Scranton, Pennsylvania
Recent meetings
COUNCIL
The Scranton City Council meeting on June 23, 2026, was largely procedural. Council received and filed multiple reports and minutes, including the Historical Architectural Review Board minutes, Controller's report, and a PILOT memorandum from the Scranton Housing Authority. No ordinances, resolutions, or contracts were voted on or approved. Citizens raised concerns about utility road cuts, kratom regulation, and visitor information brochures, but council took no formal action on these topics.
COUNCIL
Council voted unanimously to take Resolution 56 from the table and approve the transfer of a liquor license. No other substantive decisions were made; the remainder of the meeting consisted of announcements and public comments.
- Approved Resolution 56 (liquor license transfer) 5-0
Historical Architectural Review Board
The Historical Architectural Review Board approved several applications for murals, painting, and signage. One application for a sign at 501 Vine St was tabled for further design discussion.
- Approved mural at 305-307 Penn Ave (4-0-1)
- Approved cleaning, pointing, roof repair, and painting at 100 Wyoming Ave (Unanimous)
- Approved painting at 97 Lackawanna Ave (Unanimous)
- Approved sign painting at 318 Penn Ave (Unanimous)
- Tabled sign application at 501 Vine St (Unanimous)
- Approved sign at 201 Lackawanna Ave (Unanimous)
- Approved gates across Howley CT at 317 Linden St (Unanimous)
Historical Architectural Review Board
The Scranton Historical Architectural Review Board met on February 12, 2026, and voted on six Certificate of Appropriateness applications. Unanimous votes approved signage for four properties and windows and signage for one, with a condition. One demolition request at 324 N Washington Avenue was denied. All votes were unanimous.
- Approved signage at 528 Lackawanna Ave (unanimous)
- Approved signage at 148 Adams Ave (unanimous)
- Denied demolition at 324 N Washington Ave (unanimous)
- Approved windows and signage at 401-409 Lackawanna Ave, with condition not to use option 2 (unanimous)
- Approved signage at 414 Biden Street (unanimous)
- Approved signage at 434 Lackawanna Ave (unanimous)
Zoning Hearing Board
The Zoning Hearing Board approved multiple applications for residential units and business conversions. Several other requests were denied, tabled, or withdrawn during the meeting.
- Elected Mr. Gattens as Chairman and Mr. Walsh as Vice Chair
- Approved grocery store conversion at 1225 Pittston Ave (5-0)
- Continued medical office application for 1721 N Main Ave (5-0)
- Withdrew vehicle sales application at 1237 N Washington Ave due to paving requirements
- Approved residential unit addition at 501-503 Cedar Ave (6-0) with window condition
- Denied residential unit addition at 2402 Dimmick Ave (0-6)
- Tabled residential unit addition at 326 Hiller Ave for up to 90 days (5-0)
- Approved special exception at 819 Jefferson Ave (5-0)
Zoning Hearing Board
The Zoning Hearing Board approved a request from The Wright Center Medical Group for several variances to build a medical office building at 1721 North Main Ave, including reduced parking and impervious coverage. The board also denied a variance to convert a two-family home to a four-family home at 1320 Prospect Ave on a 2-2 tie, approved a special exception for a conversion apartment at 1321 Wyoming Ave, approved a variance for front yard parking at 436 New St with conditions, and continued an appeal of a short-term rental violation at 1315 Meylert Ave.
- Denied variance to change two-family home to four-family home at 1320 Prospect Ave (2-2 tie)
- Approved special exception for conversion apartment at 1321 Wyoming Ave (4-0)
- Approved variance for front yard parking at 436 New St with conditions (4-0)
- Continued appeal of short-term rental violation at 1315 Meylert Ave (no vote)
- Approved variances for medical office building at 1721 North Main Ave, including relief from impervious coverage, parking, and landscaping standards (4-0)
Zoning Hearing Board
The Zoning Hearing Board approved a residential conversion at 2006 Wayne Ave, a supportive living residence at 337 S Main Ave, and a residential addition at 220 Oak St. A request to place a prefabricated skin care business structure at 725 Moltke Ave was denied.
- Approved variance to change two-family home to three-family home at 2006 Wayne Ave (3-1)
- Denied variance for prefabricated skin care business structure at 725 Moltke Ave (0-4)
- Approved use of 337 S Main Ave as a small, supervised, supportive living residence (4-0)
- Approved variance from required setbacks for residential addition at 220 Oak St (4-0)
Zoning Hearing Board
The Zoning Hearing Board approved four variance and special exception requests for residential and commercial uses. Three other requests for self-storage, boarding arrangements, and a two-family home conversion were denied.
