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A week after his own civility toward colleagues was questioned, Luzerne County Councilman Walter Griffith is objecting to county Manager C. David Pedri’s decorum at Tuesday’s council meeting.
“I guess the County Council Bylaws do not apply to the County Manager as was demonstrated last night,” Griffith wrote Wednesday in an email to fellow council members. “Mr. Pedri was disrespectful and unprofessional to Councilmen (Stephen J.) Urban and myself.”
Griffith asked council Chairman Tim McGinley to speak to Pedri and inform him of the bylaws and his “requirement to be respectful and courteous to ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL,” his email said.
McGinley wrote back to Griffith indicating that he already spoke with Pedri Tuesday night.
Griffith said Wednesday he was largely referring to Pedri’s responses to some questions that he and Urban asked during the work session. Tuesday’s meeting was the second since Griffith, Urban and two other new council members — Kendra Radle and LeeAnn McDermott — were seated.
One involved Griffith’s inquiry about the election director compensation.
As previously reported, Pedri must find $4,500 in the 2020 budget to cover higher compensation he provided to the new election director because council had declined to budget more than $60,000.
Pedri told Griffith on Tuesday the administration will attempt to find available funds within the administrative services division in the third quarter of the year.
Griffith asked Pedri if the funds will be identified.
“I hope so. If not, they’re going to come in front of county council and ask to take the money out of the reserve, which I’m assuming will go very smooth,” Pedri said, with the last part of the response prompting a burst of laughter from some in the audience.
Griffith criticized the “flippant” answer and said he does not believe it’s fair for the manager to exceed the compensation provided by council.
“Thanks for your suggestions about your understanding of the (home rule) charter. My understanding is different,” Pedri said before McGinley asked to “move on” to the next topic.
Griffith also sought clarification on a December budget transfer to cover additional equipment for the county morgue and removal equipment for a new coroner’s office vehicle. In reference to other funding stream options, Griffith said Pedri needs to read a specific law and said he will bring a copy to the next meeting. Pedri said he read that law and that Griffith needs to read it.
McGinley again interjected, saying, “Mr. Griffith has questions. Let’s keep it simple and answer.”
Pedri said Wednesday he was unaware of Griffith’s email to council but said he made the comments at the end of a “very long meeting.”
“They were attempts at humor, and when Mr. Griffith told me to read the law after having been a practicing attorney for more than 15 years, I took it as a joke,” Pedri said.
He added: “I’m sorry I hurt Mr. Griffith’s feelings. I doubt this will be an issue going forward. The citizens of Luzerne County just want a good functional government no matter what our viewpoints are.”
In his email Wednesday, Griffith thanked McGinley for speaking to the manager and said he will submit a reprimand resolution in the future “when any of these situations arise.”
“I feel it is important that this county manager understands that he is not the 12th member of council and should provide the respect and decorum that each of us deserve as elected officials, and I will certainly do the same with my behavior toward members of council, as well as the county manager,” Griffith wrote.
Radle and McDermott had sent an email the day after council’s Jan. 6 reorganization meeting asking their colleagues to be mindful of what they say about each other on Facebook and other social media. Council bylaws require members to “at all times conduct themselves with courtesy and respect for their fellow officeholders, the executive and members of the administration, county employees, and the public.”
Their email was prompted by a Facebook posting by Griffith. In response, Griffith sent a reply saying he appreciates their email and has removed his comments from the Facebook page.
