Officials rap LCCC over theft

SHERRY LONG

slong@timesleader.com

NANTICOKE – Two county commissioners chastised officials for not calling police sooner when they learned money was missing from the campus cafeteria.

College officials began an internal investigation in 2006 when they noticed the business office hadn’t been receiving daily cafeteria deposits. Nanticoke police weren’t called in to investigate until February.

Longtime college employee Peter Moses, 57, of Wilkes-Barre, was charged Thursday with stealing more than $17,500 and two laptops. Moses is associate dean of administration and auxiliary services.

Luzerne County Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla said it was disturbing that it took so long for the police to be notified.

“I don’t think when any money is missing it should be investigated in-house. It should be turned over to police immediately,” Petrilla said.

Petrilla said in a conversation earlier this year she was assured by LCCC President Thomas Leary that the police would be notified sooner if something were to happen in the future.

The college operates on funding from the state, county and student tuition.

Moses, who is paid $73,022 annually, is on paid administrative leave pending a report from the Luzerne County District Attorney’s office.

Commissioners don’t have the authorization to order the college board of trustees to fire or suspend Moses without pay.

But Commissioner Stephen Urban said if Moses was a county employee, the associate dean would not continue to receive a paycheck because Urban would recommend a suspension without pay.

LCCC will continue to receive county support and funding, Petrilla said.

Commissioner Greg Skrepenak, who also serves as vice chairman of the college’s board of trustees, could not be reached for comment

Two LCCC board members declined to comment on the incident citing the board’s ethics policy approved unanimously in August.

The policy states in part that the board chairman or vice chairman will act as official spokesman for the board, and maintain confidentiality of privileged information. Chairman Paul Halesey would not comment because he had not spoken to other board members.

Sherry Long, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7159.