Hazleton

The Hazleton Government Study Commission met on March 18, 2026, to review and approve updated drafts of Articles II (City Council) and III (Mayor) of the city charter, with PEL Consultants incorporating recent commissioner decisions and noting additional revisions needed. The Commission plans to begin discussions on Article V (City Solicitor) and Article VI (Other Appointed Officials) at its next meeting on April 1, 2026. A resident raised questions about upcoming town hall meetings, charter referendum provisions, and public access to the recently signed 287(g) Program partnership, which were addressed by the commission.

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The Hazleton Government Study Commission met on March 4, 2026, to review draft articles of a governmental charter, with PEL Consultants presenting revisions to Article I (General Powers), Article II (City Council), and Article III (Mayor) based on recent commissioner decisions. The commission discussed the drafts and identified additional revisions and clarifications needed before final approval. A member of the public inquired about the citizen referendum petition process and the commission's role in it, which was addressed by the consulting team.

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The Hazleton City Council held a regular meeting on February 24, 2026, where members unanimously approved Ordinance 2026-2 to name and dedicate streets within the Allen Ridge Subdivision after verifying with 911 and postal services to avoid conflicts with West Hazleton street names. The Council also unanimously adopted Resolution 2026-17 establishing comprehensive policies for city parks, athletic facilities, and public spaces, including application procedures, insurance requirements, and fan conduct guidelines, while maintaining free public access to facilities. Additionally, the Council considered Resolution 2026-18 regarding compensation for members of the Hazleton Recreational Vehicle Appeals Board, though the vote and full details were not completed in the documented portion of the minutes.

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The Hazleton Government Study Commission met on February 18, 2026, to review the final draft of a Council Article incorporating recent commissioner decisions and to discuss the mayor's section of the Charter. During the meeting, PEL Consultants led discussions to build consensus on individual charter items and identify areas requiring further deliberation, with commissioners sharing their perspectives on the proposed changes. A public commenter requested clarification on LERTA handling in the charter, but the commission clarified that LERTA is governed by uniform state law and cannot be modified through the home rule charter process.

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On February 10, 2026, Hazleton City Council held a regular meeting where members unanimously approved several items on second and final readings, including Ordinance 2026-1 terminating a right-of-way easement along South Conahan Drive. The council also passed on first reading Ordinance 2026-2 to name and dedicate streets within the Allen Ridge Subdivision, pending engineer approval and development plan compliance. Additionally, the council adopted resolutions proclaiming February 9-15, 2026 as FBLA week and appointing John Tunnessen to the Hazleton City Housing Authority and Laura Stancu to the Zoning Hearing Board.

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Hazleton City Council held a work session on February 10, 2026, to discuss a proposed Feral and Stray Cat Neutering Program. Barbara Conway presented a contract with No Nonsense Neutering for 50 feral/stray cats at $40 per cat for a total commitment of $750 with no upfront costs, with the city receiving a bill at month's end after residents use numbered vouchers at the Wilkes-Barre/Plains office. Council discussed implementation logistics, potential pricing increases for future batches of cats, departmental responsibility, and whether a 501-C3 organization could apply for grant funding, with Mayor Cusat requesting more time to review the program before proceeding.

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The Hazleton Government Study Commission met on February 4, 2026, to review and discuss the proposed structure of a new legislative body for the city, with PEL Consultants leading presentations on the method of council election and presenting a draft of Article II City Council. Commissioners engaged in discussion about the council election method and provided feedback on the draft charter language, which PEL will incorporate into an updated version for future review. Public comments included suggestions for long-term policy considerations such as a seven-member council structure and requests to address potential law enforcement coordination issues at the next meeting.

