Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo said she will provide updates by the end of this month on two initiatives she had announced after the Nov. 5 general election.

The first is a post-election assessment of strengths and weaknesses under development by the county law office. This review will comprehensively analyze the Nov. 5 general election cycle, evaluate county procedures and provide “actionable recommendations for improvement,” she has said.

The second is an election task force she is creating to identify and push for state election code updates to address some issues encountered in the election, including those surrounding mail ballot drop boxes, deadlines for voter registration and mail ballot applications and on-demand mail ballot voting.

Town hall

As part of ongoing countywide outreach, Crocamo will hold a town hall meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, in the Pittston Memorial Library, 47 Broad St., in the city.

Tax bills

County Budget/Finance Division Head Mary Roselle briefed county council last week on a proposal to retain The Masters Touch to print county and municipal tax bills for five years, starting in 2025.

The county issued a public request seeking proposals to print 161,800 bills sent with an envelope for return payments to the appropriate tax collector.

The Masters Touch was deemed the best choice of the three responses due to its experience and pricing, she said during council’s work session.

In addition to saving approximately 3 cents per bill, the county will receive additional services, Roselle said. The Masters Touch has an address verification program that will flag and alert the county to incorrect addresses so time and money are not wasted resending bills, she said.

Council is expected to vote on the contract at its next meeting Jan. 28.

Planning/zoning director

The county administration has reposted the vacant planning/zoning executive director position at a higher salary after months of advertising and no qualified applicants, officials said.

The position was first advertised in May 2024 at $65,000 annually and has remained on the human resources career opportunities section at luzernecounty.org since then.

It was recently updated with a new compensation of $85,000, which is the figure in the 2025 position list linked to the county budget. This higher compensation is more in line with the amounts paid to counterparts in other counties, officials said.

The planning/zoning director must act as zoning officer for municipalities that have signed up for county coverage, ensuring codes and ordinances are enforced. This manager also oversees field inspections and development reviews to verify proposed projects comply with approved plans and serves as a liaison with the county Planning Commission and Zoning Hearing Board.

The position has been open since Matthew Jones resigned in May 2024. County GIS/Mapping Director Dan Reese has been serving as acting planning/zoning director. Jones had received $68,250 annually.

Primary election

County Election Director Emily Cook has started publicly posting municipal and school board offices that will appear on the May 20 primary election ballot.

Municipalities and school districts are required to submit an official form by Feb. 18 stating all offices that will be open along with the term lengths, including partial-term vacancies that must be filled in this year’s election due to the death or resignation of an elected office holder.

Cook said she is updating the list as information is received to inform citizens interested in running and as a proofing measure for the data that has been submitted to the election bureau.

The list is available on the election page at luzernecounty.org along with deadlines and other information for those seeking office.

Luzerne County will explore options for a new voting system in case county council wants to make a switch for 2026, officials said.

County Election Director Emily Cook briefly informed the county election board of the plan during last week’s meeting.

County Manager Romilda Crocamo provided more explanation later in the week, saying this is an appropriate time to reconsider the voting system because the five-year maintenance and support contract with current voting equipment supplier Dominion Voting Systems expires at the end of 2025.

In light of this upcoming change, the administration will publicly post a request seeking proposals from voting machine suppliers by the end of this month, Crocamo said.

A public search process is necessary to learn the features and costs of all state-certified voting systems and determine if a change is warranted and feasible, the manager said.

Another option for council would be negotiating a new maintenance and support contract to continue using the Dominion system for a set number of years.

Council had approved the purchase of Dominion’s system for $3.6 million at the end of 2019 as part of a state mandate for all counties to implement systems with a paper record that can be verified by voters and kept in case tallies are questioned.

There are two ways to meet the paper-trail requirement — filling in ovals on actual paper or making selections on a computerized touchscreen ballot marking device and then printing it out for review before feeding it into a tabulator to be cast and saved. The Dominion system uses ballot marking devices, but the county has used paper ballots at times that were then scanned into the Dominion tabulators to be tallied.

