Zola office rental cost comes under scrutiny

Hazleton Times // News

October 30

County commissioners say they support seeking a less expensive district judge site.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter

Costly district judge office leases were criticized during Luzerne County’s recent budget hearings, and county officials now have an opportunity to end one expensive rental agreement.

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A three-year lease for Hazleton magisterial office space that Luzerne County minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban has described as a “sweetheart deal” will expire in December.

The space for District Judge Joe Zola’s court at 615 E. Broad St. costs the county $6,545 per month, or $78,540 annually.

Zola’s office moved into the former restaurant in 2006 after county officials shut down the old Hazleton annex on suspicion of mold, though the annex was later deemed safe.

The 3,500-square-foot building is owned by Zola’s friend, Leonard Rossi, who bought the building for $150,000 in October 2005, county records show. The lease is with Rossi’s company, Grande Inc.

All three county commissioners say they will support a public request for proposals to see if they can find suitable space at a better price.

Commissioner Greg Skrepenak, who voted for the original lease, said he was not aware of any connection between Zola and the building owner.

“People have to remember that when that lease was negotiated, the real estate market was strong. With the way the real estate market is now, maybe we could get better rate,” Skrepenak said.

Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla said she wants to look at all county office space rented in the Hazleton area to make sure no space is underutilized.

Urban said he also wants to determine if space is available in the Broad Street Exchange building, which will be owned by the county, probably within a month, due to back taxes and defaulted community development loans.

The county is still trying to sell a former Hazleton bank building that was purchased by the county in 2007 for $700,000 to use as a southern annex, but Petrilla said there have been no offers.

“I said all along that the lease for Zola’s office was costly,” Urban said. “Nobody pays that kind of dollar amount for that kind of lease in Hazleton.”

Zola has pointed out that the lease covers building maintenance, inside and out, but said he wouldn’t oppose the county seeking proposals from other building owners.

Expenses are an issue because the county faces a $29 million deficit in 2010.

The county spends around $4 million per year on 17 district judge offices, including staff, Urban said. The $1.6 million in reimbursement doesn’t come close to covering this tab, he said.

“The two major cost drivers are leases and employees,” he said.

The courts budgeted $90,000 for Zola’s 2010 lease, but county Budget/Finance Chief Tom Pribula said Thursday that he will cut that request by $11,460 to match the current lease amount. He questioned why the court requested the higher amount.

Here are the amounts the county plans to budget for other district judge office leases/rentals next year:

• William Amesbury, $80,000;

• Martin Kane, $85,800;

• Fred Pierantoni, $12,000;

• Paul Roberts, $12,000;

• Andrew Barilla, $12,000;

• Joseph Carmody, $12,000;

• Joseph Halesey, $30,200;

• Donald Whittaker, $12,000;

• John Hasay, $27,432;

• Daniel O’Donnell, $27,000;

• Thomas Sharkey, $19,392;

• Gerald Feissner, $14,000;

• Ronald Swank, $21,000;

• Michael Dotzel, $32,000;

• Diana Malast, $15,800;

• James Tupper, $29,000.

Jennifer Learn-Andes, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7333.

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26 Reader Comments

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john said...

Are you kidding me.. 80,000 dollars for a year lease. no wonder this county is broke. Some one should look into who ownes these buildings. What political ties do they have?

October 30, 2009 at 4:41 AM

Philip G. Pizano said...

Put them all in one of the closed down Business Buildings. Why do they have to Pay rent.Or some of these Properties that they talk about that the County has no Tax base from. Maybe the Old Acme store in South Wilkes Barre. I'm sure they wouldn't mind seeing an increased Police presence down there. I'll rent them my house for $4,000 a month and throw in the heat. $150,000 for the Property and $78,000 rent for two years it's paid off. Wow. Who owns all these other Properties? $80,000 a Year for rent. Who is really paying these rentals? I have to work to barely make my bills. Time to get out of here. Where is Amesbury's Office? Trump Plaza?

October 30, 2009 at 5:33 AM

Bababooey said...

amesberry 80k? Now I don't want to vote for him. Why is it that the majority of the judges get their spce for 12000 a year and a few get 60-80?

October 30, 2009 at 6:29 AM

Dave said...

The lease/rental rates for Amesbury , Kane and Zola are way out of line with the others. Looks like the county is getting fleeced by these rates. The city rental may be a bit more costly but this disparity glares of waste!

October 30, 2009 at 6:35 AM

Woe is Luzerne County said...

A three-year lease for Hazleton magisterial office space that Luzerne County minority Commissioner URBAN has described as a "Sweetheart deal" will expire in December. THEN, URBAN states, "I said all along that the lease for Zola’s office was costly. "Nobody pays that kind of dollar amount for that kind of lease in Hazleton." FLIP FLOP, FLIP FLOP. Send out your resumes URBAN, but take your flip flopping to another unsuspecting County this time. Commissioner SKREPENAK, who voted for the original lease, said he was "Not aware of any connection between Zola and the building owner?" Does this guy even know what day it is? And PETRILLA wants to "look at all county office space rented in the Hazleton area to make sure no space is underutilized?" What, is she looking to HIRE more of her friends to fill spaces that she'll CREATE? The more power these three have, the deeper the hole becomes that Luzerne County is sliding into. GET RID OF THEM!

