Voters to get home rule study question

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

Luzerne County commissioners unanimously voted Wednesday to put the home rule study question on the May 19 primary election ballot.

The vote occurred because Commissioner Greg Skrepenak decided to provide the second needed vote to support the request. Minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban had already offered his support.

Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla had initially opposed the request, saying she believed supporters should collect 5,000 signatures to get the question on the ballot.

Petrilla said Wednesday that she decided to support the move because “with all the things going on in the county, I think it’s important to show a united front.”

Home rule would create a customized plan to run county government, rather than relying on the three-commissioner structure established by the state. Once the plan is drafted by an elected study commission, voters decide whether to accept it.

Urban said he researched home rule and learned that the ballot question would have to be approved by ordinance, rather than a routine vote.

The ordinance must be publicly advertised in a newspaper at least seven days before adoption, said county Solicitor Vito DeLuca.

Commissioners plan to publish the ordinance by Saturday and meet on Jan. 26 to officially adopt it, DeLuca said.

Pittston resident P.J. Best, who asked commissioners to put the question on the ballot, expressed concern Wednesday that the ordinance wouldn’t be adopted until the next regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 18.

Such a delay would leave organizers with no back-up plan because the 5,000 signatures would have to be submitted by Feb. 17, Best said.

But, County Chief Clerk/Manager Doug Pape said commissioners are committed to passing the ordinance this month.

“They’ll do whatever it takes to make sure it gets adopted in time,” Pape said.

Commissioners had the option of asking voters to choose seven, nine or 11 study commission members, and all three supported 11.

Primary election voters will decide whether to study home rule and also select the 11 study commission candidates. The candidates would not take office if the study question is defeated.

Voters interested in serving on the study commission must circulate nominating petitions from Feb. 17 to March 10 to get on the ballot.

Urban said he hopes the movement will attract a “diverse” group of candidates from throughout the county.

Best, chairman of Luzerne Home Rule, has said he was confident the signatures could be obtained, but would rather use that time to start educating the public about home rule.