Urban

Urban

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A Luzerne County Council majority postponed numerous appointments to outside boards and authorities Tuesday after Councilman Stephen J. Urban raised questions and concerns about whether council procedures were followed.

Some of the issues raised by Urban dealt with council bylaw requirements and posting of information online.

Council members Harry Haas and Walter Griffith were among those supporting a delay, but stressed they did not believe anything raised by Urban warranted the need to redo a council committee’s two-hour Jan. 21 public interviewing of 35 prospective board applicants.

Council Chairman Tim McGinley said Wednesday he believes the appointments will be on council’s Feb. 11 voting agenda.

In light of the delay, council Vice Chairman Chris Perry said he plans to schedule another public interview session before the Feb. 11 council vote to cover board applications received since Jan. 21. For example, Perry, who heads the council committee that performs interviews, said he believes at least one Republican has applied for an election board vacancy.

The county has no Republican on the eligibility list for a board seat that must be filled by someone from that party. Anne Davies, who had filled that seat, said she does not want to continue serving and made a parting speech at last week’s board meeting.

A Democratic seat also is open on that board. Audrey Serniak interviewed for reappointment Jan. 21, and four other Democrats already were on the eligibility list for possible appointment.

The election board is preparing for the high-turnout April 28 presidential primary, when the county will be using a new paper-trail voting system for the first time and implementing state election reforms.

Perry noted Wednesday he appreciates the inquiry from Urban and will work to address any protocol concerns raised by him or others.

In addition to the election board openings, council must fill vacancies on 15 boards, including two seats on the three-member county Board of Assessment Appeals, three on the Luzerne County Community College Board of Trustees and two on the Luzerne County Transportation Authority.

Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.