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Wednesday, February 27, 2002 Page: 8A
BEAR CREEK TWP.
Agency officials
speak on group home
Two officials from a local mental illness counseling agency testified
Tuesday during a zoning appeal for a group home in the township.
Zoning Board Chairman Jeffrey Stewart said more witnesses for Community
Counseling Services will be heard at another session before the board votes on
an occupancy permit for the group home. He expects the continuation to be
within a week.
CCS Executive Director Joseph Knecht and Administrator Nello Augustine
fielded questions from several fronts.
Attorney Mark Bufalino, who represents CCS; members of the Zoning Board;
Zoning Board Solicitor Angelo Terrana; and several of the 30 residents asked
what they might expect from a home designed to reintroduce into society
Luzerne County residents suffering from depression and schizophrenia.
Responding to various questions, Knecht and Augustine clarified the
services and treatments provided by CCS.
They said at least one staff member is present at the home 24 hours a day
and they have a support system in place to handle problems. He added that two
or more staff members often are present.
Augustine, who handles the day-to-day operation of the group homes, said
CCS hasn’t had any significant problems with similar homes in Conyngham,
Wilkes-Barre and Kingston.
He said potential residents are carefully and continuously evaluated for
behavior problems.
Knecht and Augustine assured residents drug addicts or other violent
criminals would not live in the home.
FR – Salvatore Deluca
WILKES-BARRE
LCCC trustees OK
administrative post
Luzerne County Community College Board of Trustees approved the appointment
of a vice president of academic affairs at a meeting Tuesday night. The search
for a new president is under way, officials said.
Nancy Kosteleba accepted the academic affairs position. Her 90-day
probationary period will begin when a new college president is appointed.
Kosteleba previously was the special assistant to the president for grants and
special projects. She will be paid $80,000, said LCCC spokeswoman Lisa Nelson.
LCCC officials continue to review applications for the president. Board
members hope to choose six semifinalists by May and fill the position by late
summer, Nelson said.
Trustees also approved a proposal by the Office of Workforce Development to
assist displaced workers in attending school. At least 100 eligible students
will be chosen to receive up to 12 credits in free tuition. The program is
slated to begin during the summer semester.
“It is a good opportunity to assist the population that has been turned
upside down because of the economy,” said Susan Spry, assistant dean of
Workforce Development.
In other business, Darlak Properties Inc., Nanticoke, has proposed a joint
venture with the community college to build a nursing school and health care
campus. The college’s Campus Planning and Development committee will review
the proposal.
FR – Femi Lewis