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Luzerne County Government

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February 8, 2010

Bill lets members have vote to fill job

Though Stephen Urban and Maryanne Petrilla sit alongside fellow Luzerne County Commissioner Thomas Cooney, they had no say in the process that put him there. That process would change under a bill moving along in the state Senate.

February 5, 2010

Controller rejects cash for Hyder

Luzerne County Controller Walter Griffith said he has refused a request to pay former county deputy prison warden Sam Hyder an additional $5,284 for unused vacation, sick and personal time.

February 4, 2010

‘At-large’ council approved

The Luzerne County Government Study Commission voted 9-2 to set up a county government council that will represent all communities in Luzerne County “at large” as opposed to a plan in which council members will represent various “districts.”

February 3, 2010

Rendell to pick a sheriff soon

Gov. Ed Rendell is expected to appoint a new Luzerne County sheriff soon.

February 3, 2010

Hyder: Extreme anxiety

Former Luzerne County deputy prison warden Sam Hyder testified Tuesday that he should be entitled to workers’ compensation because working conditions made him stressed, anxious, depressed and ultimately led to an Aug. 5 blackout.

February 2, 2010

Skrepenak closes campaign fund

Former Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak has closed out his campaign fund, donating the $13,384 he had left to a charity, according to a campaign finance report filed Monday.

February 2, 2010

County eyes Moon Lake Park water for gas drilling

Luzerne County officials are exploring the possibility of allowing a company to tap lake water from Moon Lake Park for natural gas drilling, but no agreement has been reached, county Chief Clerk/Manager Doug Pape said Monday.

January 30, 2010

Griffith banning deputy pay plan

Luzerne County Controller Walter Griffith said he’s not going to authorize any more extra pay for sheriff deputies to serve legal documents for civil court and mortgage foreclosures, so it will be up to the sheriff’s office and county officials to figure out an alternative.

January 30, 2010

Property tax up 15 %

Luzerne County commissioners Maryanne Petrilla and Thomas Cooney say they were unable to find enough cuts and revenue to keep the tax increase at 10 percent, so they voted Friday to pass a proposed amended 2010 budget that tacks on an additional 5 percent hike.

January 29, 2010

Luzerne County shuts down popular Moon Lake site

Moon Lake Park is now officially closed and off limits to the public – the victim of Luzerne County budget cuts.

January 29, 2010

County limits media’s access to some chiefs

Luzerne County’s current administration had been allowing department heads to freely speak to the media without clearing it first, but not anymore.

January 28, 2010

Inquiries on extra pay

Luzerne County Controller Walter Griffith is questioning $190,700 in extra pay to several county sheriff’s department employees who serve legal documents for civil court and mortgage foreclosures.

January 28, 2010

County taxes will increase

Luzerne County commissioners will unveil their 2010 budget amendments at 9:30 a.m. today, and it appears that taxes will increase more than the 10 percent originally approved.

January 28, 2010

Officials go at it in courthouse hall

A heated exchange broke out in the courthouse hallway Wednesday morning between acting Sheriff Charles Guarnieri and two county officials – Solicitor Vito DeLuca and Controller Walter Griffith.

January 28, 2010

Payments to records firm to continue

A Luzerne County committee decided to keep paying a Wayne, Pa., company to organize county records, despite objections from several officials.

January 27, 2010

County mulls TIFs linked to corruption

Luzerne County Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla has asked the county solicitor to research whether the county could get out of tax diversion programs that are linked to corruption.

January 27, 2010

Skrepenak pleads guilty

SCRANTON – Six years after he first took an oath to honestly represent the people as a Luzerne County commissioner, Greg Skrepenak pleaded guilty to accepting a $5,000 bribe in exchange for helping a developer secure tax funding for a construction project.

January 25, 2010

Sheriff’s gun sale brings probe

Luzerne County Solicitor Vito DeLuca said he is investigating the possible sale of other sheriff’s office guns and researching whether any guns that could have been sold to make money have disappeared.

January 25, 2010

Two prison workers to be laid off

Luzerne County Deputy Warden Sam Hyder and restitution coordinator Stephen Solovey will be laid off on Friday, the county Prison Board decided Monday.