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A Luzerne County Council majority — possibly all 11 members — appear to support some type of resolution expressing opposition to a federal pollution reduction mandate and stormwater fee.

However, the stumbling block is that Councilman Walter Griffith’s proposed resolution says the county law office is “authorized to seek an injunction in federal court” to halt the mandate.

The county’s law office plans to provide a comprehensive legal analysis of the suggestion to litigate at council’s Feb. 11 meeting, likely in closed-door executive session. This review will determine if an action is possible — and if so, what resources and expenses would be required to take on such a major case.

Councilman Harry Haas asked his colleagues last week if they will be voting on the resolution Feb. 11.

Council Chairman Tim McGinley said he believes it depends on what’s presented by the law office, adding that council members must understand and analyze the information before making a decision.

Saying “time is really of the essence,” Haas suggested the possibility of splitting up the resolution so council could vote on the portion that does not involve litigation and is “not controversial.”

Haas later proposed the possibility of altering the litigation portion to remove the word “authorized” and say the law office would “seek information” regarding an injunction instead of seeking one, saying the revision would not “encumber us to action” but would still “let them know we’re serious.”

Haas acknowledged the resolution “lacks teeth” without a litigation reference but said he wants something passed so the council legislative committee he heads can start drafting a resolution-authorized letter to President Donald Trump and others.

Council committees

Griffith and Councilman Stephen J. Urban will serve with Haas on the legislative committee.

Some other new committee assignments, with the chairperson listed first:

• Real estate: LeeAnn McDermott, Matthew Vough, Sheila Saidman

• Audit/budget and finance: McGinley, Linda McClosky Houck, Griffith, Kendra Radle

• Strategic initiatives: McClosky Houck, Urban, Chris Perry

• Act 13: Vough, McDermott, Saidman

• Code review: McClosky Houck, Griffith, McGinley

Administrative code

Council twice delayed a public discussion about proposed administrative code changes because the council meetings and work sessions ran several hours.

Urban and Griffith also have submitted suggested revisions since taking office at the start of the year.

McGinley said council may have to review possible alterations in sections as time allows.

The administration’s presentation on road and bridge projects also was removed from last week’s agenda due to the length of the meeting. McGinley said it will be rescheduled to Feb. 11, when a state Department of Transportation representative is scheduled to brief council on whether more state matches will be available for counties with vehicle registration fees.

A proposal to end the county’s $5 vehicle registration fee the end of this year is pending before council.

Paving project

The county is once again seeking bids for parking lot improvements for various county-owned properties in Wilkes-Barre.

One contract would cover lots at three county-owned buildings on Water Street: central court, the Emergency Management Agency and Bernard C. Brominski Building. Another would cover the human services building on Pennsylvania Avenue, and the third would be for the courthouse annex lot on River Street.

Bids are due Feb. 20 according to the posting under the purchasing section at www.luzernecounty.org.

The projects involve restoration, crack and surface sealing and line painting.

It was advertised for bid last June and extended to July, but a county division report cited poor bidder turnout as a reason for shelving the work until 2020.

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