October 30, 2009 at 6:46 AM

Watch Doggie Dog said...

dan zola for judge would have been more of the same. thank god he didn;t make it, but we have to remember this.

October 30, 2009 at 7:01 AM

Larry H. said...

OH, so the "courts" budgeted even more for Zola's office next year, ten thousand more. 'the more things change, the more they remain the same', in Luzerne County. Thanks for nothing Chet.

October 30, 2009 at 7:49 AM

Don Fran said...

What about Amesbury..$80,000 and Kane at $85,000. The remaining 14 Distric Justices Pa an Average of $18,686....WHY such a difference??????

October 30, 2009 at 7:50 AM

the observer said...

all leases should be put out for bid and awarded to the lowest bidder. amen

October 30, 2009 at 7:51 AM

Darrell Smith said...

Can someone tell why Zola s .....Amesbury s...and Kane s .rental agreements are nearly three time s the average of all other Magistrates office s ...........

October 30, 2009 at 7:56 AM

THIS IS SIMPLE said...

Hey geniuses, this is simple. Every municipality is in need of funds. Example: If West Pittston boro charged an exorbitant amount for DJ Carmody's office, I'm sure Exeter or Wyoming would welcome that income $$$. Why is Amesbury's and Kane's so high. Give them a budget / lease agreement and find a municipality that will accept that $$, I'm, sure most will. $80-90 K is absurd. Who does Kane and Amesbury rent from? That would be interesting---I'd like to know who Amesbury rents from--before the election---that may change my vote. One more thing, why West Pittston get the DJ and the WVSA----What's up with that??

October 30, 2009 at 8:38 AM

Samuel Jackson said...

What kind of office does Amesbury have for $80,000.00? Why doesn't the county purchase a building, it would be paid off in 2 years!

October 30, 2009 at 9:41 AM

Wil Toole said...

I'm happy to see the county if finally looking at the high cost of office space rental. I personally pointed out the cost of the magistrate rentals back in May at The LuLac Controller's forum at LCCC. I also brought it to the Commissioner's attention at their monthly meetings and it is one of the written suggestions I placed on my web site. It was my contention that with the high cost of office rental, in some cases the county might want to consider purchasing rather than renting which would save hundreds of thousands of dollars.

October 30, 2009 at 9:49 AM

Ed J said...

I can't believe that there are no postings on this subject. This was the subject of the recent Controller's debate. If a candidate can talk about it, why did it take this long for the COmmissioners to get around to it? Looks like they are asleep at the financial switch at court house.

October 30, 2009 at 10:05 AM

Scott G said...

Thomas Sharkey, $19,392!!! Any relation to the ousted crook from the county courthouse?

October 30, 2009 at 10:32 AM

Larry said...

Investigation time! Just look at the numbers. How could the county not have a maximun dollar for office rental already in place? The answer is because it is just another way to play ball.

October 30, 2009 at 11:05 AM

Joey Styles said...

This is exactly whats wrong with this county. The FBI should be looking into this deal.

October 30, 2009 at 11:29 AM

Diane said...

What about Amesbury and Kane? Please look into those outragous rents also. Too bad it"s so close to election if there is something questionable there also.I can't see how you can rent one office for 12000 a year and have to pay double, triple or eight times as much for others.

October 30, 2009 at 11:54 AM

Gus said...

I would like to know why Amesbury and Kane have such high costs. They are almost 3 times everyone else.

October 30, 2009 at 12:27 PM

Hazleton Savage said...

This whole story is so typical of what's been going on in Luzerne county for decades. Of course Mr Skrepenak is not admit to knowledge of a relationship between Mr Zola and Mr Rossi, he, like Mr Conahan hasn't been accountable for anything they've ever been approached about. As for the commisioners, why didn't they scruntinize this more carefully before this agreement came to fruition. Is it not time for accountability to the people. We are asked more often then ever, to make adjustments to our individual budgets and living habits, and these so-called public servents, who claim they act in the best interest of the people, continue to spend and mismanage recklessly. I hope the public wakes up and begins to take a real interest in the individuals who are running for these offices before voting for them. Integrity and accountability are words with very little utility in Luzerne County.

October 30, 2009 at 12:55 PM

Fed Up Taxpayer said...

The rent amount and the Mericle contribution should disqualify Amesbury in voters minds!!!

October 30, 2009 at 3:31 PM

Irrate said...

And his son was running for JUDGE in the primaries??? He actually got a lot of votes.

October 30, 2009 at 3:46 PM

Irrate said...

Scott G. - That IS the Thomas Sharkey. Where you been?

October 30, 2009 at 3:49 PM

Mary said...

-and the people voted Amesbury back in!!! You can't tell me there is no corruption there-80,000.00 for yearly rent!!!!!What is wrong with everyone!

November 4, 2009 at 9:59 AM

Justice said...

Why does Ms Petrilla want to look only at the Hazleton rentals? What is the difficulty with looking at all county real estate rentals? Maybe the first two folk are at the Taj.

November 8, 2009 at 9:09 AM

Richard Simmons said...

Hey Skrep, I do not remember that at the time of lease negotiations that Real Estate was High. What is that building assessed at. Waste in Government does not have to match the Waist of the Commissioner

November 17, 2009 at 1:16 PM