News

December 17, 2009

Authority boss post open to all

The Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority must replace Allen Bellas, who is facing federal charge.

By Steve Mocarsky smocarsky@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
Steve Mocarsky on Facebook   |   @TLSteveMocarsky on Twitter

WEST PITTSTON – The opportunity to apply for the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority’s top post, which opened in October after the former executive director was indicted on federal charges, will be “open to anybody,” according to the authority chairman.

Paul Paternoster said authority staff is working on a job description for the executive director position vacated by Allen Bellas, who was charged Oct. 15 with corrupt receipt of a reward.

Prosecutors say he took money in exchange for his influence in getting a contractor approved for a tax-forgiveness program. He resigned from the board Oct. 16 and has agreed to plead guilty.

Paternoster said there was “not really” an existing written job description for the position.

“Let’s be honest. I think in the past years, it was basically political. I mean, you had to have common sense and knowledge,” Paternoster said.

But current board members want to ensure the most qualified candidate is hired, he said.

“Where we’re lucking out is we have two qualified people handling the show. So we really don’t need to rush on it, but I know we have to make a decision within the next month or so,” Paternoster said.

The board appointed executive secretary/administrative assistant Marge Thomas and controller William Kratz co-interim executive directors after voting to suspend Bellas on Oct. 13. Thomas and Kratz each have more than 30 years experience with the authority and more than 70 years experience combined, Paternoster said.

“They’re qualified for the position, very much so, but they’re not interested, at least as of (Tuesday),” Paternoster said.

Paternoster said the authority received one application for the position shortly after Bellas was indicted, and Luzerne County Office of Community Development Director Andy Reilly also expressed an interest.

“We had Mr. Reilly come in. He’s interested in a position, but we can’t take any action on it just yet. … That’s why we had a work session on personnel. He made his pitch, and the door’s open to anybody. But no decision was made,” Paternoster said.

Reilly said his “pitch” was for “streamlining” operations of the authority and the Office of Community Development by having the same director for both agencies.

“It’s not a situation where I’m looking to leave the OCD,” Reilly said.

Reilly said redevelopment and community development agencies are administered through the same office in many counties because the two often work together closely on many types of projects. In Luzerne County, the two agencies recently worked together on the Market Street Square complex in Wilkes-Barre and the King Edward neighborhood revitalization project in Kingston and Edwardsville.

Paternoster said County Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla would like the authority to give the proposal a try, possibly on a six-month interim basis, but the authority board of directors needs to give it more thought and discussion.

“Anything is possible,” Paternoster said when asked if he thought one person could handle all of the responsibilities of directing two agencies.

“But it’s still going to fall back on Bill and Marge,” and Thomas already took on much added responsibility with the authority over the years without any substantial pay raise, Paternoster said.

Thomas took over the duties of assistant executive director in August 2004 when Bellas was promoted from that position to executive director, saving the authority the assistant’s approximately $44,000 annual salary.

“We promised her a raise, but she never got it,” Paternoster said.

Tweet	Follow @TLnews

This story also appears on the following websites...