Board approves resolution reducing public comment allotment
A memorial for the late Joseph DiSabella in the Sugarloaf Township Municipal Building.
Sydney Allabaugh | Times Leader
Sugarloaf Twp. Chairman Joseph DiSabella, who died March 11, attends the February supervisors meeting.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader File Photo
Dozens attended the Sugarloaf Township supervisors meeting Tuesday.
Sydney Allabaugh | Times Leader
Sugarloaf Township Supervisors Rick Weaver and Jennifer Pecora speak at Tuesday’s meeting.
Sydney Allabaugh | Times Leader
John Zola speaks against a resolution passed that reduced the public comment period during Sugarloaf Township supervisors meetings to three minutes per speaker.
Sydney Allabaugh | Times Leader
The Sugarloaf Township Board of Supervisors reorganized at Tuesday’s meeting following the death of the Chairman Joseph DiSabella.
According to his obituary, DiSabella, 60, died suddenly at his home on March 11.
“Joe, first of all, was a friend, not only of us, but of Sugarloaf Township,” said Supervisor Rick Weaver during Tuesday’s meeting.
DiSabella served on the planning and recreation committees. He was also the director of transportation for the Hazleton Area School District, and a member of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors and the Luzerne County 117th District Republican Committee.
“Joe did care, maybe too much, even after getting slammed with insults and wisecracks while he tried to sit here and chair the meeting,” Weaver said. “Let’s try to do better. We can do better.”
Debbie DiSabella, Joseph DiSabella’s wife and Sugarloaf Township tax collector, said Joe wanted the township to be unified.
“Joe was so proud to serve on this township board,” said Debbie DiSabella. “He did so with a lot more consideration and fairness than any of you could ever know.”
“For me and for Joe, I ask you to not to divide. Stay strong and unified like he hoped for,” she said, in tears. “Do not treat your neighbors working hard, and I mean these people here that work for you, trying to do the best for everyone, with malice and disrespect.”
Weaver, former vice chairman, was appointed as chairman of the board of supervisors in DiSabella’s place. Jennifer Pecora was appointed vice chairman and secretary/treasurer of the board.
The board must appoint a third supervisor within 30 days, with an additional 15 days if it fails to do so in that time. In the meantime, if the existing board can’t reach a majority vote on any matter, Vacancy Board Chairman Richard Yost will be contacted by phone to make the deciding vote.
Public comment resolution
Conversation regarding civility and free speech continued as the supervisors approved a resolution that will reduce the public comment period to three minutes per speaker, down from five minutes per speaker, unless additional time is granted by the chairman.
Ann Vinatieri, a Sugarloaf resident, asked the board to reconsider the resolution and requested their reason for wanting to pass it.
“I am all for public comment. I am all for a good conversation,” Pecora said. “The public comments at the end of meetings have not proven to be productive. The words are not kind, and it’s just creating a lot of animosity at these meetings.”
Pecora said DiSabella wanted to do this, and rumors that the board only chose to act on this after his death are untrue.
“This job is difficult, and it does merit free speech, even if it makes our leadership uncomfortable,” Vinatieri said, noting that DiSabella was a big proponent of free speech. “Sometimes tough things have to be said, and tough things have to be heard.”
John Zola, a Sugarloaf resident, also asked the board to reconsider the resolution.
“Now, more than ever, you guys should be wanting input from us,” Zola said. “With everything that’s going on, all the potential changes, it would be helpful to have input from the citizens who live here, and not just three or four people.”
After both supervisors voted to approve the resolution, various attendees could be heard saying, “Shame.”
“If we’re having a decent, nice meeting, we can certainly go on from three minutes,” Weaver said. “We gotta be civil.”
“It’s very disappointing,” Vinatieri said after the meeting. “If you can’t handle criticism, then you should question whether public service is for you.”
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