WILKES-BARRE - Due to the uncertainty of forecasted rain throughout the remainder of today, the evacuation of the Solomon Creek area of South Wilkes-Barre remains in effect until further notice. Residents in this zone are advised to seek shelter with family or friends in unaffected areas or the emergency shelter that has been established at G.A.R. High School off of Sherman Street. The four channel bridges that comprise the Solomon Creek flood protection system were activated just after midnight. The Waller, Regent, Barney, and South Franklin Street bridges will remain closed until further notice. Mayor Thomas M. Leighton and other city officials continue to monitor the situation including the creeks and streams outside of South Wilkes-Barre which do not appear to be a concern at the moment. There will be an updated briefing on the storm event later this morning. Residents and workers in the City of Wilkes-Barre are asked to stay tuned to local media reports, the city website, and Facebook page for up to date information about the latest storm event and the evacuation.

WILKES-BARRE - Mayor Thomas M. Leighton marked the start of Phase II of the Coal Street Recreational Improvement Project by announcing that Panzitta Enterprises had been awarded the construction contract which totals nearly $250,000. Phase II encompasses the resurfacing of the multi-purpose field which will host field hockey, lacrosse, football, and soccer games and significant upgrades to Coal Street's softball fields. New lighting and electrical infrastructure will be installed as well as new fencing and netting encircling the field. The playing surface itself will be resurfaced and leveled out. Phase I of the project is nearly complete and included the construction of new basketball courts, a new playground, pavilion, and the splash pad. Both phases of the project total nearly $1 million in recreational improvements and were funded by a federal appropriation secured with strong support by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA).

"Today, we announced the final phase of the rebirth of Coal Street Park," said Mayor Thomas M. Leighton, "A once abandoned, blighted park has been revitalized into one of the premier athletic complexes in the state and will remain an attraction for visitors, residents, and employers for years to come. This is a proud day for the City of Wilkes-Barre."

WILKES-BARRE - The City of Wilkes-Barre announced today that residents will see four new police cruisers patrolling their streets effective immediately. The four new cruisers are 2011 Ford Crown Victorias purchased through the state COSTARS program which was authorized in August by Wilkes-Barre City Council. The total cost to purchase and fit-out the cruisers was approximately $120,000. Since 2004, the city has purchased 22 police cruisers for the department. 

"The additional four cruisers will significantly improve the effectiveness of our police fleet," said Mayor Thomas M. Leighton, "We remain committed to ensuring that the men and women of the Wilkes-Barre Police Department have the best equipment available to effectively keep our streets and citizens safe."

August 30, 2011

Dear Editor,

           The community response to Hurricane Irene over the weekend once again displayed the strength and resiliency of our city and its people. In preparation for a storm such as Irene, one never knows just how severe it may be and we as a community always remember vividly the events of 1972. I was pleased to see people heeding the advice of their elected representatives to take the storm seriously, stock their houses with food and water, and prepare for the possibility of the loss of electricity. They exercised caution but did not display panic.

            The City of Wilkes-Barre itself took several precautionary measures including removing all creeks of debris prior to the storm, cleaning hundreds of catch basins, activation of the Solomon Creek flood protection system, and adding extra police, fire, and DPW personnel to monitor the creeks and low-lying areas on an hourly basis through the storm. All city personnel were briefed regularly on the latest tracks of Hurricane Irene and were ready to implement the city's emergency response plan should it become necessary. As a direct result of the extensive preparation, the city withstood the brunt of the storm with minimal damage. The intensity of the rain early Sunday morning prompted concerns that Solomon Creek possibly could overflow the channel walls. We ordered a targeted evacuation of the immediate area that displaced approximately 3,000 residents for 6 hours. We gave residents enough time to protect their properties and personal belongings and seek safety with friends and relatives or if necessary, the emergency shelter at G.A.R. Thankfully, we were able to get people back in their homes by mid-afternoon on Sunday. The evacuation was orderly and quick. I can't thank residents enough for their cooperation.

            I want to also acknowledge the support provided to the city by Luzerne County especially Joe Gibbons, County Engineer, and Steve Bekanich, County EMA. I need to thank the Wilkes-Barre Area School District and the American Red Cross for their help in setting-up the emergency shelter. I commend Wilkes-Barre Police, Fire, and Public Works Departments as well as my senior administrative staff for their tremendous hard work during some tense moments early Sunday morning. Most importantly, I want to thank all residents for their cooperation and understanding. Many of who seized the initiative to help clean-up the city in the wake of the storm by sweeping the streets and sidewalks of branches and other debris. I am personally grateful for that.   

Sincerely,

Mayor Thomas M. Leighton

WILKES-BARRE - The City of Wilkes-Barre will begin enforcement of its "open burning" ordinance which was passed by City Council in early August effective immediately. This ordinance regulates the practice of open burning within legal fire pits which can be purchased at many area stores. The ordinance was crafted in consultation between the Wilkes-Barre Fire Department, City Attorney's Office, administration, Wilkes-Barre City Health Department and Wilkes-Barre City Council in response to numerous complaints from residents concerned about the misuse of the fire pits in residential neighborhoods including the burning of newspapers, garbage, and refuse. The ordinance defines open burning as the burning of any materials wherein smoke, ash, or embers are emitted into the air without passing through a stack or chimney.

