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By LAURA WOLF and LORI GABRIELE Times Leader Correspondents
Tuesday, February 08, 2000 Page: 3A
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Monday’s special council meeting to discuss rezoning for a
new luxury hotel near the arena also included controversy over the dismissal
of two Settlement Camp workers.
More than 20 counselors, campers and parents attended Monday night’s
council meeting to protest the township’s decision to replace the workers with
a high school teacher.
Also at the meeting were representatives of a Lancaster firm proposing to
build a Hilton hotel behind the Arena Hub on Highland Boulevard.
Greg High of High Hotels, Lancaster, proposed building a 123-room upscale
hotel and restaurant. He predicts the business could bring 40 to 45 new jobs
in the hotel and 100 to 145 jobs in the restaurant.
High said the township will benefit from $640,000 in yearly tax revenues.
Supervisors tabled an application to rezone industrial land to commercial
use because of sewer, lighting and traffic signals issues. A special meeting
will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24 to discuss the rezoning.
After the hotel presentation, settlement camp visitors voiced their
complaints about the replacement of directors Molly Ambrose and Danielle
Griffith with Coughlin High School boys basketball coach and teacher John
Quinn.
“They really care about the kids; we play water carnival, war games,
Engine Joe night and camper counselor hunt,” said 9-year-old Josh Morio of
Wilkes-Barre Township.
Despite the public’s input, council unanimously voted to appoint Quinn to
the position.
The boy’s father, Steve Morio, asked council why the camp directors were
dismissed and asked why Quinn was better qualified. “I know Mr. Quinn, he’s
very strict and regimented. My concern is that it will be turned into a boot
camp.”
The children’s summer camp is owned, operated and partially funded by the
township.
The protesters came armed with children’s letters and e-mails and presented
them to President Lorraine Mrackowski, who promised council would read them.
Township resident Jackie Shaver asked council if a compromise could be
reached, possibly alluding to two assistants that Mayor Carl Kuren said he
would hire for Quinn.
But Kuren and council told the protesters the camp was in “deplorable
condition” and “needed a change.” Kuren told parents they could meet with
Quinn before camp began.
Counselor Jenn Adamchik, 17, said she received letters and e-mails from
children worried about the change. “A lot of kids are upset about returning.
We just wanted to let them know they’re affecting more people than they
think.”