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President Thomas Leary says college has implemented policies to guard against improper bid awards.
NANTICOKE – Members of the board of trustees were silent Tuesday on a whistleblower’s lawsuit filed against Luzerne County Community College, but one contract on their meeting’s agenda prompted concerns of the same type of improper contract awarding alleged in the suit.
Former associate dean Peter Moses filed the suit alleging he was fired for attempting to expose improprieties in the awarding of contracts and hiring practices. When school officials reported the theft of funds from the college cafeteria to Nanticoke police, Moses was charged with the theft of two computers and more than $17,000.
Moses has denied the charges and a trial is pending in Luzerne County Court.
A prepared statement handed out after Tuesday’s board meeting stated college counsel is reviewing the suit and that “college officials vehemently deny that Mr. Moses was fired in retaliation for being a whistleblower.”
The statement said the college will “vigorously defend against the lawsuit” and noted “Mr. Moses has been charged by the District Attorney with committing serious crimes.”
Meanwhile, two trustees on Tuesday voted against a $22,465 bill from Modern Gas, citing concerns about how the contract was awarded.
“This wasn’t done properly. It was given out by the construction manager. I’m not saying there was anything wrong with the work, but it was the way it was handled,” said trustee Michael Tigue.
He and member Elaine Cook voted against the payment. The other 10 present board members approved the payment.
College President Thomas Leary said he could “understand and appreciate the position both took regarding this bid,” but said approving the bid “was the right decision.”
“I think the college has implemented some really good policies in the last year and a half” to guard against improper bid awards, Leary said.
Other payments approved included $7,340 to MSC Industrial Supply and $25,467 for equipment and hand tools and $54,717 to Pulman Interiors for furniture replacement.
The board also approved Albert B. Melone Co. to provide management advisory services for the next two years at $73,900 per year.
The use of budgeted travel funds not exceeding $6,000 for two trustees to attend the ACCT 2009 Annual Leadership Congress in California was also approved.
In other business, the board learned classes will start in the fall with a 10 percent enrollment increase. Leary said the school is expanding sections and times to accommodate the influx.
He said eight new full-time teachers were hired, including assistant professors Barbara Hogan (math/computer science), Susan Koronkiewicz and Tracy Glaser (nursing) at $34,089 each, and instructors Sharon Rose (biology) and Denise Evans (commercial art) at $30,739.
Other hirings included: Miranda Hildebrand, fitness/gym attendant at $16,644; Joan Minor, assistant to the vice president of student development and president, $54,953; Julie Schechter, coordinator public safety training institute, $37,741; Helen Conner, physical plant/facilities administrator, $33,531; Linda Prawdzik, emergency temporary counselor, 30 hours per week at $25.25 per hour through Dec. 27, 2009.