News

October 14

Kadluboski calls for officials to step down

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
Bill O'Boyle on Facebook   |   @TLBillOBoyle on Twitter

WILKES-BARRE – With the November general election less than a month away, City Council and Mayor Tom Leighton listened to criticisms from several people Thursday night – both from familiar foes and new adversaries.

Bob Kadluboski, the city’s former towing contractor, asked Leighton, the five council members and solicitor William Vinsko to resign.
“I’ll give you all a chance,” Kadluboski said. “If you all don’t resign, then I will file a lawsuit. I’m sick of the way I’ve been treated and the way you treat others.”

Kadluboski leveled several accusations against officials city government and the administration and he reiterated his concerns about LAG Towing, the city’s current contracted tower. Kadluboski claims LAG owner Leo Glodzik charges exorbitant fees and is allowed to do so because he has contributed heavily to Leighton’s campaigns.

Councilman Bill Barrett told Kadluboski to provide all information and documentation he has and bring it forward.

“Maybe we can then get a resolution to all of this,” Barrett said. “Maybe we can then stop all of the rhetoric.”
Linda Urban, Republican candidate for City Council in District D, is running against Barrett. She said council should not receive full-time benefits for part-time work. Vinsko said told her the benefits are allowed by state law and council cannot change that. But Urban said part-time workers have to put in 32.5 hours per week to be eligible for benefits.

“I want to see where they work those hours, Mr. Vinsko,” she said. “Show me those time sheets. We need to let the taxpayers know what’s going on without their knowledge.”

Urban also asked to see the lease figures for golf carts. Kane said the rental amount remained the same from 2011 to 2012 -- $5,385. She said the fee will rise by 3 percent each year through 2016.
“Some of your golf carts have been seen in the Turkey Hill parking lot across from Hollenback,” Urban said.

Barrett said the city needs golf carts at the course.
“It would be more of a concern if we had helicopters there,” he said.
Heather Florek, North Empire Court, told council she recently had a bad experience with the city police department. She said she was taken into custody outside of a bar and thrown roughly into a cruiser. She said she was placed in a cell at the police station.
“There was no toilet paper in my cell and I asked a police officer for some,” she said. “He told me to (urinate) myself.”

Florek said officers also called her vulgar names and told her she should be on the streets.
Karen Ceppa, Republican candidate for city controller – the office Kane is seeking in November as a Democrat -- brought a long list of questions to council. Ceppa asked where revenue generated from the 13 mills of taxes used to meet a million-dollar award for the fire department is now used. She also asked how many city employees have take-home vehicles and who pays for the gas for personal use. Ceppa also asked why the city has not adopted the county’s reassessment figures.
“Is this because the mayor and his friends in Barney Farms would see a large tax increase?” Ceppa asked.

Kane said Ceppa has submitted her questions to the city clerk’s office under a right-to-know request and the information will be provided to her.
“This is all political,” Kane said after the meeting.
 

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