- Denied variance for self-storage garage at 1402 N Rebecca Ave (0-5)
- Denied variance for boarding/rooming arrangement at 935 Clay Ave (0-5)
- Approved special exception for conversion apartment at 1826 Pittston Ave (3-2)
- Approved variance for 7-unit apartment building at 1729 Cedar Ave (5-0)
- Approved variance for auto detailing at 1100 Price St (5-0)
- Approved variance for ground floor commercial to residential at 1608 N Main Ave (5-0)
- Denied variance to change single family to 2 family home at 1715 Penn Ave (0-5)
- Tabled Lace Building Affiliates
COUNCIL
The meeting consisted of roll call, correspondence filing, and announcements. Several residents provided public comments regarding ARPA project management, emergency operations grants, and local infrastructure, but no votes were taken on these items.
COUNCIL
The Scranton City Council held a regular meeting on June 2, 2026, that consisted entirely of member announcements about community events and public comments from two residents. No resolutions, ordinances, or formal votes were recorded; the meeting was procedural only.
- No formal votes, approvals, or denials recorded
COUNCIL
The Scranton City Council meeting on May 26, 2026, was largely procedural, with no substantive decisions made. Council received and filed a subdivision report and heard public comments on infrastructure, union contracts, and social services. No ordinances, resolutions, or contracts were approved or denied.
- Received and filed Lackawanna County Planning Commission report (unanimous)
COUNCIL
The May 21, 2026 Scranton City Council meeting was largely procedural, with only correspondence received and filed, and announcements about Memorial Day and Public Works Week. Citizens spoke on various topics, but no ordinances, resolutions, or votes were taken.
- Received and filed correspondence (Comcast CATV franchise fee Q1 2026, controller's report, pension board minutes) – no vote recorded
COUNCIL
The Scranton City Council held a meeting on May 12, 2026, but the provided minutes contain only procedural items, announcements, and citizen participation. No votes or official decisions were recorded in the excerpt.
COUNCIL
The Scranton City Council meeting on May 5, 2026, consisted of announcements and citizen participation, with no resolutions, ordinances, or votes recorded. Council members made Mother’s Day and Teacher Appreciation Week remarks, and two residents spoke during public comment. No decisions were made.
COUNCIL
The meeting consisted of a proclamation honoring Anne Marie Regan, a local political trailblazer, and the routine receipt of planning commission reports. No ordinances, resolutions, contracts, or other substantive decisions were voted on or approved.
- Received and filed Lackawanna County Planning Commission subdivision and land development evaluation reports (April 20, 2026) — no vote required
COUNCIL
The council adopted a resolution commending Patrol Officer Joseph Flesher for applying a tourniquet to a critically injured DPW worker on February 9, 2026, saving his life. A quarterly payroll tax collection report from the city business administration was received and filed. No other substantive decisions were made; the remainder of the meeting consisted of citizen comments.
- Adopted resolution honoring Officer Joseph Flesher (unanimous)
- Received and filed quarterly payroll preparation tax collections as of March 31, 2026
COUNCIL
The Scranton City Council met and received and filed several reports including pension commission minutes, the controller's report for March 2026, and a listing of Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs). Council President Schuster noted a first-quarter revenue shortfall of $1.2 million and discussed the need to reach out to nonprofits regarding PILOTs. Public speakers raised concerns about audits, the DPW contract, homeless initiatives, and a long list of city issues. No ordinances, resolutions, or contracts were voted on.
- Received and filed minutes of the Scranton Firefighters Pension Commission (March 18, 2026)
- Received and filed minutes of the Non-Uniform Municipal Pension Board (March 18, 2026)
- Received and filed agenda for the Non-Uniform Municipal Pension Board (April 15, 2026)
- Received and filed minutes of the Scranton Police Pension Commission (March 18, 2026)
- Received and filed Controller's report for month ending March 31, 2026
- Received and filed minutes of the Composite Pension Board (March 18, 2026)
- Received and filed memorandum regarding PILOT from Goodwill at North
- Received and filed 2025 listing of PILOTs received from City Business Administration
Ethics Board
The Board of Ethics approved the minutes from the September 17, 2025 meeting. The board also approved a solicitor invoice totaling $798.00. No other substantive business was conducted.
- Approved September 17, 2025 meeting minutes
- Approved solicitor invoice of $798.00
COUNCIL
This meeting was procedural only; no substantive decisions were made. The council received and filed a correspondence (ARPA evaluation report) and heard announcements about recycling bins and an electronic recycling event. Citizens spoke on kratom regulation, DPW contracts, and neighborhood concerns, but no ordinances, resolutions, or formal actions were voted upon.
