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WILKES-BARRE &mdash; The public will be able to participate in city council&rsquo;s hearing on Mayor George Brown&rsquo;s proposed 2021 budget, but not attend the 6 p.m. meeting rescheduled for Nov. 12 at City Hall.
				Council Chairman Bill Barrett said there was a problem advertising the meeting originally scheduled for Nov. 4. A notice of the new date was advertised in the Times Leader on Thursday.
				Following the practice put in place earlier this month due to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases locally, city council chambers have been off limits to the public. The same applies to the budget hearing, Barrett said.
				&ldquo;They can certainly participate remotely,&rdquo; Barrett said.
				The hearing will be live streamed on YouTube, with the link to be posted on the city&rsquo;s website, <a href="https://www.wilkes-barre.city/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">wilkes-barre.city</a>.
				Public comments can be submitted by email before the deadline of 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 12 to cpayne@wilkes-barre.pa.us. The email must include the name of the person commenting.
				In addition, comments can be made during the meeting by calling 570 606-3727.
				The proposed budget can be viewed in person at the Office of the City Clerk on the fourth floor of City Hall at 40 E. Market St., Wilkes-Barre. It&rsquo;s also available on the <a href="https://www.wilkes-barre.city/sites/g/files/vyhlif4086/f/uploads/proposed_2021_budget.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">city&rsquo;s website</a>.
				Brown presented a $53.2 million balanced budget on Oct. 15. It did not include a property tax increase, but doubled the annual sewer and recycling fees to $100 to raise $2 million in revenues Brown said was needed to balance the budget.
				If council fails to approve the increases, laying off city workers is an option, Brown said.
				Council members invited representatives of the four unions representing city workers to attend the budget hearing and offer input.

Wilkes-Barre budget hearing rescheduled to Nov. 12