Home rule panel must get started

While other primary candidates still face a general election hurdle, Luzerne County Home Rule Study Commission winners must immediately take office and get down to business.

The law requires the 11 winning commission candidates to take an oath of office within 10 days of the primary election certification.

County Election Bureau Director Leonard Piazza said the county election board tentatively plans to certify the election results on May 29.

The study commission must meet within 15 days of the certification to organize and elect a chairman and vice chairman, said attorney Jim Haggerty, who received the most votes of all study commission candidates.

Home rule would create a customized plan to run county government, as opposed to Luzerne County’s present three-commissioner structure established by the state.

The study commission will have up to nine months to decide whether to proceed with a charter, said P.J. Best, of Luzerne Home Rule, which launched the campaign to get the study question on the ballot.

If the commission decides to proceed, it will have up to nine more months to draft a charter, said Best, who did not run for the study commission.

Voters ultimately decide whether to accept the charter. The charter must be completed 13 weeks before an election, Best said. Based on the calendar, it’s likely that the charter would be on the ballot in the November 2010 general election, he said.

“I think this commission will hit the ground running to do what’s required,” he said.

Walter Griffith, the second highest study commission vote-getter, said he is eager to start meeting. He said he will step down if he is elected county controller in the general election.

Also elected to the commission, according to unofficial results, are: John Adonizio, Veronica Ciaruffoli, Frank E.P. Conyngham, Jack Schumacher, Rick Morelli, Richard “Kick” Heffron, Robert “Whammer” Wanyo, Christopher C.J. Kersey and Charmaine H. Maynard.

Commission members must also adopt a spending plan and present it to county commissioners for approval. Expenses are paid from the county’s general fund operating budget.

Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla said the board would have to meet with commission members to review funding requests.

“We’ll be completely cooperative and look forward to working with the commission,” Petrilla said.

The last study commission had requested $60,000 for its first year – 2002 – which included expenses for a consultant, solicitor, office supplies, advertising and public education. County commissioners ended up allocating $50,000.

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State law requires the 11-person commission to get down to business within 10 days of vote certification.

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