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By SCOTT L. GOMB
Monday, January 24, 2000 Page: 1A
FORTY FORT – Councilwoman Lisa Howell said three council members violated the
civil service act and state sunshine laws by meeting privately to discuss
reinstating Sam Blaski as a part-time police officer.
Blaski officially was reinstated Sunday night by a vote of 5 to 3 during a 2
1/2-hour-long meeting in which council members and the mayor traded numerous
accusations.
At one point, Forty Fort police called Swoyersville police officers to
restore order. Blaski last worked for the borough six years ago. Former Chief
Robert Sulitka asked Blaski to turn in his badge after Blaski accepted a
full-time position with the Plymouth Police Department. On Sunday, an officer
with Plymouth Police said Blaski no longer works for the department. Blaski
was one of four officers added to the department Sunday. Council also
appointed Patricia Wheeler, Ryan Williams and John Broda to part-time
positions. Councilwoman Suzanne Stone acknowledged that council did not
interview Wheeler, Williams or Broda before Sunday. She said interviews were
not necessary because all three are officers in other municipalities. Howell
said council President Andy Tuzinski, along with council members Stone and
Louis Cardoni, held a special unadvertised meeting on Jan. 16.
During that meeting, the members decided they could reinstate Blaski
without going through civil service procedures because he never officially
quit, Stone said
Under civil service regulations, applicants are ranked according to test
scores. If chosen under civil service regulations, council would have to
select one of the top scorers. Blaski was not on the borough’s civil service
list. After the Jan. 16 meeting, Tuzinski wrote a letter to Acting Police
Chief David Voda advising him to add Blaski to the work schedule, Howell said.
Howell brought a copy of the letter to Sunday’s meeting. Howell and at least
three other council members said they weren’t asked to participate in the Jan.
16 meeting and asked Tuzinski to table the motion until legal advice on the
subject could be given. Solicitor William Keller said in his opinion the Jan.
16 meeting did not violate the sunshine law, but would not elaborate. Tuzinski
refused to table the motion. Tuzinski, Stone, Betty Mascelli, Cardoni and Rick
Berry then voted in favor of reinstating Blaski. Howell, Alice Yamrick and
Dave Williams voted against. On Sunday, Tuzinski defended his actions, saying
council did not have to go through civil service procedures to rehire Blaski
because it was an emergency situation. “We have officers working double
shifts and that’s dangerous to public safety,” said Tuzinski. “Overtime is
at an all-time high and the number of officers that are either sick or injured
is overwhelming.” During Sunday’s meeting, Mayor Robert Megatulski accused
Tuzinski of breaking numerous laws in connection with the Jan. 16 meeting.
Angered by the mayor’s criticism, Tuzinski then banged the gavel to stop the
mayor from speaking. The mayor then threatened to sue Tuzinski for not
allowing him to speak. Megatulski said he worries Sunday’s hires could open
the borough to a lawsuit from Carrie Gula, whom council almost hired last
year. Then, council deadlocked four to four on a vote to hire Gula. At the
time, at least one council member publicly wondered if Gula, who is 5 foot 6
inches, 119 pounds, could work alone. Reached Sunday night, Gula said she is
considering legal action against the borough. Stone said Gula’s qualifications
were not as strong as the other candidates’. Gula is a part-time officer in
Exeter.
Call Gomb at 829-7242.