UPDATE: Courthouse to accept applications for commissioner through Monday

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.comLuzerne County Reporter

UPDATE 5:10 p.m.

Luzerne County President Judge Chester Muroski announced the court will accept applications to replace commissioner Greg Skrepenak, who resigned Thursday, starting Friday. Applications will be taken until Monday at 4 p.m. The judges of the court will then conduct interviews on Wednesday and a vote will be taken.

"It is our intent to give the new commissioner sufficient time to have access to all county administrative staff and records to make an informed decision on the budget, which must be passsed before Dec. 31," Muroski said.

The county code requires that the person selected be a Democrat. All applicants will be given a questionnaire to fill out.

POSTED 3:28 p.m.

Luzerne County judges plan to act quickly to appoint someone to fill county Commissioner Greg Skrepenak’s seat so the replacement will be able to vote on the county budget Dec. 30, county President Judge Chester Muroski said this afternoon.

Normally, the president judge would follow a local policy giving applicants 10 days to apply, but Muroski said all judges have agreed to waive that requirement because of the pending budget.

Muroski said the judges want to give applicants a “reasonable period” to apply and will publicize the deadline as soon as Skrepenak’s resignation is received by his office.

Applicants must be Democrats and submit signatures from 10 registered voters.

To be fair, the judges won’t consider applicants who have already taken a stance for or against raising taxes, Muroski said.

Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla and Republican minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban have approved a proposed budget that raises taxes 18.5 percent, but Urban made it clear that he doesn’t support a tax increase and wouldn’t give Petrilla a second vote on Dec. 30 without further deep cuts.

Skrepenak’s replacement would play a key role in that decision by siding with either Petrilla or Urban.