PITTSTON — City council members approved the 2016 proposed budget at their monthly meeting on Wednesday.
The proposed budget stands at an amount of $5,039,543 with a mill rate of 6.85. A mill is $1 for every $1,000 in assessed property value. The budget calls for no increase in property taxes, real estate income tax, sewer maintenance fees or refuse fees.
The budget will be available for public viewing for 30 days and will be acted upon at the council’s next meeting on Monday, Dec. 21.
Council members also approved an agreement for the redevelopment authority to perform on behalf of the city in the administration of various grants and programs.
“For years mayor and council have given the redevelopment authority, through the community development office, authority to manage certain city projects,” said city administrator Joe Moskovitz. “The state has flagged it saying if the agreement is with the city, but the redevelopment authority is administering it, that’s a problem. What we’re saying here is the state will now recognize both the city and the authority as authorized to administer programs and apply for grants.”
In other business, city council members approved:
• Final payments for Phase I of the Pittston City Energy Savings project, which include a $650,000 payment for energy saving street lights and a $1 million payment for city hall renovations.
• Free street meter parking beginning Tuesday, Dec. 1 and concluding Thursday, Dec. 31 for the following parking areas: the lower Tomato Festival Lot, Robert Conrad Senior Memorial Park, the Greater Pittston YMCA Parking lot on Kennedy Boulevard and the John Middleton Memorial Parking lot. Parking lots not including in the free parking include the upper Tomato Festival Lot, the Pittston Memorial Library parking lot and the St. John’s the Evangelist Church parking lot.
• Payment of $600,266.86 to Latona Trucking for Phase II of the Mill Street Sewer and Storm Water Improvements Project.
• Reappoint Kelly Carroll to a new three-year term and appoint Joe Chacke to a three-year term to the Pittston Memorial Library Board.
