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Luzerne County Transportation Authority Board Chairman Charles Sciandra apologized to county council Tuesday for a surprise public Aug. 1 name-change announcement.
“The board was not aware that it was planned to announce nor did the board approve the announcement of a name change at the event to celebrate the purchase of the Murray Project on Aug. 1,” Sciandra said from the podium at Tuesday’s council meeting, reading a written communication to council.
The authority “cannot and will not change” to the announced Northeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (NEPTA) or any other name “without the full coordination, input and approval from Luzerne County Council,” Sciandra said.
Council asked authority board members to attend Tuesday’s work session to discuss how the change came about and why it hadn’t been communicated to council, particularly since it was removing the county name.
County council appoints authority board members and provides annual funding the authority needs to obtain state matches. This year the county contributed $650,409 so the authority could receive $6 million in state funding. The authority also was set up by the county, although authority board members oversee its operations.
Sciandra said he has directed authority solicitors to investigate the specifics of the name change and report to the board “so appropriate corrective measures can be put in place to avoid future miscommunications.”
He also provided responses to several written questions posed by council Chairman Tim McGinley, although he stated supplemental responses may be provided as a result of the investigation. Some of those questions and responses:
• Did the LCTA Board of Directors authorize the name?
Beginning in 2015, the board was advised by management staff about the desirability of rebranding in conjunction with possible consolidation and regionalization of transit services and included the concept of rebranding in its 2018 authority strategic plan. However, the board did not authorize or approve the announcement of a name change on Aug. 1.
• Who applied for the new “NEPTA” name?
Authority Executive Director Norm Gavlick.
• What procedure was used to obtain the name?
Gavlick filed an application to register “NEPTA” as a fictitious name on May 25, 2018, with the Pennsylvania Department of State’s corporation bureau.
• What entity paid the fee for the name paid?
The authority paid the $70 registration fee.
Authority Solicitor Joseph Blazosek said Gavlick has discussed the rebranding many times, but the solicitors and board would have advised “other steps that had to be taken” before such a change could be implemented.
Councilwoman Linda McClosky Houck asked who owns the new name if the authority didn’t take official action to secure it.
Blazosek said the name is owned by Gavlick.
Councilman Stephen A. Urban asked if the authority has to take action to get the new name “off the books” in Harrisburg.
Blazosek said there’s nothing to undo because the authority did not seek the name.
But McGinley asked why the authority paid the registration fee if the name change was sought by Gavlick.
Sciandra said he understands McGinley’s question and that the matter is still under review.
Gavlick has said the name change was put on hold pending the resolution of council’s inquiry. He attended Tuesday’s meeting but did not speak.
The new name was intended to put the county “into the driver’s seat” in consolidations Gavlick someday expects to occur with the Hazleton Public Transit in the Hazleton area, the County of Lackawanna Transit System known as COLTS and possibly other neighboring counties, he had said.
The authority’s upcoming construction of a new state-of-the-art center on a 12-acre site on South Pennsylvania Avenue in Wilkes-Barre bolsters the argument that a regional base should be here, he said.
Tuesday’s discussions did not focus on the merits of a name change.
Speaking during public comment, citizen Brian Shiner said he supports the change and believes it shows the authority is “looking to the future.”
“I think it’s time for a rebranding,” Shiner said.