$100,000 Freed For Contractor
To Replace 80 Hydrants

BY LYNNE SLACK SHEDLOCK THE SCRANTON TIMES

Mr. Connors action, announced at a hastily called news conference Friday afternoon, came after city council members and neighborhood leaders expressed outrage over the high number of city hydrants that do not work.

The problems were illuminated by stories in The Scranton Times and The Tribune, which reported that firefighters at several recent Scranton fires were delayed when they tried to use broken hydrants. The scope of the problem became clear last Tuesday after Fire Chief Harvey Applegate released a list of the citys more-than 1,100 hydrants, showing that 239 of them were out of service. The city had the list of faulty hydrants since last November.

Applegate has blamed the problem on former hydrant inspector Edward Joyce, who, according to the chief, was not doing his job for more than a year. Chief Applegate said Mr. Joyce frequently did not come to work and when he did report he frequently went home early. Mr. Joyce was replaced two weeks ago.

While there have been continuing difficulties with city officials releasing conflicting numbers, officials now say that there are 140 faulty hydrants. Of that number, Deputy Chief Terry Osborne estimates that 80 must be replaced.

Contractors will begin work on those 80 hydrants as soon as Monday. Deputy Chief Osborne said fire companies will be assigned to recheck the remaining 60 to see if those hydrants must be repaired, replaced or are actually working.

Connors action Friday, which has the support of Scranton City Council, paves the way to release $100,000 in the citys 1997 capital budget to pay for the work. It permits the city to waive the complicated bidding process and instead select a contractor based on the one presenting the lowest quote.

The signing of the emergency declaration is designed to speed up the process of getting crews on the job. It does not give the mayor additionalpowers or put the city in a state of emergency.

The capital budget money had already been earmarked for the fire department. In addition, other funds may be available through the federal Community Development Block Grant program to pay for hydrants in low to moderate income areas.

The hydrant numbers continue to fail to add up, though. On Friday, Chief Applegate released information on hydrants back in service that indicates 78 of the original 239 now work. Deputy Chief Osborne said he only has records showing that 70 are back in service. Fire officials could not immediately explain the discrepancy.

Mr. Connors initially had been against the idea of hiring contractors to speed up the hydrant replacement process an avenue urged by council preferring instead to work with PAWC. The water company installs city hydrants for the cost of materials and labor.

The mayor said he changed his mind after it became clear the water company would only be able to do the work as it had crews available. In a situation Thursday, for example, a water company crew was pulled from a hydrant replacement when a water main break occurred.

Our timetable was faster than the water company could keep up with, Mr. Connors said, noting water company officials indicated Friday the process would take at least four to six months. We thought 25 days was reasonable. We thought four or five a day. (David) Guskey (water company operations manager) said its just not going to work out.

Public complaints about the situation were another factor.

We responded to the agenda of the citizens, Mr. Connors said. Thats how we got here, by listening to the people. They wanted it done sooner rather than later.

So did members of council. John Pocius, council president, appeared with Mr. Connors for the hydrant announcement, and praised the administration for joining with council to put petty politics aside and meet the needs of the citizens.

I think this is something that will put the hearts and minds of the residents to rest, Mr. Pocius said.

Councilman Brian Reap, also at the announcement, said the declaration showed that city officials were taking proper action to solve the problem.

This is the right move, he said. This is the right thing to do. We need to protect and serve the people.

Mr. Connors said the city hopes to hire eight crews, with each crew completing an average of two hydrants a day. Officials anticipate a cost of about $1,000 to install a hydrant. While the city does have some hydrants on hand, at least 50 more will have to be purchased. The last amount paid for hydrants was $570.

Deputy Chief Osborne said the contractors he contacted Friday are all used regularly by the water company. In addition to the replacement, he said, Mr. Perrotti will continue to handle minor repairs needed to get hydrants back into service.

In the long term, the mayor said he is continuing discussions with Pennsylvania American to have the utility ultimately take over the citys hydrants. Meanwhile, though, Mr. Pocius recommended that Deputy Chief Osborne be designated to oversee hydrant operations and to make sure the problem does not happen again.