Because there’s no mandate to change systems, there may be little or no state and federal funding to offset costs. The purchase of a voting system is not eligible for funding through the county’s annual state election integrity grant, officials said.

For the upcoming proposals, Crocamo said she will consider input from both the county’s five-citizen election board and general public before making a recommendation to council, adding that these steps are part of her commitment to transparency and public engagement.

A memorandum of understanding between the administration and election board allows the board to agree or disagree with the vendor selection, and this memorandum will be honored, she said.

“While the ultimate decision regarding the choice of vendor will rest with the Luzerne County Council, the insights and recommendations from the Election Board will be invaluable in guiding this important decision,” Crocamo said.

All prospective vendors will be required to demonstrate their voting machines and provide the public with a chance to test the equipment and ask questions, Crocamo said.

“We believe that public input is essential in making informed choices that enhance the integrity and reliability of our electoral process,” she said. “We encourage citizens to stay informed and participate in this process as we work towards securing the best voting solutions for Luzerne County.”

Last search

The process to select Dominion’s system took nearly a year.

In February 2019, the county held a public demonstration of paper-trail voting machines at the county courthouse in Wilkes-Barre, inviting all five companies with systems certified for use in this state: Unisyn Voting Solutions, Dominion, Election Systems and Software (ES&S), Hart InterCivic and Clear Ballot Group.

Proposals were due in May, and then-county manager C. David Pedri formed a committee of employees and citizens to evaluate submissions and make a nonbinding recommendation. Two vendors were not considered — Clear Ballot and Unisyn — because they did not participate in the committee’s mandatory demonstration, officials had said.

Pedri told council in September he was personally recommending the Dominion system, while his committee supported one from ES&S. The county already was using another ES&S system that had replaced the county’s 70-year-old lever machines.

The county Election Board also weighed in, voting in October to recommend the ES&S system.

Another public demonstration was held in October for council and the public to examine the three options.

Pedri formally recommended the Dominion system in November, saying in part that his decision was based on evaluations of ease of use, security, integration, customer service and training.

In addition to five years of maintenance and support, Dominion’s $3.6 million price included equipment hardware and software. The initial purchase covered 750 ballot marking devices and 230 scanners/tabulators, prior reports said. The state reimbursed 60% of the cost.

A council majority approved the Dominion contract in December.

Officials at that time had estimated the Dominion system would be in use for a decade or more.

Dominion’s ballot marking devices were supposed to be used for the first time in the 2020 primary, but the county reserved them for those with disabilities and had other voters use paper ballots due to coronavirus pandemic-related challenges training election workers on the new system. The paper ballots were read through Dominion tabulators.

The ballot marking devices were fully activated for all polling place voters in the November 2020 general election.

Since the Dominion system has been in use, county officials have periodically stressed the system was extensively tested by the state before its certification and that Dominion components are standalone and not connected to the internet.

The ballot marking devices also alert voters when they attempt to pick too many candidates (overvoting), let them know when they have not selected all allowable choices (undervoting) in case they want to choose more and require voters to type in write-in selections so handwriting does not have to be deciphered, officials have said.

The county’s voting equipment was sequestered after the May 2021 primary due to an investigation by the District Attorney’s Office. County DA Sam Sanguedolce informed the county in September 2021 the machines were cleared for use in that year’s general election.

The county’s equipment from Dominion came under fire in the 2021 primary when headers of Republican ballots on the electronic devices at polling places were incorrectly labeled as Democratic ones — a problem blamed on a ballot programming typographical mistake at Dominion that was not detected by the county. The county implemented post-programming testing of the header in response.

Sanguedolce had said his office witnessed a full demonstration of all equipment.

“In reviewing complaints, we had no indication that the equipment itself was flawed,” Sanguedolce had said at that time.

DALLAS TWP. — At first glance, the 33 points by Dallas’ Jude Nocito were the biggest factor on Thursday night.

The performance certainly was, but inside the Mountaineers’ win were some smaller ones of significance.

The sum added up to a 72-66 win over Hazleton Area in a battle for first place in Division 1 of Wyoming Valley Conference boys basketball.

