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Luzerne County Council approves residency requirement for some management

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The city council on Thursday will consider banning smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes or &#8220;vapes&#8221; at the downtown intermodal transportation center.</p><p>The council was informed of the proposed legislation at a work session on Tuesday.</p><p>Councilman Bill Barrett said he proposed the ordinance after receiving communications from people who while standing and waiting for buses and other transportation at the center sometimes find themselves &#8220;standing in a cloud of cigarette smoke.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;This would be specific to the entire intermodal property, which is owned by the city,&#8221; Barrett said, adding that the ordinance if passed would be enforceable by city police and anyone caught smoking tobacco or vaping could be charged with a summary offense and fined.</p><p>Appropriate signs indicating that smoking and vaping are prohibited at the facility would be posted, Barret said.</p><p>Barrett thanked city Attorney and Deputy City Administrator Tim Henry for his research on the legislation.</p><p>Council also will consider two reolutions and an ordinance requested by Mayor Tony George.</p><p>One resolution would authorize the city to enter into an agreement with Quad III engineering for architectural and engineering services for the replacement of all exterior windows of the First National Bank building, as well as plaster repairs around the perimeter of each window.</p><p>Henry said city officials negotiated with Quad III and arrived at a price equal to 9 percent of final construction costs. The funds for the project will come from a gaming grant from the state&#8217;s Local Share Account.</p><p>Also up for consideration will be a resolution authorizing a contract with the lowest responsible bidder for demolition of blighted residential properties at 139 and 141 N. Washington St. Funds will come from the city Office of Economic and Community Development budget.</p><p>George also wants council to consider an ordinance naming an unnamed alley between Parrish and Jones streets &#8220;Ricci Way.&#8221; Henry said the only house on the alley is owned by the Ricci household.</p><p>Council also will consider two ordinances on second and final readings to:</p><p>&#8226; Adopt the 2016 Action Plan encompassing the budgets for the Community Development Block Grant Program, Emergency Solutons Program and the Home Program.</p><p>&#8226; Adopt an amendment to the city fire code authorizing the city to generate revenues by billing insurance companies for fire department calls.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Steve Mocarsky</p><p>smocarsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>WHAT&#8217;S NEXT</strong></p><p>The Wilkes-Barre City Council will have a regular meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday on the fourth floor of City Hall, 40 E. Market St., Wilkes-Barre.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Steve Mocarsky at 570-991-6386 or on Twitter @TLSteveMocarsky.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre council to consider ban on smoking tobacco and ‘vapes’ at intermodal center