Board members on Pottsville’s Parking Authority approved a $2,000 bonus payment to executive director Ian Lipton on Friday.
The subject of a bonus payment was not listed on the public agenda, however.
Board members Jim Humphrey and Joe Drasdis III voted against approving the bonus.
Based on an audio recording of the meeting provided to Coal Region Canary, members emerged from an executive session and approved the bonus payment.
That vote presents compliance issues with Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act.
If a board like that of the Parking Authority – or any municipal board or authority as well as a school board of directors – is to vote to spend money, it must be listed on the public meeting agenda, per the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act (Title 65 Chapter 7 Section 12 Subsection 1).
Exceptions do exist that allow such boards to vote to spend money if an item is not listed on a public agenda but it must be considered an emergency involving a “clear and present danger to life or property regardless of whether public notice was given for the meeting,” according to the Sunshine Act.
No case law or records with the state’s Office of Open Records exists which has proven that a job performance bonus qualifies as such an emergency.
In other Parking Authority business:
Pottsville Mayor Bill Messaros announced his resignation from the Parking Authority board, where he serves as Chairman. His resignation is effective Jan. 5, 2026.
Lipton told board members that the Parking Authority has $752,065.90 cash on hand and it’s not dependent on any of next year’s revenue streams for expenses.
“We run this authority like it’s a business, not like it’s a giveaway,” he said. “Income wise, we’re sitting with a significant sum of money.”
The authority does pay $216,000 annually in interest and principal on the Mahantongo St. parking deck, he said.
Lipton noted that the ample cash reserve within the authority allowed it to not have to increase costs for parking tickets, the Park Mobile app, parking meters, and permits.
Free parking in downtown Pottsville is being offered through Jan. 4, 2026. In addition to on-street parking, that offer also applies to the Arch St. parking lot and Mahantongo St. parking garage.
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