Dallas (6-0 Div. 1, 12-4 overall) went up two games in the loss column as Hazleton Area fell to 4-2 in the division and 7-8 overall.

“Our defense is what got us (the win),” Dallas coach Mark Belenski said. “We’d stop them, get out in transition. We like to go fast. We’re better in that type of basketball game rather than a physical one.”

Nocito finished off the victory by hitting three of four free throws in the final minute to give the Mountaineers a 70-66 lead. Dallas was in that position thanks to a 3-pointer by Jack Dale. Dale’s only basket of the game resulted in a 67-64 advantage with 1:24 remaining. It was also the 11th and final lead change.

“Jack said to me early in the second quarter, ‘I can’t make nothing,’ ” Belenski said. “I told him, ‘You’ll make it when it counts.’ ”

Nocito also hit consecutive 3-pointers in the third quarter, erasing a 48-43 deficit. Pat Flanagan, though, helped curtail Hazleton Area’s rebounding edge by crashing the boards. He finished with a team-high seven rebounds.

And when Dallas was a tad shaky in the second quarter as Hazleton Area built a 32-23 lead, former starter Kael Berry entered the game to score all eight of his points. His 3-pointer with 2:17 until halftime gave Dallas its first lead, 37-36, since the opening minutes.

Hazleton Area’s offense was top heavy with Dylan Stish and Luis Guzman doing the majority of the damage.

Stish finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds. He shot the Cougars to a 58-55 lead to start the fourth with a 3-pointer. He also tied the game twice in the quarter with baskets and moved Hazleton Area within 67-66 with a pair of free throws with 1:03 left.

Guzman dominated in the first half, scoring 17 of his 21 points. He was also very active on the boards with nine rebounds. However, he and his teammates didn’t find the same success underneath in the second half.

“We missed about four or five layups in the third quarter,” Hazleton Area coach Pat Brogan said. “That changed the pace of the game as well. You have to make layups and you can’t miss assignments.”

Dallas 72, Hazleton Area 66

HAZLETON AREA (66) — Mike Smith 0 0-0 0, Franklin Ruiz 1 0-0 2, Dylan Stish 10 2-2 26, Angel Saladin 3 0-0 6, Eastarling Melenciano 0 0-0 0, Yohansel Moran 2 0-0 6, Ryan Staffin 0 0-0 0, Luis Guzman 10 0-2 21, Gavin Petrosky 2 0-0 5. Totals 28 2-4 66.

DALLAS (72) — Jude Nocito 11 8-9 33, Joey Nocito 3 2-2 9, Jack Dale 1 0-0 3, Pat Flanagan 5 1-1 11, Tyce Mason 2 2-2 8, Kael Berry 3 0-0 8, Chris Flanagan 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 13-14 72.

Hazleton Area`25`19`11`11 — 66

Dallas`21`18`16`17 — 72

Three-point goals: HA 8 (Stish 4, Guzman, Petrosky, Moran 2). DAL 9 (Ju.Nocito 3, Jo.Nocito 2, Dale, Mason, Berry).

A one-year “cooling off period” for Luzerne County elected officials and board members was debated during Thursday’s Government Study Commission meeting.

The seven-citizen commission has been meeting regularly to assess potential county home rule charter changes and aims to place its proposal on the November 2025 ballot. Voters will then decide whether to switch to the new structure or keep the system in effect since January 2012.

For background, the current charter prohibits county council, the district attorney and controller from the following for one year after leaving office:

• Appointment to a county authority, board or commission.

• County employment.

• Employment or compensation by any individual or business that served as a contractor to the county or its boards during the time the elected official served.

• Paid consulting for the county or its boards.

The last three prohibitions apply to citizens serving on county boards and commissions. In addition, members of the election board and tax assessment appeals board are barred from appointment to any county board for a year.

Elected officials

Vito Malacari, Study Commission vice chairman, said he would remove the one-year restriction on elected officials serving on county boards because their experience could be valuable. However, he believes it is imperative that the other safeguards on county employment and paid consulting remain in place.

