By JACK LASKY
Times Leader
PITTSTON, Pa. - Mayor Michael Lombardo motioned to have the newly completed annex of the Pittston City Fire Department named after former city councilman the late Thomas Mickey McFadden, at a city council meeting Wednesday night.
Lombardo proposed naming the new annex in honor of McFadden as a way to remember and pay tribute to his friend and former colleague.
McFadden was a former member of both the city council, on which his daughter Donna McFadden-Connors now serves, as well as the fire department.
Lombardo said McFadden had a long history with the fire department and was very passionate about it.
Lombardo also said that as a councilman, McFadden was a great teacher to him.
I ran with him, Lombardo said. He was an inspiration, a father figure [to me].
The new annex, which was completed earlier this year, was part of a renovation of the Pittston Fire Department. Lombardo said he was proud that the city has finally completed the project and was pleased that council granted him his wish to honor McFaddens memory.
In addressing council, Lombardo expressed his gratefulness. I really appreciate [this], Lombardo said. It means a lot to me and it means a lot to the [McFadden] family.
Lombardo added that making this motion was inspired by his feeling on nearing the end of his term as mayor. Im leaving office and Im starting to get sentimental, Lombardo said.
In other business, council authorized the distribution of the 2005 Municipal Pension State Aid in the amount of $149,265.
Council indicated that that amount has decreased approximately $13,000.00 from 2004, and city funds would need to be used to make up the difference.
Council also authorized the city clerk to advertise for bids for the furnishing of unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel for city use for 2006.
Lombardo added, though, that the city may be able to piggyback on state funding for fuel and may not need to advertise.