Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Luzerne County is moving one magisterial district judge and shopping around for new space for three others to save money.
One of the potential relocations involves the space for District Judge Martin Kane, which is significantly more expensive than leases for the other 15 magisterial offices.
The county pays $7,886.74 per month to lease 4,891 square feet on North Empire Street for Kane’s court and office area.
Prior commissioners unanimously approved this lease of property owned by Bella Vista Associates Inc., an entity headed by Louis Cesare, in March 2008, county records show.
Based on the Bella Vista lease amounts — $15.35 per square foot the first three years and $17.35 per square foot the next four — the county has paid $564,663 to rent this space, not including several 2015 payments that have increased to $19.35 per square foot, records show.
The property is assessed at $716,100.
In comparison, the monthly rental payments on the other magisterial offices range from a low of $1,000 for four housed in municipal buildings to $52,223 for Joseph Zola’s space on East Broad Street in Hazleton.
Cronauer’s office
According to newly released requests-for-proposals, the county is seeking at least 5,000 square feet of space in Wilkes-Barre to house courtrooms for both Kane and District Judge Richard Cronauer.
Cronauer’s 3,350-square-foot court space is on Hazle Street in a property owned by Freeman Realty Inc. The county pays $3,187 per month. The initial lease expired in 2012, with the option to extend to 2016.
The Bella Vista lease runs through 2018, but county officials say they have the option to terminate it.
But county Court Administrator Michael Shucosky stressed the county can’t proceed with housing the two Wilkes-Barre magisterial districts together until permission is granted by the state Supreme Court. The court’s efforts to demonstrate this combination is feasible are still in the early stages, he said.
If the co-location is approved, both offices must maintain separate courtrooms and identities, though they can share a waiting room and support staff, Shucosky said.
A second county request seeks about 2,500 square feet of space for District Judge Daniel O’Donnell.
O’Donnell’s 1,720-square-foot space is currently on Main Street in Sugarloaf Township and leased from Andrew and Donna Shiner for $1,914 per month. That lease has been month-to-month since it expired in 2010.
Shucosky said court administration wants to determine if a more central location is available at a reduced cost. That magisterial district covers Conyngham, Freeland and four townships — Black Creek, Butler, Foster and Sugarloaf.
The county also soon will seek bids to renovate a county-owned building at the Wyoming Valley Airport in Fort Fort for District Judge David Barilla, officials said.
Barilla’s office is housed in a tight 900-square-feet in the Swoyersville Borough Building for $1,000 per month, county records show.
The relocation will save the county $12,000 annually and provide Barilla and his staff with more space, county officials say.
The county’s request for space for O’Donnell and the two Wilkes-Barre district judges says the leased properties must be along public transportation routes, provide ample adjacent parking for workers and nearby parking for the public and have access that is secure and well-lit.
Proposals sought
The space for the Wilkes-Barre district judges must have separate entrances for each district court and would be expected to include two courtrooms, a large waiting area, conference room, holding area and two administrative offices.
Interested property owners must submit proposals by Aug. 7.
County court officials have stressed the leasing of magisterial space is included in the court budget but under the control of the county administration, previously commissioners and now county council.
The administration may next address the lease for Zola’s office because it is among the highest. The lease of 3,469-square-feet of space from Grande Inc. expired in 2012, with the option to extend it through April 2016. The county can terminate this lease with a 60-day notice, records show.
This lease was criticized because Grande Inc.’s owner, Leonard Rossi, was Zola’s friend. Zola has acknowledged the friendship but maintained he chose the building because he thought it was the best fit.