Commission Secretary Ted Ritsick agreed that former elected officials should be permitted to serve on boards because they have institutional knowledge.

Member Matt Mitchell said the county sometimes struggles to find applicants for boards, prompting him to conclude the gains of eliminating the elected official barrier outweigh any negatives.

Member Stephen J. Urban concurred, saying prior elected officials should not be restricted from serving on boards.

Commission Treasurer Cindy Malkemes and member Mark Shaffer said they are still on the fence about eliminating the one-year ban for appointments to boards.

Malacari pressed for other opinions on whether the ban on county employment and consulting should remain in effect.

Urban said elected officials leaving office may have a skill set needed in the county and questioned if they “deserve to be pushed aside for someone else” if they are the most qualified for a position and could “hit the ground running.”

Commission Chairman Tim McGinley said he believes it is “very important to have a separation” through the one-year ban because the public would question if the prior elected office was the reason that person immediately “jumped over.” A cooling off “separates you from the previous spot.”

Ritsick said he sees both sides — the benefits of hiring someone knowledgeable about county government and the negative public perception of possible political influence.

He questioned whether a compromise could require a council majority-plus-one to confirm the county’s hiring of a former elected official for any position within a year of their leaving office.

McGinley said he fears that option would add complexity and not be perceived positively by the public.

Mitchell said he does not support eliminating the employment and consulting ban due to the “optics.” Even if there are good intentions and the elected official would be the most qualified person, permitting such a hiring could be viewed as a negative by the public, he said.

Boards

Regarding boards, Ritsick said he does not believe advisory board members should be subject to the one-year restrictions because they have no power to enter into contracts and only make recommendations.

Shaffer and Malkemes said they agree with that distinction.

Malacari supported the proposal but said restrictions should be kept for all other boards “to avoid any potential pitfalls.”

But Ritsick said some other boards should be considered along with advisory boards. He cited the county Planning Commission as an example, saying it does not approve contracts. This commission approves or denies land development and major subdivision applications. Ritsick said there are not many professionals involved in planning in this region, and he does not believe any experienced board members should be precluded from seeking a position in the county planning office if they resign.

McGinley said he did not support that idea but asked Ritsick to put his proposal in writing for further discussion.

Maps

The commission will publicly post draft maps as part of its review of options to keep county council seats at large, switch to election by regional districts, or adopt a hybrid of both options.

Ritsick said the initial maps will show potential layouts of three, four, five and seven districts and include the number of registered voters and their political party affiliations, total population and municipalities in each zone.

He has emphasized these maps are solely for research purposes because extensive due diligence is required before the panel reaches a decision on the matter.

The posting will be under the commission page at luzernecounty.org, accessible through a commission banner on the main page.

The commission plans to discuss the maps at its next meeting Feb. 6.

Luzerne County’s Election Board will publicly advertise a vacant fifth board chairmanship seat in coming days and then allow two weeks for citizens to apply, it decided Wednesday.

The county’s home rule charter created a unique structure for this fifth seat by removing county council from the selection process. Instead, the four council-appointed board members — two Republicans and two Democrats — choose a fifth citizen of any affiliation or no affiliation.

Denise Williams, a Democrat, last filled the seat and served since April 2021, resigning last month because she is running for county council. Prior to Williams, the board has had two other Democrats, a Republican and an Independent in the fifth chair seat.

The current board members are Republicans Alyssa Fusaro (vice chair) and Rick Morelli and Democrats Albert Schlosser and Daniel Schramm.

Morelli emphasized during Wednesday’s meeting he won’t support the appointment of any current election board members to the fifth seat if they decide to apply. Morelli served on the commission that drafted the home rule charter in effect since 2012, and he said the intent was for the four council-appointed members to independently search and give someone else a chance to fill the seat as a check and balance.

Morelli also noted the appointment of a current member would lock that person in for four more years on the board.

County Assistant Solicitor Gene Molino said the county law office believes the charter, as written, does not prohibit a current member from being appointed to the chairmanship seat. If that occurred, the member would relinquish his or her current seat so council could appoint someone else, he said.

Morelli said he respectfully disagrees with that interpretation.

