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First Posted: 10/24/2010

Pittston City Council Wednesday accepted a plan for a comprehensive recreation, park and open space plan put forward recently by consultants, although some work remains on adjusting the plan to meet specific city requirements, residents were told.
Once that work is completed, the plans will be available for public review.
The city is landlocked, with a declining population, and although located along the river, faces various issues in maintaining a park project with the current population size, council noted.
In a similar development step, council appointed council member Michael Lombardo, former mayor Michael Lombardo, in his role as a member of the Redevelopment Authority, Planning Commission chair William Gladish, Main Street Manager Rose Randazzo and local chiropractor Dr. Vince Argenio to positions on the new Design Review Committee, a group whose purpose is to create and establish a North Main Street design standard, in order to encourage and develop businesses in that area of the city.
The group will meet infrequently, but when it does meet, the public will be invited to view the proceedings, Councilman Michael Lombardo noted.
Lombardo took the opportunity during the meeting to advise residents that the Oktoberfest fundraising event had been a success, raising around $1,000 after all costs had been met. The fundraiser was likely to be repeated next year, although plans called for more publicity about the event next time.
The fundraiser had been organized quickly, Lombardo noted.
In other business, the city also accepted an offer from Marvin Slomowitz for two parcels of land east of the city yards. The city will pay Slomowitz a dollar for the property, and cover the cost of an appraisal, which was assigned to Rosen Real Estate, for a $1,000 fee.
The land will be used by the city to build a trash rack, as part of the flood mitigation project put forward by PEMA and FEMA, and should help prevent a repeat of the 2006 flooding that caused significant damage to the Pittston library, council noted.
Council also appointed James Zarra to the Redevelopment Authority, in a five year term running through September 15, 2015. Zarra operates Cyprich Development LLP, located at 41 South Main Street.