The latest outrage in Luzerne County

Luzerne County has paid a New York company more than $670,000 since May for employment services through a no-bid contract not approved by county commissioners.

Under the contract, Continental hires workers chosen for county work and provides workers’ compensation and payroll services for those employees. The county is charged two fees — 1.19 percent of clerical employees’ hourly rates and 1.33 percent of field employees’ rates. The county paid OneSource Staffing Solutions more than $707,000 for similar employment services from January 2006 to May 2007. Both county employment contracts didn’t include expiration dates or maximum payment amounts.

Not even the Commissioners know what is going on let alone our clueless former Controller.

TL: Eight people who retired from Luzerne County’s 2005 special early-out incentive are still working as consultants for the county – prompting complaints from union workers...Initially, some county officials argued that retaining consultants was a cost-efficient way for retirees to train their replacements. The retirees received their prior hourly pay but no health benefits.
However, Urban said he has received complaints from workers and taxpayers that consultants continue to work when they have already received early-retirement bonuses of $20,000 plus $1,000 for each full year of service and payment of accrued vacation and sick time.

This is what I wrote about the golden parachute scheme 2 years ago:

Our two Luzerne County Commissioners, Greg Skrepnak and Todd Vonderheid, who along with their army of consultants who came up with the Orwellian sounding "Life Transition Plan" hired back a bunch of people who were supposed to be let go. But the kicker is they are not on the county payroll but work for a temp service. So in addition to paying them the same salary the county is paying a premium to the employment service.

And the audit of the lease the PA Child Care facility in Pittston paints county officials as inept negotiators who blindly entered into an agreement that allowed PA Child Care’s owners to reap “unreasonable” profits at the expense of county, state and federal taxpayers. Remember that the people who own PA Child Care also want to build a useless airport near Hazleton with the help of a boatload of taxpayer money.

Sam Guesto was one of the people who negotiated this contract and is now being considered for a newly created position of director of specialty courts and alternative sentencing. Guesto was the guy that was supposed to monitor/approve spending on the county debit cards. Now Steve Urban and many others are calling for his head but it looks like he will end up with a soft landing.

And the new Commissioner's Maryanne Petrilla's solution to all the bad press that the county lately has been getting was to fire Kathy Bozinski as Luzerne County public information officer. And she did this without the normal personnel executive session or giving Bozinski a chance to defend herself. Yeah, Petrilla is real breath of fresh air.

The people in charge have been failing us for a long time and maybe it's time to shake up the whole system. Home Rule may not be the solution to the problems of Luzerne County government but it's worth a try because this system is not working right.

HOME RULE

Luzerne County Budget

The good news is there is no new borrowing. The bad news is just about everything else.

This year's plan comes in with about $2 million less spending than last year. To get there Commissioner Chair Maryanne Petrilla wants to close Moon Lake Park and the ball fields at the Forty Fort Airport plus all employees are to take 12 furlough days without pay. Commissioner Steve Urban wants 24 furlough days. That will be problematic because it needs agreement from the unions and the row officers. One of the problems with our present form of government is the row officers are not accountable to anyone which hopefully be rectified by the new county charter that will be written by the Government Study Commission. I have to disagree with the Blogfather, I think the unions will cooperate to save as many jobs as they can. The problems we face today are not the fault of the unions but the past administration of the Bond Brothers.

The biggest hole in the budget is the more than doubling of debt service from $9.5 million this year to $21.7 million in 2010. Every budget that Greg Skrepenak and Todd Vonderheid with the help of Sam Diaz put together refinanced existing debt and had unrealistic revenues.


Chief of Budget and Finance Tom Pribula has told the commissioners the county should not borrow any money next year. Pribula said Skrepenak wants "another Diaz budget with unfunded debt."

"Your eyes would come out your head if you realized the ridiculous, fictitious revenues that were in this county that never came to fruition, which has put us in this spot."

Profile in courage Commissioner Greg Skrepenak doesn't want to eliminate any county jobs and will not support a tax increase.

I've been bitching about the creative accounting (lies) in the Luzerne County budget process as long as I've been blogging.

From 2007

Another work of fiction


With all the outrage over the Debit Card scandal the fact that the latest Luzerne County budget doesn't add up has been overlooked. This year's plan has an eerie resemblance to last year's nonsense with even more invented revenues. Last year the budget called for $4 million from land sales that never happened and this year the figure is $6.3 million. Last year the county was supposed to get $3 million from beefed-up tax collections and they inflate that to $14 million from collection of unpaid property taxes for 2008.

The number that jumps out at you in the end is a 18.5% increase in property taxes. Steve Urban did the responsible thing and voted for the budget to move the process forward but he is not happy about it.