Molino said the intent of charter drafters is a consideration but added the charter language should have provided more clarity — something that should be addressed by the current study commission examining possible charter alterations to put before county voters.

Fusaro said after the meeting she does not know if any current board members will apply. Schramm and Schlosser said they are not interested in the chairmanship.

This issue aside, the policy approved by the board requires applicants to submit a resume and letter of interest addressed to the attention of the election board and mailed to or dropped off at the election bureau in the county’s Penn Place Building, 20 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701.

The law office will review applications for any conflicts as specified in the charter.

According to the charter:

Citizens cannot serve on the board if they are an elected county or public official, a county or public employee or a member or employee of any other county authority, board or commission. Furthermore, appointees can’t be a political party officer or a paid consultant or employee of a contractor of the county or any county authority, board or commission.

These prohibitions go beyond current circumstances and apply four years prior to appointment.

Also, for a period of one year after leaving the election board, members cannot be:

• Hired as a county employee.

• Appointed to or employed by a county authority, board or commission.

• Employed or compensated by any individual or business that served as a county or authority/board/commission contractor during the time the person served on the election board.

• A paid consultant for the county or any authority, board or commission.

Election board members also must be available on Election Day and during the day for a little over a week to two weeks after each primary and general election for the adjudication process.

The board’s policy requires all applicants to be publicly interviewed using questions pre-determined by the board and confirmed by the law office.

If a board majority does not select someone within 60 days, any resident may petition the county Court of Common Pleas to fill the seat. The 60-day clock started with council’s declaration of the vacancy Tuesday.

Luzerne County grants writer Michele Sparich will once again serve as an acting division head — this time temporarily overseeing operational services, county Manager Romilda Crocamo announced Wednesday.

The operational division head position is open because Jennifer Pecora resigned last month to accept a job outside county government.

Sparich has just finished a stretch serving as acting human services division head since Lynn Hill resigned last fall. Council voted Tuesday to confirm Crocamo’s nomination of Megan Stone as the new human services division head.

In December 2023, Sparich was assigned as acting administrative services division head. Pecora was administrative services division head at that time but stepped away from the position to serve as interim operational services head upon the resignation of Greg Kurtz. Sparich served as acting administrative services division head until Jim Rose was hired to fill that position in April 2024.

According to Crocamo’s Wednesday email to county council, Sparich has worked for the county since March 2003.

As grant writer, she works with multiple county departments and outside entities to develop applications seeking funding and provide program-related administration. She also has served as interim purchasing director, manages the county’s insurance and is part of the county administrative team responsible for overseeing the county’s federal American Rescue Plan Act program.

In addition to her county work, Sparich has local government experience from previous employment as grant administrator in Northampton County’s Department of Community and Economic Development.

Sparich will receive $98,800 annually while she is filling the interim overseer role, which is the compensation that had been paid to Pecora, Crocamo said.

The county is accepting applicants for the vacant operational services division head position until Monday, Jan. 20. The position was advertised at a range of $96,270 to $101,270.

The operational services division head oversees engineering, roads and bridges, planning and zoning, 911, emergency management, buildings and grounds, the boiler plant and solid waste management.

Interim division heads are limited to 90-day appointments each calendar year under the county’s home rule charter.

Some county Government Study Commission members have said they want to discuss the possibility of extending this period to ensure the manager has sufficient time to choose applicants when the eight top division head positions are vacated.

The study commission has been assessing potential county home rule charter changes and aims to place its proposal on the November 2025 ballot. Voters will then decide whether to accept the new design or keep the system in effect since January 2012.

Luzerne County Council unanimously confirmed the hiring of a new human services division head Tuesday but tabled a vote to approve a union contract with county detectives.

Megan Stone will oversee the human services division, which includes these departments: Children, Youth and Families; Mental Health and Developmental Services; Drug and Alcohol; Area Agency on Aging; and Veteran Affairs.

The position is open because Lynn Hill resigned last fall.

Stone has worked as county human services operations manager since August and said she has more than 20 years of experience in business and office management and communications.

