Walter has a Website

Walter Griffith for Luzerne County Controller

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My background politically is very simple…I am not related to any one in Luzerne County that works in the courthouse and I will not bankrupt my moral or ethic character to get elected to any position in government..

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He lays out an Action Plan for the office.

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Including a Pledge to be a “Full Time” Controller, place all County Audits online and to provide that all County Audits are done by Bid and all Bid’s submitted will be solicited from outside Luzerne County.

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He also has a picture of Tim Grier speaking before the Wilkes-Barre city council posted which I asked him about; I placed this picture to emphasize the people that are taxpayer advocates as well as to show I was a part of the fight at City Hall. I think a lot of people respect Tim as well as him being a good friend of mine...

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Walter is also running for the Government Study Commission.

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The other Republican candidates for the controller nomination are : Edward Brominski, Swoyersville; Alice B. Coffman, Sugarloaf Township; Nanda Palissery, Dallas; and Robert Sypniewski, Dallas. The winner will face the lone Democratic contender, Bob Morgan, of Mountain Top.

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None of the other candidates have website up yet as far as I know.

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Update: Griffith attended the Salary Board meeting today and sent along this recap.

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I represented the taxpayers today at the County Salary Board Meeting regarding the approval of all the court employee's salaries.
The Meeting opened with the public comment section of the agenda and I asked Chairperson Petrilla why the agenda and salaries are not made available long before 5 minutes before the meeting so the people can review the salaries and the creation of new positions. The people need to have sufficient time to read the agenda and the salaries to be able to be sufficiently educated to ask questions if we are going to move forward with an open and efficient government.
The agenda had the roster of the Salary Board as Urban, Pettrilla, Skrepenak, Martinelli and President Judge Muroski, however the President Judge was not at the meeting but his "Right hand Man" Mullroy was there in his place. I immediately spoke to object to this because the County Code stated the President Judge must be there not his designee as the County tried to do this time . I was successful in having the Court Tipstaff have the President Judge come to the meeting because he was summoned there by the Salary Board. I made this the first time the President Judge was actually a part of the process as prescribed by law...
I then raised the issue as to why AJ Martinelli was on the Salary Board when he is not the County Controller. I was told by Commissioner Petrilla that AJ is the Controller because the Governor issued a letter stating he was appointed by him as the Acting Controller. AJ Martinelli is not the Controller and has no place on the Salary Board.
There is supposed to be a salary freeze on the County Budget however in the enclosed documents you will see the County Courts are able to create new positions and fund them quite well.. Seems like a double standard..I will not allow this as the next County Controller..I will not vote to increase the payroll by increasing the staff..
I have enclosed the Exhibits of all the personnel at the Court system as well as the Agenda for your review and if there are any questions...please feel free to ask ..also note that there was no other candidates for Controller at the meeting...

Tim Grier drops bond challenge

From a press release:

As of this morning, I have contacted Attorney Cowger and asked that he file the appropriate paperwork to withdraw my appeal of the DCED's decision.

My reasoning is as follows:

First and foremost, the efforts by Commissioner Skrepenak, Mr. Moses and others to discredit or defame me with their disparaging remarks is more than I and my family should have to endure. While they have clearly shown a penchant for abusing the system we entrusted them to protect, I have only attempted to hold them accountable, something they obviously are unused to and unwilling to accept. Their comments about me and my actions have only served to confuse the community and damage my reputation - an interesting tactic considering the recent notorious behavior of Commissioner Skrepenak and his associates at the courthouse.

Second, other than my attorney, I have absolutely no faith in the Pennsylvania courts or its officers. Pennsylvania courts, from Luzerne County to Harrisburg, have a history of making political decisions on behalf of those in power rather than just decisions on behalf of those whose grievances are legitimate.

Additionally, this effort to right some egregious wrongs has taken away from my time to study and also be with my family. While I can't get back the time that I have spent on this effort to stop the wanton and wasteful spending, I can certainly budget my time better in the future to ensure future success.

I have always said that I try to act not just in my own best interests, but also with the best interests of the community in mind as well. That is exactly how I approached this matter from the beginning, and it is how I approach it today. It is important though that I maintain a proper balance. Continuing this fight while so many in the community, through their silence, have made it clear they do not support it would not, in my opinion, be the right thing to do. Thousands have spoken up in support of my actions, but hundreds of thousands have said and done nothing. I interpret the silence of the majority to mean that they were fine with the current state of affairs. I have no doubt that by withdrawing this appeal Luzerne County will quickly return to such a state, and that a new PR consultant will let us all know what a fabulous state it is.

