Allegations hurt Pasonick project bid

The Luzerne County Housing Authority did not choose Michael J. Pasonick’s engineering firm to work on upcoming authority projects, in part due to allegations against him.

Pasonick has been identified by an attorney as paying a bribe in the county corruption scandal.

Michael J. Pasonick Jr. & Associates was among 16 companies that responded to the authority’s recent public request for proposals for architectural and engineering services.

Authority Director David Fagula said the allegation against Pasonick weighed on his mind as he screened the 16 responses.

“Obviously, I’d have a problem with the news that was publicized,” Fagula said.

But he said the authority board members also want to give other businesses a shot, and Pasonick is already working on authority projects in Duryea and Swoyersville.

“The board’s philosophy has been to try to spread the work around,” Fagula said.

The board voted last week to approve Fagula’s recommendation to negotiate fees with five local firms – A & E Group, Borton-Lawson, William Kinsman Lewis Architecture, Lawrence Meier & Associates and Quad Three Group.

Architectural and engineering fees may range from 5 to 10 percent of a project’s costs, though 6 percent is standard for larger projects, Fagula said.

The firms will each be assigned to handle specific projects. For example, the authority is considering new projects in Plains and Wright townships and the ongoing modernization of other authority properties, he said.

Fagula said the authority received a high response to the public request. Only five proposals were submitted when the authority last advertised for architectural and engineering consultants, he said.

Attorney Michael Butera in October had identified Pasonick as the unidentified businessman who paid $1,400 to former authority member William Maguire. Pasonick has not been charged or accused of any wrongdoing

Federal authorities, who have not identified the person who paid the bribe, say the money was paid to reimburse Maguire for a trip he took to Florida in January for authority business.

Butera’s client, authority member Gerald Bonner, was indicted on Sept. 1 on a charge of helping a fellow board member – identified by others as Maguire – to obtain a bribe. Bonner has pleaded not guilty. A hearing on a motion to suppress statements he made to federal agents is scheduled for Dec. 16.

Maguire, also of Mountain Top, was charged on Sept. 11 with corrupt receipt of a reward. Prosecutors said he took money from a business owner in exchange for influencing an authority contract to that business. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 22 and awaits sentencing.

Maguire is no longer on the authority board because his term expired and county commissioners appointed Michael Rozitski to replace him.

Bonner is still on the board but has not attended meetings since he was charged.

Authority records show Pasonick’s company was awarded contracts for the architectural design of two housing modernization projects, in Swoyersville and Duryea, in June 2008.

Clear 22°

News

The county housing authority will negotiate fees with several other area engineering firms.

Place Quick Ads