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On January 27, 2026, Hazleton City Council held a regular meeting where Barbara Conway presented a proposal to address the city's stray cat problem through a Trap, Neuter, and Return (TNR) program in partnership with "No Nonsense Neutering," which would charge $15 per animal (reduced from $40) to neuter/spay and vaccinate 50 cats for a total of $750, with Conway and council member Ondishin pledging $150 and $600 respectively toward the program. The council also heard from Tony Ryba of Government Consulting Strategies LLC, who proposed cost-saving initiatives for the city on both revenue and expense sides, including partnerships with electricity providers, with no consultation fee to the city.

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The City of Hazleton Government Study Commission met on January 21, 2026, to discuss potential government structure reforms, including the possibility of implementing district-based representation for city council, expanding the number of council members to seven, and increasing budgetary transparency and civic engagement initiatives. Public comments reflected divided opinions on districts, with some citizens opposing them as potentially reducing candidate quality and others supporting districts or hybrid systems to improve representation, while consultant PEL Consultants presented materials and identified areas of consensus among commissioners on structural reform questions.

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The Hazleton Government Study Commission met on January 7, 2026, to review the city's charter with guidance from Pennsylvania Economy League (PEL) consultants. The commission discussed questions 1-15 focused on the Legislative Branch section of the Charter and reviewed a comparison chart of Third-Class City Code provisions; PEL will develop a narrative summary for commissioners to review before the next meeting. Public commenters raised questions about council member vacancies, suggested fixed-dollar healthcare benefits for council members rather than percentage contributions, and proposed holding occasional daytime council meetings to accommodate working citizens.

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On January 5, 2026, Hazleton City Council held an Inauguration and Reorganization Meeting where newly elected council members Jim Perry, Anthony Colombo, and Mark Ondishin took the Oath of Office. The Council unanimously appointed Jim Perry as Council President and John Nilles as Vice President for 2026, and confirmed the 2026 meeting schedule with modifications including moving the June meeting to June 23rd and scheduling a single November meeting on November 10th.

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The Hazleton Government Study Commission met on December 16, 2025, to advance its work on developing a Home Rule Charter for the city. The commission approved meeting schedule changes to the first and third Wednesday of each month at 5:00 PM through August 2026, and consultant Fred Reddig from the Pennsylvania Economy League reviewed the importance of applying clarity, consistency, conciseness, and correctness when drafting the charter. The commission will begin drafting the Legislative Branch section of the charter in January 2026, with draft materials to be distributed in advance, followed by a public meeting to review materials and provide educational information to citizens; the binding charter language will be in English with Spanish translations for informational purposes.

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Hazleton City Council held a regular meeting on December 4, 2025, where it approved three ordinances on first reading: Ordinance 2025-12 to clarify that the City, not the Hazleton City Authority, will oversee garbage collection (passing 3-1); Ordinance 2025-13 to make Harrison Street between 9th Street and Diamond Avenue a one-way street (passing unanimously 4-0); and Budget Ordinance 2025-14 for the city's 2026 fiscal year appropriations. The meeting also included the oath of office ceremony for incoming Junior Council members.

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The Hazleton Government Study Commission met on November 18, 2025, to discuss the potential adoption of a Home Rule Charter as an alternative to the city's current form of government. Key speakers included Mayor Panto of Easton (who recommended Home Rule for its revenue flexibility) and City Council President Jim Perry, who emphasized that Home Rule could provide alternative revenue sources like earned income tax to address Hazleton's ongoing challenges in funding essential services. Multiple commissioners expressed support for pursuing a Home Rule Charter, citing the need for revenue options beyond property tax increases.

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On November 13, 2025, Hazleton City Council held a regular meeting where they unanimously approved three resolutions: a collective bargaining agreement with the City Hall Workers' Union (Resolution 2025-62), a Community Development Office Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2026 (Resolution 2025-63), and authorization to apply for a Statewide Local Share Assessment Grant for street improvements to Broad Street between Laurel Street and Wyoming Street (Resolution 2025-64). The city administrator presented the 2025 proposed budget, and a resident raised concerns about winter snow management in relation to the Broad Street improvement project.