"I'm going to vote to put the budget on the table, but I'm going to tell you right now, I'm not going to vote on this tax increase," Urban said. "And I'll vote to shut this place down on Dec. 30, if we don't have a budget that makes sense to me and we don't have the spending cuts that I believe are necessary to move this county forward."

I doubt that the tax increase will be that big but in the end there will be a tax increase. I realize that taxes are the price we pay for civilization but I want to be assured that my tax money is being spent for things that are absolutely necessary. There have always been rumors of no show jobs and documented cases of outright theft in the Luzerne County courthouse that makes me reluctant to support a tax increase. I'm coming around to Big Dan and the Yonk's idea of just blowing up the place and starting over.

Luzerne County scandals

No indictments yet but the buzz says it's just a matter of days. I've lost track of how many investigations are going on in the county.


The latest one is about the theft of funds from the treasurer’s office that DA Jackie Mo handed off to the FBI. I'm sure if someone gets caught with their fingers in the till they will get house arrest just like Robert Pritchard and Carl Salitis.


The more serious probe centers on the tangled web involving Judges Mike Conahan and Mark Ciavarella with PA Child Care owners Robert Powell and would be Hazleton Airport builder Greg Zapalla. Prothonotary Jill Moran also has ties to a company, W-Cat Inc., that they all have money invested in.


Then there is the Debit Card scandal that the Secret Service is investigating and the no bid contracts at the prison that some secret police outfit is supposed to be looking into.


I need a scorecard to keep track of all of this. Will someone help me out?


Luzerne County's greatest hits, so far:

Debit Cards

Sam Hyder

Luzerne County Prison

Bonds

No Bid Contracts

The Latest Outrage in Luzerne County



Did I miss something?


HOME RULE

Skrep asks if law was broken

There is a first for everything. Please stop laughing before you read the rest of this post.

TL: Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak is questioning the legality of an e-mail from board Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla, saying he believes it meets the definition of deliberation that should have taken place at a public meeting..."Is that a violation of the Sunshine Act? Are we able to use the computer to make decisions? I’m very curious about that issue,” Skrepenak said Thursday.

He raises a valid point but where was he when every other legally questionable thing that has happened in the last few years. He usually made excuses like it was a mistake because they all (debit cards) look alike or the policy or law was not understood by the people involved. Although they were supposed to be hired because of their expertize and knowledge of the law. I'm glad that Greg spoke up about this incident because almost every other "bad news" story about the county would end with "Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak was unavailable for comment."

Shall I list Luzerne County's greatest hits? It's hard to do because it is endless.

Debit Cards

Sam Hyder

Luzerne County Prison

Bonds

No Bid Contracts

The Latest Outrage in Luzerne County


As one of Dana's favorite actors would say ...excertera...excertera.

Luzerne County scandals

SCRANTON – The U.S. Secret Service has concluded its initial investigation into the Luzerne County debit card scandal and has turned over the results to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for review, a federal prosecutor said Wednesday.

Forget the Secret Service and the US Attorney General the agency that matters in this is the IRS. I think it's pretty simple. If the people who had the debit cards in 2006 and charged personal expenses to it without declaring it as income on that year's 1040 should have to answer to charges of tax evasion.

Also, there has to be a Pennsylvania law about then County Manager/Chief Clerk Sam Guesto having a slush fund to pay the bills for Sam Hyder's trips to strip bars, etc. that then Controller Maryanne Petrilla claims she was not aware of. I don't know if any federal laws were broken but the PA Auditor General and Attorney General should be all over this.


Some of my previous posts on this and other related subjects:

Debit Cards

Sam Hyder

Luzerne County Prison

Bonds

No Bid Contracts

The Latest Outrage in Luzerne County

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.)

Skrep closes the debit card investigation

WILKES-BARRE -..."I have been informed by the proper authorities that the matter into the debit card situation has been closed," Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak wrote in a May 11 letter to Acting Controller AJ Martinelli. "There were no criminal findings."

Martinelli denies the US Attorney has informed him that the investigation is closed and US Attorney Martin Carlson won't confirm or deny anything about any investigation. Skrep turned in receipts for about $2000 less than he charged on his card. He blamed that on poor eyesight as did Sam Hyder when he used his card in a strip club in Las Vegas.

All those that have been caught abusing the debit cards have supposedly paid back the charges that are not allowed. I would like to see one of the papers publish an accounting if they can get the numbers.

Republican Commissioner Steve Urban once said "We have a jail full of people who wish they could just pay it back."

If you are disappointed by the outcome of this investigation so far you can look forward to other scandals being swept under the rug.

