Luzerne County Councilman criticizes use of word ‘corrupt’

Luzerne County Councilman Robert Schnee recently took issue with use of the word “corrupt” to describe the county, saying he heard citizens use the adjective twice at the council meeting.

“Who’s corrupt? Who’s taking money?” Schnee asked at the Jan. 14 meeting, saying he would immediately accompany any resident with specifics in a meeting with county District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis.

“Show me where it is. Who’s taking money? Who’s fixing contracts? Who’s doing this? Who’s doing that? We’ll go over and see her,” Schnee said.

In response, Councilman Stephen J. Urban told Schnee council members should not be “attacking” the audience.

“We’re elected to represent the people. We should have a little bit thicker skin. We are going to take criticism and heat from the public because that’s why we’re here,” Urban said.

A federal corruption probe had prompted charges against numerous past county officials and employees, but Schnee and others have maintained the blanket label no longer applies due to judicial reforms and county government changes made under the customized home rule structure that took effect in 2012.

Inmate hair cuts

The county received three bids from licensed barbers and cosmetologists to cut inmates’ hair.

Christine Patton submitted the low bid, offering to charge $9 per cut for both men and women. In comparison, a barber shop bid $15 for men and $20 for women, and another business submitted a flat price of $50 per cut.

About 10 minutes is allotted for each haircut. Only basic cuts and styles are permitted.

A new contract has not yet been awarded.

Correctional Services Division Head Mark Rockovich has said he is not sure how hair cutters had been selected in the past but decided seeking bids was the “right thing to do” to see if there is interest. With no responses to the initial request for bids, the county re-advertised the work opportunity that prompted the three new bids.

Cyber attack

Rebuilding of the county tax assessment database is approximately 96% complete, county Manager C. David Pedri said in response to a recent inquiry from Urban.

The database was disabled by a Memorial Day weekend cyber attack. It tracks the descriptions, ownership and other details about 168,000 real estate parcels countywide.

Urban asked Pedri if the county has the “proper backups going forward,” and Pedri said yes.

Deputy coroners

The county is seeking residents with law enforcement, emergency medical services or mortuary experience to work as on-call deputy coroners.

Another prior request in April did not yield any new deputies, officials have said. Deputies are paid $100 to visit a residence or other death scene and another $100 to transport the deceased to the county morgue in Hanover Township if family members are inaccessible or further investigation is required. The transport payment is $125 from the Hazleton area.

The request for proposals is posted on the purchasing section at www.luzernecounty.org.

Council meeting

Council will hold a public hearing at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday at the county courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre on Urban’s proposed resolution to end a $5 vehicle registration fee on Dec. 31.

A voting meeting and work session will follow starting at 6 p.m.

Voting agenda items include a proposed new collective bargaining agreement with county correctional officers and other union prison staff. These employees have been working under an agreement that expired the end of 2018, and the contract up for consideration would run from 2019 through 2023.

County officials don’t publicly release details of proposed union agreements until council convenes to vote.

Work session topics include a monthly budget report, a report on current and planned road and bridge projects and proposed changes to the council-adopted administrative code.