee recommendation. Several council members praised Kuchwara’s volunteer work at Neag Park but said boards and authorities should be filled by people who live in Scranton. One council member said, “City residents should have the first opportunity to participate on city boards,” and another noted it creates a procedural problem to accept a nonresident when the policy is otherwise clear.
Supporters said Kuchwara has provided extensive volunteer service and had been recommended by the parks board. Opponents asked administration to explain why a nonresident name was forwarded and whether outreach had been sufficiently broad to find an in-city candidate. After discussion, the clerk conducted a roll call: Doctor Rothschild voted yes; Mister Sean McAndrew, Mister Mark McAndrew, Mister Flynn and Mister Shuster voted no. The motion failed and the appointment was not made.
Council members said the outcome reflected a policy choice rather than a rebuke of the candidate’s work; several proposed finding other ways to honor his contributions. The council did not immediately indicate a new nominee or a further process for filling the seat.