Grier Applies For Luzerne County job

Grier’s PR job application takes jab


Wilkes-Barre activist Tim Grier has facetiously applied for a Luzerne County public relations consultant position. In a lengthy application submitted to Chief Clerk/Manager Doug Pape, Grier outlined his experience monitoring government and working on campaigns.


“You seek assistance in message strategy – rather than wait for you to hire me, I will give you my trade secret -- BE HONEST AND FORTHRIGHT WITH THE CITIZENS OF LUZERNE COUNTY,” Grier wrote in his application. “In all honesty, I believe that is exactly what the county needs to get back on track.”

Big Dan has the entire letter.


Of course he is wasting his time but it might be a good idea to give him the job. As Lyndon Johnson once said: Better to have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside pissing in.

But as usual the fix is in. My sources in the courthouse inform me that this guy has been promised the position.

Meet the candidate

From the comments. Dan Meuser has a meet and greet next Tuesday:

The Prince Hotel 45, East Tioga St. Tunkhannock, PA. 18657, Tuesday, March 11, 2008, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM


It's not a candidate event but a voter registration drive will be held at BF J'Eat's Pub in Nanticoke.

Ready, Set, Vote !!!

Friday March 7th, 2008 5:30 to 8pm Free Food ... Free Voter Registration !!!!

Guest speaker; Tim Grier

Join us as we discuss voting regulations

YOU CAN NOT VOTE IF ..........You are registered as an Independent, a non partisan or any party out side of the two prominent parties.Voters registration forms and Absentee Ballots will be available. Learn your constitutional rights. Do your civic duty ! Use your voice !!! Sponsored by ...B.F. J'Eat "non smoking pub"306 front st at oak st(hanover section)nanticoke pa 18634

Permit protest in Wilkes-Barre today

WILKES-BARRE-City council members do not plan to vote Thursday for an ordinance which would require people to pay a $20 fee for a permit to protest...Although council will not vote on the ordinance on final reading Thursday, members of the local activist group Voice of the People USA plan to protest it at a rally outside city hall before the council meeting, said chairman Frank Scavo, who also is a member of Old Forge School Board. They will hold a rally outside city hall Thursday beginning at 5 p.m. and will attend the meeting at 6 p.m.



Frank Scavo and a hatless Tim Grier appeared on Interactive WYOU last night to discuss the ordinance. You can watch it by clicking here. Thanks to Big Dan for pointing out the link and sorry Tim but I couldn't resist another hat joke.

Bonds, Luzerne County bonds

The Luzerne County Commissioners voted the other day to spend some left over bond money on things it wasn't originally borrowed for. I've been complaining about this sort of shell game as long as I have been blogging.


The bond money came from $32.5 million borrowed in November 2003 to fund Susquehanna River recreation improvements. The bond document did not earmark funding for particular projects, which means commissioners are free to spend the money as they see fit.

Tim (take your hat off) Grier has made the same objection and points out that that bonds are supposed to be used for long term capitol improvements not everyday operating expenses. County Budget/Finance Chief Sam Diaz, and noted debit card abuser, said there is no legal requirement to use the money on projects that will last as long as repayment. I think he is wrong on that point. Even if he isn't the county government shouldn't be borrowing money for one thing and spend it on another. A few years ago they borrowed $9 million to build a new juvi prison then gave a sweetheart lease to a Pittston facility that the state objected to and had to terminate the lease. Then last December they used that money as Christmas presents for all sorts of projects that had nothing to do with the reason for borrowing the money in the first place.

Diaz also detailed the shortfalls of the last piece of fiction that was passed off as the county budget.

In other business Thursday, Diaz released a report explaining how the county ended 2007 with a $13 million deficit.
The report blames the deficit on a $16.8 million revenue shortfall, predominantly due to the county’s failure to meet projections in the following areas: current-year tax collections, $5.3 million; prior-year tax collection, $4 million; sale of county-owned land, $4.5 million; securing of state probation grants, $637,700; and federal transportation grants, $503,000.

Now they want to use $2.5 million of the proposed new bond issue to buy some land from Louis DeNaples when they can't sell the land they were counting on the help balance this year's budget. WTF?

Grier has offered to drop his challenge to the latest $93.5 million Bond issue if the Commissioners would just explain in detail what the money will be spent on. To me that's a reasonable request but they won't do it. And even if they did spell out how the money will be spent the way the thing is worded lets them spend the money on other things. Am I just becoming an old cynical bastard that doesn't trust the government?

