Hunsinger suspended, pay cut by 10 percent

Luzerne County Purchasing Director Greg Hunsinger will receive a 10-percent pay cut and a one-week suspension without pay in connection with prison piecemealing, commissioners decided Wednesday.

Commissioners Stephen A. Urban and Maryanne Petrilla voted for the disciplinary action during the on-the-road meeting in Plymouth.

Commissioner Greg Skrepenak abstained, citing his relationship with Hunsinger. The two are close friends.

He is paid $47,740 annually, so the 10-percent reduction of $4,774 will lower his pay to $42,966.

The action was more severe than the piecemealing-related punishment recently doled out to prison Warden Gene Fischi and kitchen supervisor Jack Rentko by the county prison board, which includes the three commissioners and two other members.

Fischi was suspended without pay for one week, and both he and Rentko were put on probation for one year.

The piecemealing – illegally breaking purchases into small groups to avoid bidding requirements -- had already “been established” before Hunsinger became purchasing director in 2006, Petrilla said.

However, she does not believe that exempts him from fault. Petrilla said Hunsinger – and any other managers for that matter – have an obligation to read laws and instruction manuals and to disclose questionable activity in their departments.

County residents also need to know that employees are “held accountable” when serious problems are discovered, she said. Petrilla said she did not want to wait until an outside investigation of the piecemealing to take action against Hunsinger.

“From a personnel side, I felt it was important that we did something,” she said.

Urban said he always believed Hunsinger’s salary was too high because he made more than his more experienced predecessor.

“I don’t believe he had the expertise when he came in. I said that before,” Urban said.

Urban said he “won’t hesitate to take additional action” if an outside investigation of the prison piecemealing reveals anything more about Hunsinger.

Skrepenak said he does not agree with Hunsinger’s punishment but abstained because he did not want anyone to accuse him of allowing his friendship to sway his vote. He said the piecemealing had already started before Hunsinger took the job, and he does not believe Hunsinger knew anything was being done illegally.

County records show that a prison bid package eliminating many previously-bid items was opened in the controller’s office on Feb. 27, 2006, the day Hunsinger started as purchasing director.

Skrepenak said he believes piecemealing has occurred in other departments, but the only examples receiving media attention are ones involving people connected to him. He said he will try to furnish other examples.

Former chief clerk/manager Sam Guesto has escaped punishment. Guesto was best man in the wedding of Steve Harnischfeger, the owner of Commonwealth Foods Inc., which sold $1.1 million in food and grocery products to the prison without a bid since 2004.

An internal report on illegal prison piecemealing said Guesto told county prison officials not to bid out items that were previously bid, telling the kitchen manager during a March 2006 meeting, “...do it or it’s your ass.”

Guesto also directed that no-bid purchases be made from Commonwealth Foods Inc., Rentko said in the report.

Guesto, who has declined comment, said in the report that he never threatened Rentko or told him to keep the purchase of individual items below $3,000 to avoid bidding requirements. Guesto also said he mentioned Commonwealth and another business because he was trying to support local businesses.

Commissioners have no control over Guesto’s employment because he now works in a $78,160-a-year county court position.

Court of Common Pleas President Judge Mark Ciavarella, Guesto’s boss, has said he sees no need to rethink Guesto’s employment unless charges are filed against him.