Debit Cards

Sam Hyder

Luzerne County Prison

Bonds

No Bid Contracts

The Latest Outrage in Luzerne County

This is the short list. A few other things have come up such as health insurance benefits for unpaid prison board members and MORE.

Luzerne County Judges

Skrep must be feeling some relief this week because the focus of the latest outrage in Luzerne County is not on him. I'm somewhat reluctant to criticize our judges because you never know when you might find yourself standing in front of one of them because you got attacked by a tree or something.

A few weeks ago it was revealed that then President Judge Mike Conahan steered over a million dollars of business to his brother-in-law when he was presiding over the juvenile court then it was reported that his successor, Mark Ciavarella, was railroading kids through the system possibly violating their constitutional right to an attorney. Ciavarella sent many of these "delinquents" to the PA Child Care facility owned by Robert Powell. Now the CV is reporting that Ciavarella and Conahan have a business relationship with Powell.


In February Powell was party to a lawsuit that was presided over by Ciavarella that resulted in a $3.4 million verdict that was in Powell's favor. I'm not a legal ethics expert but I would think that a judge should recuse himself from a case that involves one of his business partners.

On a related note Steve Corbett was in lather today on WILK urging people to file a complaint with the Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania about all of this. Right now they are busy conducting a trial of Ann Lokuta because she hurt some peoples feelings and didn't wash her hair everyday.

Ciavarella-Powell relationship questioned

Documents link county judges to project tied to juvie center owner

County officials reviewing options on juvenile facility

Business ties of judges are questioned

The White House Cafe

I usually don't write about crime and punishment in the local area, especially in Wilkes-Barre, because sadly there is so much of it. I could probably do a blog just about the police blotter. The latest outrage is that there was another killing outside the White House Cafe on Hazel St. and the locals want it shut down.

CV: Five shootings in 27 months, two dead, eight wounded, one stabbed. This is not acceptable in any city,” said Abbott Street resident Mike Martin. “This presents an obvious clear and present danger to people who live in the neighborhood.”A man died and two other people were wounded after a fight outside the city tavern on Sunday. The bar is a nuisance and neighbors don’t want to live in constant fear anymore, Martin said.

I can't say that I blame them. If this was going on in my street I would want the place padlocked. It may happen this time.

But there is a political component to the situation. Luzerne County Judge Chester Muroski's family has owned the bar for decades. Muroski’s daughter and son-in-law now own the place but they live in Philadelphia. And the perception is the place has gotten a pass because of his involvement and local law enforcement and politician's don't want to cross him.

There are many other bars in the area that get more visits from the police but it's usually just beer muscles and our local constables can usually calm down the situation. The Woodlands has had many incidents over the last few years that involved shootings and stabbings but nobody is demanding that they be shut down. The fact that many political fundraisers are held there probably has nothing to do with it.

There are many accusations that the bar is a haven for drug dealers that are unproven. Why many of the patrons carry guns can be explained that they are American citizens just exercising their 2nd Amendment rights. If more people carried guns we would all be safer, don'cha tink?

I can't argue with Mark who says we should teach our children well.

Keep Christ in Christmas decorations

A guest post.



TO HELL WITH THE ACLU!!! I WANT THE MANGER BACK THE WAY IT USED TO BE!!!!

A Yuletide Message from Mean Old Man


As if destroying the reputations of many fine men in Luzerne County government wasn’t enough, the Commies have now pulled the last straw by banning the baby Jesus from the courthouse lawn. Damn!!!

The subversive American Communist Liberty Union (ACLU) has succeeded in pulling off this outrage and they knew what they were doing. I bet if good ol’ Judge Ciavarella was still on the bench this never would have happened. He would have ridden those ACLU’ers in their prissy pin-striped suits out of town on a rail (preceded by a good old fashioned tar and feathering). And Misters Conahan, Skrepenak, Mericle, etc. would all be on board to help out our sainted martyr judge. God bless all of those fine young men who sacrificed their reputations by pleading guilty instead of choosing the horror of putting their families through a long phony kangaroo trial.

Christmas just ain’t what it used to be; in my day we acknowledged Christ and all his teachings. We didn’t waste our time shopping in stores, either. You were lucky to have food on the table, let alone a toy (at least that’s what Pop’s told us). I remember one Christmas when my buddy Smirk got a dart board. I came home and asked Pops why Santa didn’t get me something neat too. Ol’ Pops told me something I’ll never forget: “There is no Santa Claus, dummy! You best know now, because you have a long and hard life ahead of you and you better shape up because you’re certainly not going to get by on your good looks!” I remember running up to my room and crying. To find out there was no Santa was the worst thing to happen in my young life to that point. I was heartbroken, felt as if my stomach had been ripped apart, could not sleep for days nor could I eat; and you know what? I loved it!!! Because my ol’ Dad taught me one of the most important lessons that I could ever hope to learn: Don’t go through life being a dreamer, be a doer!!! That’s why from the start I always told my two slug kids Clay and Harlan that there was NO Santa Claus.