Under the county’s home rule charter, council must confirm the county manager’s nominees for the eight top division head positions.

Stone will receive $98,000 annually in the position.

County Manager Romilda Crocamo thanked council for its support.

Speaking during public comment, county Controller Walter Griffith said he fully agrees with the selection of Stone, describing her as a “very enthusiastic” and responsive worker.

Griffith questioned the compensation because the position list linked to the 2025 county budget had indicated the salary would be $92,596.

Crocamo said that position list figure was an error that has been addressed, and funds are available to cover the difference.

Detective contract

The proposed new four-year collective bargaining agreement with county detectives would run through the end of 2028.

Council Vice Chairman Brian Thornton sought the tabling. He said he supports detectives for their difficult work and professionalism, but he cannot approve the proposal as it stands due to compensation “escalations.”

Thornton said he does not want to provide details about his concerns because negotiations would still technically be underway until a contract is finalized.

“I want to support it, but I’d rather see the numbers reworked,” Thornton said.

He suggested going back to the bargaining unit to “discuss alternate numbers.”

Ten of the 11 council members voted to table, with the lone no vote from council Chairman John Lombardo.

Lombardo clarified his vote did not mean he disagrees with his council colleagues. Instead, he said the matter should have been removed from the agenda entirely, rather than being tabled, if there could be substantial changes.

Detectives also have the option to proceed to binding arbitration if negotiations reach and impasse.

County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce has said compensation must be addressed in the new contract to help with retention and recruitment. Detectives are expected to handle major investigations countywide, and the average salary for new municipal police officers in the county now exceeds $70,000, the DA has said.

Board appointments

Council appointed or reappointed the following citizens to seats on county boards: Jay Notartomaso, Ethics Commission; John Maday, county Flood Protection Authority; Scott Linde and Erik Laskosky, Redevelopment Authority; Gary Moyer, Conservation District; Donald Armstrong, Michele Millington and Brian Gill, Arts Advisory Board; Jon Lucas, Linda Thoma and Richard Yost, Farmland Preservation Board; Scott Serafin and Shawn Stanford, Forty Fort Airport Advisory Board; and Carl Naessig, Planning Commission.

Council also declared vacancies on three boards due to the resignation of members, including a fifth chairmanship seat on the county’s five-citizen election board.

The four council-appointed election board members — two Democrats and two Republicans — must select a fifth citizen of any affiliation or no affiliation to fill the fifth chairmanship seat. The board plans to discuss details on how to apply for that seat Wednesday.

Luzerne County Coroner Jillian Matthews has resigned to accept a management position in the county District Attorney’s Office.

Matthews, who has held the coroner position since October 2022, will start work Jan. 24 as the new division chief of the vice/narcotics unit.

“We’re very grateful to have her,” said county District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce. “She is an experienced drug prosecutor and will be a great addition to that unit.”

Prior to accepting the coroner position in 2022, Matthews had been supervising staff attorney for the Domestic Violence Service Center and previously worked as a county assistant district attorney for 16 years.

In the DA’s Office, Matthews was the lead prosecutor on more than 50 trials that included homicides, drug trafficking, assaults, theft and other offenses, officials had said. She also assisted law enforcement with investigations from inception to completion and managed office-wide mental competency cases and a caseload of 150 to 200.

Matthews also served as a special assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania from 2014 through 2017, where she assisted full-time assistant U.S. attorneys on various locally based drug prosecutions, a release had said.

She graduated from Iona College with a bachelor’s degree in English in 2002 and received her law degree from the University of South Carolina in 2005.

Sanguedolce said the division chief position has been vacant for an extended period, requiring a deputy to perform double duty. Matthews will supervise prosecutors working on cases involving drug trafficking and vice, which includes gambling and firearm violations, he said.

She will receive $82,000 in the position.

In comparison, Matthews received $65,866 annually as coroner.

County Judicial Services and Records Division Head Paula Radick has assigned senior field investigator/autopsy assistant Kaitlin Keating to serve as interim coroner.

Matthews’ resignation letter expressed gratitude for her time as county coroner.

