Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Wednesday, March 19, 2003 Page: 6A
PITTSTON TWP.
Residents target
ambulance group
Tempers flared at Monday night’s meeting about what some residents say is
the Board of Supervisors’ lack of action against the Pittston Township
Ambulance Association.
Residents told supervisors the three-year court battle about whether the
association is legally occupying a Bryden Street building has gone on long
enough. They want supervisors to shut down the association immediately.
The most recent incident involving the arrest of one its employees on
sex-related charges involving a minor only heightened tensions.
“You’re a do-nothing bunch,” yelled Angelo DeFrancesco. “They don’t have
an occupancy permit, and you won’t shut them down.” DeFrancesco went on to
complain that he has concerns for the children in the area near the ambulance
building. It is located next to a Little League field and a park.
To add to the worry, DeFrancesco said the ambulance association building
has three exterior video cameras and one is pointed at the Little League
field. Township Zoning Officer Jeff Pisanchyn said it should be removed.
Kenneth William Roberto, 29, is accused of repeatedly offering a
17-year-old boy up to $5,000 to perform sex acts while allowing Roberto to
videotape him. The boy told police he met Roberto in June or July while
participating in a ride-along program with the ambulance association where
Roberto worked.
Roberto was charged with criminal solicitation and corruption of minors,
sexual abuse of children, displaying obscene sexual material and criminal use
of a communication facility. He has since been fired from the association.
Supervisors said the legality of the association’s building will be settled
in court. Solicitor Sean McDonnough said the borough should have a ruling in
about 30 days.
– Scott L. Gomb
PITTSTON AREA
Collective bargaining
agreement reached
YATESVILLE – A collective bargaining agreement between the Pittston Area
School District and the Pittston Area Educational Support Personnel
Association was unanimously accepted by the School Board at its meeting
Tuesday.
Superintendent Frank Serino said he and board President Mark Singer will
sign the agreement at a meeting Sunday. Serino added that the janitorial staff
contracts will be finalized at that time.
After the board meeting, Serino said Safe School Plans are in effect for
terrorism protection. “We have a squad and plans in place. We want to ease
the mind of parents.”
– Jenn Urganus
LARKSVILLE
Police ask borough
for new cruisers
The borough’s assistant police chief petitioned council for new cruisers at
Tuesday night’s meeting.
Steve Kofchak said the three police cruisers are in poor condition and
council wastes a lot of money fixing them. About $15,000 in repairs was spent
on one car alone – money that could have been better spent toward the purchase
of a new one, he said.
In November, the borough had to borrow a cruiser from Wilkes-Barre and, at
one point, rented a car from Hertz car rental company to patrol the borough.
Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom McGroarty loaned the borough a dashboard light for the
rented vehicle.
Officers said two of the cruisers have more than 100,000 miles and the
third, a 4×4, is almost there. The vehicles also have numerous mechanical
problems.
Council members said they looked into leasing cars from a local Ford
dealership but the dealer rejected the idea. Council will consider leasing a
car from the state.
– Scott L. Gomb
LEHMAN TWP.
Upkeep costs are
expected to increase
Lake-Lehman School Board members received a preliminary look at the
district’s buildings and grounds budget for the upcoming school year Tuesday
night.
Supervisor Ben Schall presented the $925,700 budget that broke down costs
on a per-school basis. The working budget, which excludes insurance and
salaries, is projected to run more than $200,000 more than last year’s. The
reason, Schall explained, is the increased cost of fuel and the high school’s
expanded area.
Included in Schall’s report was the $75,620 figure for keeping the
district’s vacant middle level building open. The board has not decided if it
will sell the building or refurbish it. It was recently appraised at $245,000.
– Kalen Churcher