Wilkes-Barre attorney Pete Moses, who is handling the county’s bond borrowing legal matters, on Friday declined to say if the county will accept Grier’s offer. Moses said he finds it "curious" that Grier wants to settle at this stage and is surprised Grier went public with his interest in settling.

It should be noted that Peter Moses looks to make a pretty penny on the bond issue and is billing the county for his work on this challenge. He has the best of both worlds. It makes you wonder why the county would bring in a hired gun who has a financial interest in seeing the bond succeed when they have so many other solicitors on the payroll.

And Commissioner Greg Skrepenak said the debit card abuse is "not criminal." It may not be but if I used a company card to buy drinks at a strip club or a $800 dinner tab with a $300 booze bill or pay for my kids hotel bill I'm sure I would be on the business end of a bread line

Luzerne County bond update

Grier’s fight with county continues

Tim Grier has asked the Commonwealth Court to prevent Luzerne County from borrowing $93.5 million while he challenges it in court. The county also argued that public interest “will be harmed” by a delay in issuing the bonds because the proceeds will fund important projects.

Grier has a sensible response saying most of the bond proceeds have not yet been allocated to “identifiable projects.”

“A review of the ordinance in question proves this,” Grier’s response says. “If the projects have not yet been identified, let alone been subject to planning and cost estimates, how could the county be harmed by a stay in issuing the bonds to support these unidentified projects?”

Grier proposed the county use the delay to continue planning and producing cost estimates.

Go Tim.

HomeRule

Tim Grier has a website

Info re: Tim Grier v. Luzerne County

Hello,
First of all, thank you for stopping by and thank you for your support. There have been so many inquiries with folks asking, "What is going on?" and "How can I help?" that I set up this site.

roxburynews.com has a video of Tim explaining what is going on that was filmed at the Luzerne County Courthouse. It has a funny clip of him buying a dog license.

You can view the video here: Blip

Luzerne County

With all the fun in the PA 10th CD race I've fallen behind on the latest Luzerne County news.

After his challenge to latest bond issue got tossed on the grounds that he doesn't have standing to make such an objection Tim Grier filed an appeal with the Commonwealth Court. After the decision by the state Department of Community and Economic Development dismissed the complaint Democratic Commissioner Greg Skrepenak couldn't resist tossing insults at Grier and accusing the Republican Commissioner Steve "the terrorist" Urban of a conspiracy. Now Skrep and the other walking ad for weight watchers Attorney Pete Moses are acting like bullies. They are threatening to seek reimbursement for county legal fees and court costs and want Grier to post a $80 million bond to pursue the appeal.

There’s no way I’m going to have to post a bond. That would make it impossible for anyone to challenge borrowing,” Grier said.

Out of this whole mess there is a renewed call for Home Rule.

Home rule redux?

More than four years after home rule’s defeat by a margin of 54 percent to 46 percent, David Capin is gathering support for another try.

Check out the website:

HomeRuleYes.com

Luzerne County

I'm a bit behind on the latest outrage in Luzerne County but my friend PJ is up to date. A very welcome guest post:

I have just read in today's paper (Jan. 4th) that Tim Grier's challenge was denied by the state due to his failure to own property. I however do own property in Luzerne County and if Mr. Grier would like to contact me I would be more than happy to file a complaint as a taxpayer with "unlimited status."

I Probably wouldn't have thought much about it until Commissioner Skrepenak decided to run his mouth about concerned citizens. I know political victories are rare for him lately but please act like you've done it before. Commissioner Skrepnak liked to say how they "didn't blink," but if I recall he had a meeting with Mr. Grier essentially begging him to drop his complaint. For you Commissioner Skrepenak to attack Commissioner Urban after the many wrong things that you have done is downright laughable. When it was time for you to take your lumps you kept your head down and didn't acknowledge the people with legitimate questions.

You have "defamed your character" through your actions. Do not blame a young man for questioning his government and do not get angry when people listen. That is what democracy is at its finest. I don't know Tim Grier and probably do not agree on many philosophical issues but we agree on one thing. You're to be accountable for our money and spend it wisely. Do not blame Urban and say he was angry about this past year's elections.

If you live in Luzerne County you are aware that there is a huge registration disparity. However your actions Commissioner Skrepenak have made it easier for Republicans and I thank you for that. The one constant that I hear from my fellow constituents is why did this come out after the election? Perfect timing Commissioner Skrepenak.

