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Professional bookkeeper may be used to replace former municipal treasurer.
LUZERNE – Borough Council discussed the feasibility of outsourcing monthly expenditure reports to a professional bookkeeper during Wednesday night’s regular meeting.
During the January council meeting, the borough dismissed former municipal treasurer Delores Seitz, citing cost-containment measures.
Seitz had held the job for 14 years. Her duties have now largely fallen to Borough Secretary Gloria Kijek.
There were some complaints by council members about the format of the expense reports.
Council member Judy Gober said complications due to the personnel transition and working hours lost to weather emergencies might have negatively impacted the format of the monthly report.
Council member Kurt Santayana said he had full confidence in Kijek’s abilities but stated his preference that monthly expense reports and the issuance of checks be handled by a professional bookkeeper. Although he was not able to provide an exact cost for such a service, he said he believed that outsourcing the service would allow Kijek to direct her attention toward grant applications and other revenue-based matters.
He also argued that the professional monthly reconciliation of the borough’s books would save money on the yearly audit because it would not have to be as intensive as it currently is.
Council President Michael Jancuska said any discussion of future policy with regard to treasury operations was premature without any financial figures to work with. The council pledged to look further into the issue in preparation for next month’s meetings.
In other business, Santayana announced the establishment of an official website for the borough.
Residents can now go to www.luzerneborough.com for information on garbage and recycling schedules and fees, building-permit applications and fee schedules, and municipal personnel contact information.
The new site will also feature an option for residents to register their e-mail addresses to receive emergency updates and general announcements. Residents also have an option to receive the same information via text message.
Those interested can text the borough’s zip code, 18709, to the number 888777. The cell phone used to send the message will then be registered to receive updates from the borough.
Future plans for the site include the posting of budget information, the official minutes of council meetings, and parks and recreation information.
What’s next
The next regular council meeting is March 9 at 7 p.m. in the borough building.