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Pocono News Section
Judge Makes Ruling in Scranton Budget Battle
Judge Makes Ruling in Scranton Budget Battle - Monday, May 3, 2010 at 04:04AM EST
Reported by: Eric Deabill
Monday May 03 2010
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SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - The first round in the legal showdown between the mayor of Scranton and the new city council has been decided.
A judge ruled Monday morning in favor of Scranton mayor Chris Doherty in a lawsuit over budget changes. The decision was 32 pages long. A judge said council's plan to re-open the city's budget and trim an additional 17 jobs would have hurt the progress and safety of Scranton.
"We're very pleased with the judge's decision," Mayor Doherty said. "It allows us to keep implementing all the progressive ideas we've had for the city over the last nine years."
In March, Mayor Doherty adn council members testified at court hearings for several days.
The two sides were at odds because in addition to trimming more jobs, council also wanted to reduce the salaries of many city managers.
The move would have saved an additional $700,000 according to council members.
News of the judge's decision spread quickly in the Electric City.
"I feel the mayor has his right to be able to do what he has to do but this particular time, I don't think it's fair," Edward Hunt said. He thinks council should have been able to make additional budget cuts.
Other people, like Cathy Ryzner, say they wish the city's leaders could have come to a compromise outside of court.
"Council and the mayor, they're supposed to be all together, you know? For one to have to take another to court, it was from the door," Ryzner said.
Mayor Doherty says taking council to court was not an easy decision.
"I've never had to do it before in the nine years I was mayor and you don't do it lightly, but I felt it was the right thing to do because I really thought it changed the direction the city was heading in," Mayor Doherty said.
In his ruling, Judge Robert Mazzoni pointed out that several of hte positions council wanted to eliminate were federally funded. He said said other cuts could have overburdened some city departments.
During the lengthy court testimony in March, the city council solicitor said the additional cuts were legal. Calls to the solicitor's office were not returned Monday afternoon. | | |
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