Now if you could please kick us while we're down, isn't it reassessment time? You did hold off for after the election, remember? More of my fellow constituents and my tax dollars for you to figure out how to waste.

Paul J.M. Stebbins Jr.

(Ed Note: I always welcome guest posts. Just email me your stuff.)

They had the money

Skrep is in panic pass mode trying to find a way to pay the 2007 Tax Anticipation Note (TAN) but it didn't have to come to this.

A TAN is taken by almost all local governments to bridge the gap between ongoing expenses and the time when property taxes start rolling in. Why they can't budget for this drop off in cash flow is another question. Most local governments pay off their TANS well before the end of the year but not Luzerne County and every year they push it off to the end of the year then borrow more money just to fund last year's payroll and other expenses. It's been going on forever.


Back to my original point. The county tax bills go out in the spring and many people like us pay them early to get the 2% discount so they had the money in the coffers to pay it off by June. In 2003 Commissioner Steve Urban and then-Commissioner Tom Makowski voted to borrow roughly $9 million for a new county-owned juvenile facility. It was never built because Skrep and Vondy outsourced a government function at an outrageous price with a 20 year contract to boot. Some people think that this bond issue is so loosely written so the Commissioners can bail out PA Child Care, the owners of the Pittston facility. But anyway they had the $9 million from that bond in the bank but instead of holding on to it for an emergency like this one they spent it on other things. Just think if they just hung onto the money they could have used it to pay off the TAN.

This is just the kind of thing that I have been objecting to for a long time. Borrow money for one purpose then spend it on another, it's not right. Tim Grier read the law and found out that they have not been following it.

Luzerne County is up against the wall

Tim Grier is not going to give in and he shouldn't even after Luzerne County Commissioner Chaiman Greg Skrepnak said this through his mouthpiece.

TL: Speaking through county Public Information Officer Kathy Bozinski, Skrepenak said he is confident the county “did everything it possibly could to reach out to Tim Grier and try to resolve this issue.”

I can't find a link but I'm sure I read that Grier said that he has not been contacted by Skrep. The crux of the problem is twofold. Skrep and company wants to borrow $93.5 million to fund a bunch of wish list projects in Wilkes-Barre and elsewhere without providing the details. The other part of the new bond is to fund this year's deficit and pay off a Tax Anticipation Note (TAN) that is due by the end of the year. I always thought that a TAN was to to bridge the gap for a couple of months before the property taxes come in then the taxes would pay it off. In this case it looks like the Commissioners had no intention of paying off that note but wanted to push it off to the next year. Now Plan B has to kick in.

Now the big worry is paying off the TAN or the county will have to shut down. They could go to the court and get permission to take a loan that would have to be paid off in 10 years but they want to bury it into yet another bond issue that stretch out the the payments over 20 years.

The county is now scrambling to find $10 million to cover the 2007 tax anticipation loan and they just might do it. Or maybe not because the numbers don't add up.

Budget and finance says $3.2 million is left. Other officials have other figures.



The Debit Card thing is just a symptom of the disease. I'll return to the Debit Cards but we need a moniker for this scandal that doesn't end in gate.

It's all Tim's fault

“It’s not about me,” ...“It’s about the issues.”- Tim Grier

Officials ask citizen Tim Grier to withdraw challenge to bond borrowing to avoid layoffs, cuts.

SHUTDOWN CONSIDERED

It's all Tim's fault that every year the Luzerne County Commissioners have to borrow money to pay last years bills. It's all Tim's fault that they borrow money for one thing and spend it on another in violation of state law. It's his fault that they hid the looming deficit until after the election, violating the Bond Brothers (Skrep and Vondy) policy of regular budget updates.

And who's fault was it to let a few select people pay for their personal entertainment expenses with a county debit card?

DebitCardmissoner Greg Skrepenak has threatened to shut down the Luzerne County government if Grier doesn't back down saying the latest bond issue is needed to pay back last years tax anticipation loan which will lead to all sorts of dire financial consequences.

But there is an alternative before drastic measures have to be taken if the county will go to the courts and ask to borrow the money to cover this years shortfall. That process allows a 10-year repayment schedule; the county wants a 20-year repayment schedule.

“There’s no reason to stretch it out,” Grier said. “You have the option to go to the courts.

Is that correct?”

Sam Guesto responded, “That’s correct.

”“There you have it,” Grier said.

So the short term crises can be avoided and all this borrowing can be more defined hopefully with proviso that if you don't spend it on the original project the money must be returned.