COUNCIL
The March 31, 2026 Scranton City Council meeting consisted solely of receiving and filing reports on PILOT payments from Midtown Apartments and United Neighborhood Centers, along with an ARPA budget transfer correspondence and a planning commission report. No ordinances or resolutions were voted on. The remainder of the meeting was public comment from three residents, with no council actions taken.
COUNCIL
The meeting consisted of procedural filings, member announcements, and public comments. No official decisions were recorded, though the Council discussed moving a DPW fund transfer and a collective bargaining agreement to a final vote.
COUNCIL
The Scranton City Council met on March 17, 2026, but took no substantive decisions. The only official action was receiving and filing reports from the business administration and controller. Council members made announcements about St. Patrick's Day and an upcoming Easter egg hunt. Three citizens spoke on DPW contract negotiations, HUP testing, property assessments, and bridge work.
- Third Order items (After Action Snowstorm Report and Controller's Report) received and filed without objection
COUNCIL
The council voted unanimously to take from the table Resolution No. 25 of 2026, which concerns the HARB denial of demolition of the Mattes Law Office building at 324 North Washington Avenue, and placed it on the Seventh Order for a final vote at a later date. No other substantive actions were taken. Three residents spoke during citizen participation on homelessness, DPW contract status, and infrastructure concerns.
- Unanimously voted to take Resolution No. 25 (HARB denial of demolition at 324 N Washington Ave) from the table and place it for final vote (5-0).
- No other motions or votes occurred.
COUNCIL
The Council received planning commission reports and heard public comments regarding parole board issues and utility road repairs. No substantive legislative decisions or votes were recorded during this session.
- Received and filed Lackawanna County Planning Commission subdivision and land development evaluation reports
COUNCIL
The Council received several pension board minutes and a controller's report for filing. No substantive legislative actions or votes were taken during this meeting.
- Received and filed Controller's Report for January 2026
- Received and filed Scranton Firefighters Pension Commission minutes
- Received and filed Non-Uniform Municipal Pension Board minutes
- Received and filed Scranton Police Pension Commission minutes
- Received and filed Composite Pension Board minutes
COUNCIL
The Council received and filed correspondence from the City Business Administration concerning a check from Comcast for the Quarter 4, 2025 CATV franchise fee. No other substantive legislative decisions were made during this meeting.
- Received and filed Comcast CATV franchise fee correspondence (Third Order)
COUNCIL
The council received a correspondence regarding a Scranton Fire Department budget transfer. No substantive votes or legislative decisions were recorded during this session.
- Received and filed correspondence regarding Scranton Fire Department budget transfer
COUNCIL
The Scranton City Council meeting on February 3, 2026, was procedural only. Council members heard public comments from residents about snow removal, Planning Commission agendas, and code enforcement, but took no votes or substantive actions. No ordinances, resolutions, contracts, or appointments were approved, denied, or tabled.
COUNCIL
The January 27, 2026 Scranton City Council meeting was procedural only. Council received and filed minutes from several pension boards and a planning commission report without discussion. Three residents spoke during citizen participation, mostly praising the Department of Public Works for storm response and requesting better road maintenance. No ordinances, resolutions, or contracts were voted on.
- No substantive decisions made; meeting was procedural only
COUNCIL
The Scranton City Council meeting on January 20, 2026, was largely procedural. Council received and filed a planning commission report and the controller's report, made announcements about upcoming community events and a Code Blue shelter, and heard three citizen speakers. No ordinances, resolutions, or votes were taken.
COUNCIL
The Council received and filed correspondence regarding budget transfers for salt, IT hardware, and water accounts. Two agenda items were removed from the current meeting due to missing deadlines.
- Received and filed budget transfer for $49,000 for salt
- Received and filed budget transfer for $100,000 for IT hardware
- Received and filed budget transfer of $40,000 from pave cuts to water
COUNCIL
The Council introduced a resolution to amend its rules of business and accepted donations for the Fire Department. No other substantive actions were taken.
- Introduced resolution to amend Council rules (5-B) (6-0)
- Introduced resolution to accept $3,000 donation for Fire Dept (5-C) (6-0)
- Introduced resolution to accept $1,500 donation for Fire Dept equipment (5-D) (6-0)
- Introduced resolution to approve financing plan for Scranton-Lackawanna Health and Welfare Authority (5-E) (6-0)