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The Hazleton Government Study Commission met on November 5, 2025, to discuss the development of a potential Home Rule Charter for the city. During the meeting, commissioners reviewed subcommittee reports detailing governance structures from other Pennsylvania municipalities, including Altoona's manager-council model and Williamsport's strong mayor-council form, to inform their recommendations. The Commission discussed its nine-month reporting deadline (with possible extensions) and the requirement to submit any proposed charter 13 weeks before an election, though several commissioners expressed the need for additional time to study governance options and gather community input before proceeding to a vote.

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The City of Hazleton Government Study Commission met on October 21, 2025, to discuss Home Rule Charter development and governance structures. The Commission reviewed case studies from similar Pennsylvania municipalities (New Castle, Carlisle, and Wilkes-Barre), gathering insights on mayoral structures, council configurations, and administrative models to inform Hazleton's charter recommendations. The Commission must complete its findings and recommendations within nine months, with a completed charter deadline of mid-August 2026, and discussed potential changes to the meeting schedule for November 18.

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On October 14, 2025, Hazleton City Council met and unanimously approved three resolutions: Resolution 2025-55 to reallocate Community Development Block Grant funds toward the Wyoming Street Streetscape project; Resolution 2025-56 to request county grant funds for a free-standing concession stand at City View Park to be operated by a private lessee; and Resolution 2025-57 to join the Luzerne County Emergency Services Commission, a multi-municipality initiative that provides forensic analysis and crime scene mapping services funded entirely through county grants, with the city having received over $3,000,000 in equipment. The council also honored the Greater Hazleton Concert Series on its 90th season and the 14th Ward Fire Company.

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The City of Hazleton Government Study Commission met on October 7, 2025, to advance its nine-month evaluation of the city's current government structure. Pennsylvania Economy League representatives presented information on the Commission's responsibilities and the Home Rule Charter process, explaining that the Commission must ultimately recommend either retaining the current government form or drafting a Home Rule Charter for voter approval, with potential for extended implementation timelines. The Commission is conducting ongoing interviews with current and former municipal leaders and has begun subcommittee discussions with representatives from other Pennsylvania municipalities that have adopted Home Rule, including Lancaster and Williamsport, to examine how charter changes have affected revenue generation and municipal governance.

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On September 23, 2025, Hazleton City Council approved Ordinance 2025-10 in a second reading, authorizing the city to proceed with an eminent domain action to acquire a property for a Park & Ride facility. Two residents, including the property owner Ourania Mentasas, spoke during public comment opposing the acquisition, with Mentasas requesting reconsideration despite acknowledging the potential public benefit. City Administrator Daniel Lynch also announced the 2026 Minimum Municipal Obligation figures for the city's three pension plans: Police Pension Plan at $2,165,901, Firemen Pension Plan at $2,362,764, and Non-Uniformed Pension Plan at $29,311.

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The Hazleton City Government Study Commission met on September 16, 2025, to discuss outreach efforts for a questionnaire intended to evaluate the city's government structure, operations, and whether a Home Rule Charter should be recommended to voters. The Commission approved previous meeting minutes and plans to distribute questionnaires to municipal leaders, department heads, the Mayor, City Council members, and former officials, with follow-up meetings to be scheduled based on availability and preferred contact methods. The next meeting is scheduled for October 7, 2025, at the Southside Fire Station.

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On September 9, 2025, Hazleton City Council discussed a proposed Park & Ride facility for the downtown Transit Center, to be funded by state grant money obtained over a year ago, with PENN DOT handling planning and layout for the gated facility on the former Blue Comet Diner property. The council also heard public opposition to the use of eminent domain on a deteriorated property at Chestnut Street, with residents and the property owner questioning the city's characterization of the building's condition and proposing alternative locations for the parking facility. The meeting included the first reading of Ordinance 2025-11 regarding stop signs at West 11th Street and McKinley Street.

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