WILKES-BARRE — The city council on Tuesday approved requests from Mayor George Brown to spend over a half-million dollars in American Rescue Plan funding on vehicles and projects, including an
A Wilkes-Barre Shade Tree Commission member and one-time city council candidate has started a petition to “decriminalize” marijuana within city limits.
The Wilkes-Barre City Council on Thursday voted 4-0 to promote assistant clerk Cathy Payne to city clerk when Jim Ryan retires from the position April 2.
Payne will be paid an annual salary of $77,000. The union representing city hall workers will post the assistant clerk position at a salary of $45,000.
City resident and towing company operator Bob Kadluboski objected to Payne receiving âa $20,000 raise,â calling it âanother slap in the face to city taxpayers.â He asked what her qualifications were and why the opening wasnât advertised.
Jason Carr, who owns rental properties in the city, said the clerk post warrants a salary of no more than $50,000, and he claimed that of the 14 largest cities in Pennsylvania, only Philadelphia and Pittsburgh employ assistant clerks. He also said a council member told him Payne would retire by the end of the year.