NEWS BULLETIN


Now I hear that they will allow the nativity display so long as they place Santa next to Jesus. Damn!!!!

If there is anything that does not mix it is oil and water and Jesus and Santa. Santa is a commie smokescreen, Hell bent on hypnotizing our young people into forgetting the true meaning of Christmas: love, forgiveness, peace on Earth---GOD! The subversive who came up with this latest idea of putting Christ and Santa together should be hung by the neck right in the middle of Public Square on Christmas morning!!!!! Hell, I’ll even spot a few bucks for the rope!


Kids today have it too easy and they have no idea of the sanctity of the holiday. Not only that, but I have to endure all of the commercial hoopla and the commune –like carolers who come to my door with their whiny voices. They always seem to upset my livestock and my champion bulldog, Titus, with their high pitched drone. So much for a peaceful Christmas!!!

Then there’s the nutty practice of taking the little runts to sit on Santa’s lap. I don’t want to come off as a hypocrite, but I must confess that when they were kids, I used to take my two slackers to see Santa and now I sometimes get stuck doing the same with their little punks (hey, I’d rather sacrifice a few principles rather than spotting a painful shiner courtesy of Thelma Jean’s pie roller). Taking kids to sit on Santa’s lap is a form of child abuse. Honestly, have you ever seen a little twerp in a Santa picture who is NOT crying like a banshee??? You see my point; besides, I know for a fact that the a few of these “Santas” are actually some old Legion buddies of mine who do the job to secure some extra beer money for the holidays (Hi there, Jinks and Elmo!!!). I recall one time when I took my granddaughter Madison (what the Hell kind of a name for a little girl is that!?!) to see Santa she asked me afterwards “Why does Santa smell like beer?”. I told her that if she had to spend 364 days out of the year in the North Pole she would want a beer too. Hey, commies, at least I didn’t tell her there was no Santa!!!

So all you damned hippy subversives have a Merry Christmas (and a Happy Hanukkah to my Hebrew friends); don’t forget to go to church for your one time a year appearance. Then if you come home and find eggs and toilet paper on your house, and your precious Christmas decorations destroyed, blame yourselves for putting the fine young Judge Ciavarella away and allowing juvenile delinquency to flourish.
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As for me, I’ll be in my room away from the madness that is my sad family, puffing on a lucky and swigging down a Steg, all the while listening to the sounds of the great Nat King Cole singing “The Christmas Song”. Hell, maybe I’ll put on a little Burl Ives “Holly Jolly Christmas” for good measure. To Hell with you all!!!


MERRY CHRISTMAS----HAPPY HANNUKAH-----I HATE YOU ALL!!!!!


Santa responds to the Mean One





A jolly Ho Ho Ho to Lehigh Valley Ramblings for the photo.

Another work of fiction

With all the outrage over the Debit Card scandal the fact that the latest Luzerne County budget doesn't add up has been overlooked. This year's plan has an eerie resemblance to last year's nonsense with even more invented revenues. Last year the budget called for $4 million from land sales that never happened and this year the figure is $6.3 million. Last year the county was supposed to get $3 million from beefed-up tax collections and they inflate that to $14 million from collection of unpaid property taxes for 2008.

With $7 million of iffy revenues built in the the 2007 plan they need to borrow about $20 million to cover this year's shortfall although the official figure is $14.9 million. 2008 promises to be worse and the Bond brother will be going back to the county credit/debit card to fund the next shortage. But that won't prevent the DebitCardmissioner and his new sidekick from borrowing even more money to fund the wish list such as a new $100 million county prison.

From the TL: Jenkins Township resident Charles Hatchko said the Shiites and Sunnis get along better than Skrepenak and Urban. Hatchko generated applause when he said he is reviving the fight for a home rule form of government, in part due to the county’s undocumented debit card spending.

Another resident questioned why the $14.9 million deficit was not fully disclosed before the November election.

Home rule has to be revisited.

The latest outrage in Luzerne County

But nobody seems to pay attention. No wonder why Tim gave up.

Two commissioners urge probe into whether bidding laws were violated

Prison violated state law in grocery purchases, according to records

Adding to a long list and nothing will change. I don't know why I even post it anymore.