LCCC board seat opens as member leaves area

NANTICOKE – The relocation of a Luzerne County Community College Board of Trustees member has opened a seat on the body that makes policy for the college.

Trustee J. Toure McCluskey resigned his post Sept. 15, just over a year into his term, as he prepared to get married and move to Chicago.

McCluskey was sworn in to the board in June 2008. A graduate of Harvard and Stanford universities, he was the first African-American to be appointed to the board.

Luzerne County Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla said commissioners would be looking to fill board seats in the near future. An exact date was not given.

Trustee Elaine Curry understood McCluskey’s need to resign but felt his absence would be a loss to the board and the college.

“He was very ethical-minded. I thought he was an excellent board member; he was always well prepared, did his homework and always asked really thought provoking questions,” Curry said.

Two other trustees’ terms are expiring in the next six months. Chairman Paul Halesey’s term expires Dec. 31 and Trustee Tom O’Donnell’s expires March 31, 2010, according to Petrilla’s office.

It’s unknown if commissioners will wait to fill all three positions at once or if they will fill McCluskey’s seat sooner. Halesey and O’Donnell could be reappointed to the board.

When reached by phone Wednesday afternoon, McCluskey did not have a specific person in mind to recommend for the post.

He said he believed the best candidate to fill the seat would be someone who is good listener who could provide a unique prospective while voicing an opinion.

County Commissioner Steve Urban said he was not worried if McCluskey’s seat is not immediately filled because there is only one open seat on the 15-member board.

If the board gets into a situation in which there is a tie vote, the board will just have to delay its decision for another time, Urban said.

He encouraged people who would be interested in serving to send a resume and letter of intent to the commissioners. Urban said he did not know of anyone he wanted to appoint.