David M. Bulzoni

The Board of Commissioners discussed and approved several resolutions including the approval of current payables and the electronic recycling collection event grant for several municipalities. They also authorized the certification of state funds for the county transit system, a memorandum of understanding with Lackawanna College regarding a workforce business partnership, and service agreements with the outreach center for community resources and the Jewish community center of Scranton. Additionally, an amended lease agreement for the coroner's office facility was approved, and a data sharing agreement concerning public safety technology systems between the county and various municipalities was discussed.

The board meeting focused on several operational and administrative reports, including payables for the community corrections center and prison, the controller's report on inmate and canteen account reconciliations and investment maturities, and the house arrest report regarding participation numbers and program revenue. The warden presented reports on inmate population statistics, staffing issues related to intermittent FMLA, and extraordinary occurrences. Discussions also took place regarding the implementation of a new educational program in partnership with Johnson College aimed at reducing recidivism and improving inmate employability. Additionally, the board addressed a request for funding a new dental equipment system and heard public commentary regarding the potential implementation of dyslexia screening for inmates.

The meeting included the recognition of a local veteran and the Old Forge Blue Devils basketball team. Several proclamations were presented, including the declaration of May as Mental Health Awareness Month in the county, and the designation of National Correctional Officers and Employees Week. The Board approved current payables, an event contract with the Scranton Cultural Center for upcoming tax sales, and a proposal from EBA Engineering for on-demand GIS technical support services.

The Eastern Pennsylvania Freight Infrastructure Plan serves as a blueprint for future investments and policies to mitigate the impacts of freight traffic and manage its continued expansion within the Eastern Pennsylvania region. The plan integrates quantitative and qualitative data from regional freight profiles, stakeholder sessions, and public surveys to identify key infrastructure improvement locations and formulate policy recommendations. These recommendations address seven key themes: Road Design and Maintenance, Land Use, Regional Coordination, Truck Operations, Rail, Air Cargo, and Freight Workplace Access, aiming to foster sustainable, safe, and efficient freight growth while minimizing community impacts.

This Long-Range Transportation Plan for Lackawanna and Luzerne counties outlines strategic directions and initiatives to enhance transportation infrastructure and services over a 25-year period. Key focus areas include economic vitality, safety, security, accessibility and mobility, environment and quality of life, system integration and connectivity, system management and operations, system preservation, resiliency and reliability, and travel and tourism. The plan aims to guide investments to meet forecasted transportation needs, considering freight movement, environmental factors, and system resilience.