Under the ordinance, it shall be unlawful to burn any material except clean untreated wood, charcoal, or other outdoor cooking fuels customarily used in an outdoor grill or traditional food cooking devices. A fire pit must be attended at all times and remain 15 feet away from other combustible materials or property lines. Fire pits are not permitted on a lot containing more than two dwelling units or at a fraternity, sorority, or similar housing. No open burning will be permitted between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. Resident complaints of open burning should be directed to Luzerne County 911. Any person found guilty of violating a provision of this ordinance shall be guilty of a summary offense and upon conviction face a penalty not to exceed a $250 fine.  

WILKES-BARRE - Department of Public Works crews will be out all week cleaning up downed trees, branches, and other debris from city streets and sidewalks in the wake of Hurricane Irene that hit the city over the weekend. The city is also requesting residents help with the clean-up effort. Wilkes-Barre residents and property owners are asked to clean-up the yard waste debris in their immediate area and leave it curbside for pick-up by the city this week.

"I was very pleased to see many residents seizing the initiative yesterday to help us clean-up the city in the aftermath of the rain and high winds that blew through yesterday," said Mayor Thomas M. Leighton, "Our employees are executing clean-up efforts right now, but the help of the public in this effort is certainly appreciated."

Mayor Thomas M. Leighton

Hurricane Irene Press Conference

8/26/2011

• Good morning
• By now, everyone should know that Hurricane Irene is slowly making its way up the Northeastern United States
• Everyone who lived through it has very powerful memories of Hurricane Agnes and the 1972 flood.
• Although there is no immediate cause for alarm, we wanted to notify the public of the precautionary measures that the city has taken and will take in the next 24 hours to minimize the risk of this storm
• DPW crews have removed debris from the concrete channel at Bowman Spring Run on S Empire Street
• Debris has also been removed from around and under the bridges at Solomon Creek
• The convergence of Mill and Laurel Run Creek has been cleaned of debris as well
• Crews are out as we speak and will remain out cleaning catch basins citywide
• The fire department, police department, and DPW will conduct hourly checks of the creeks and low-lying areas that are typically the most likely to experience flooding
• I have also ordered extra DPW, police, and fire personnel to work through the storm
• We stand here in front of the repaired Laurel Run Creek Wall
• My administration has invested almost $15 million in bridge and channel wall construction and flood protection systems from one end of the city to the other
• This investment is the result of a forward thinking approach to identify the city's most likely threats and implement measures to protect the city's residents and their property.
• So that on days like today, the people can feel comforted that we are as prepared as any city can be to face whatever storm is headed our way
• At this point, there is a strong possibility that the city will be hit with heavy rain and high winds late Saturday night into Sunday and early Monday.
• People should make sure that they have enough bottled water and food in their homes as well as batteries and flashlights should they lose power at any point during the storm
• We do not anticipate at this time having to order any type of evacuation
• People should stay tuned to their local news outlets, the city website, and the city Facebook page for important updates from the city regarding the storm
• Every family should take the time today to discuss their individual plan so that everyone knows what to do through the storm
• This is not the city's first storm. We've endured 3 significant flood emergencies since 2004 and 4 of the highest 50 river crests occurred during my administration
• We have designed a comprehensive emergency response plan for situations such as this and we have trained and retrained our emergency services personnel to implement it effectively
• I have met with both the police and fire chiefs, my senior staff and other department heads and we will remain in constant communication today and throughout the weekend
• We continue to closely monitor this rapidly evolving storm and will adjust our response as needed
• We are ready and we are prepared.
• I'll take your questions now.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

WILKES-BARRE - After many months of negotiations, the City of Wilkes-Barre announces that a 5-year collective bargaining agreement between the city and the Police Benevolent Association has been signed. The CBA is retroactive to January 1, 2011 and will expire on December 31, 2015. The new CBA is a good deal for the city, the police union, and Wilkes-Barre residents.

Under the terms of the agreement, Wilkes-Barre police officers will be guaranteed a 3% raise in base salary each year through 2015. The city will pay police officers the 3% raise in base salary owed to them from January of this year to the present in future payrolls. The city also was able to negotiate changes in healthcare coverage for both active and future retired PBA members that will potentially save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. Starting in 2012, a new, escalating contribution scale to healthcare coverage will be introduced for all active and retired members for all healthcare plans except the HMO Plus plan. The percentage of the contribution is based upon the level of participation in the HMO Plus healthcare plan. There will not be cost sharing for health insurance premiums for the HMO Plus plan effective January 1, 2012.

This new framework allows PBA members the flexibility to decide which health coverage plan is right for their personal and family healthcare needs as well as prudent financially. Through this framework, the city is able to fulfill its obligation to offer quality and cost-effective healthcare plans to its employees especially those that risk their lives on a daily basis to protect the citizens of Wilkes-Barre.

The city and the PBA have also mutually agreed to permit civilian employees of either the City of Wilkes-Barre or any other entity deemed appropriate by the city to monitor the surveillance cameras in the Command Center located at police headquarters or at other locations throughout the city. Wilkes-Barre police officers on modified work assignments will also be permitted to perform this work during the course of the three platoon shifts during a 24-hour period. As of now, there are no immediate plans for civilian personnel to resume monitoring the cameras. The language in the CBA merely provides the city the flexibility to make such administrative decisions during the life of the CBA.

"I am extremely proud of this collective bargaining agreement. It is the result of many months of good faith negotiations between the city administration and the leaders of the PBA to arrive at an equitable deal for all parties involved and the taxpayers of Wilkes-Barre," said Mayor Thomas M. Leighton, "I continue to be proud of the exemplary service of the men and women of the Wilkes-Barre Police Department for the often dangerous job that they do everyday and this CBA properly rewards them for their service."