“I am proud of the things we have accomplished as an office during this time and have had the privilege to work alongside some of the most selfless and dedicated staff in Luzerne County,” she wrote.

Matthews reiterated that sentiment Tuesday.

“A great opportunity with the district attorney’s office arose, and I am excited to return to that office as a prosecutor and division chief,” she said.

Luzerne County’s total voter registration dropped by 6,700 since the Nov. 5 general election, the latest statistics show.

The reason: purging of inactive voters.

As required by law, approximately 7,902 voters were removed from the registration rolls after the election, county Election Director Emily Cook said Monday.

However, losses from the purge were partially offset by the addition of new voters through the election bureau’s processing of voter registration applications received by the bureau after Oct. 21, which was the deadline for voters to register for the Nov. 5 general election, Cook said.

The voters that were purged had received initial notices of inactivity and then subsequently failed to vote in both the 2022 and 2024 federal elections, Cook said.

Voters periodically question whether the election bureau is actively purging to keep the voter rolls clean, and Cook has publicly said the county is in full compliance with all maintenance requirements.

Both Democrats and Republicans — and unaffiliated voters — were included in the purge, although a specific breakdown was not available.

On Nov. 5, the county had 209,718 registered voters.

The current total is 203,027, according to the latest Pennsylvania Department of State registration update posted Monday.

This update said the county currently has 89,892 Republicans, 84,836 Democrats and 28,299 voters of other or no affiliation.

2025 primary

Preparations are underway for the May 20 primary election, when hundreds of candidates will appear on the ballot seeking nominations for county, municipal and school board seats.

Cook said municipalities and school districts are required to submit an official form by Feb. 18 stating all offices that must appear on the ballot along with the term lengths. This includes partial-term vacancies that must be filled in this year’s election due to the death or resignation of an elected office holder.

The county has no way of knowing which seats are open and needs this information to ensure the correct seats are placed on the ballot, she said.

Municipalities and school districts are required to furnish this information in writing by law, she said, noting the communication was issued last month.

Candidates can start picking up packets for the primary election on Jan. 27 at the election bureau on the second floor of the county’s Penn Place Building at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Market Street in Wilkes-Barre.

Cook said many counties are waiting until the first week of February to release these packets, but she is making them available sooner due to candidate inquiries that started the beginning of December.

She emphasized candidates cannot start seeking signatures on their nomination petitions until Feb. 18.

“I am including an exceptionally thorough explanation with the packet explaining how to fill it out and all the requirements and deadlines,” Cook said.

Candidates must file their paperwork by March 11 to appear on the ballot.

Mail ballots

Countywide, more than 50,000 county voters had checked a box to be placed on a permanent mailing list when they initially applied for a mail ballot.

As required by state legislation, the county must send mail ballot applications to these voters by Feb. 7 each year. Voters who return applications will automatically receive mail ballots for all elections this year.

Cook said the bureau will be working with its outside vendor to mail the applications before the deadline.

Kingston Township resident Denise Williams has formally announced her candidacy for Luzerne County Council, seeking the Democratic nomination in the upcoming May primary election.

A longtime resident of the township’s Shavertown section, Williams lives with her husband, Gary, and has called the Back Mountain home for 33 years.

“Her career has been dedicated to serving her community through various roles in healthcare, education and advocacy,” the announcement said.

Williams began her career as a registered nurse, including a nursing supervisory position with the Commission on Economic Opportunity’s Home Help Program, serving seniors in Luzerne and Wyoming counties.

She later became the coordinator of religious education at Saint Therese’s Church in Shavertown, a role she held for 24 years until her retirement in 2021.

Additionally, she worked as a community support specialist at Step by Step, providing services to individuals with intellectual and mental health disabilities.

From 2017 to 2021, Denise volunteered with Fair Districts PA, a nonpartisan citizens group working to end gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. She served as the Luzerne County Chapter coordinator and played a key role in statewide efforts to promote independent redistricting.

In 2021, Williams was appointed chair of the Luzerne County Board of Elections and Registration.

“She led efforts to ensure fair, impartial and accurate elections, earning trust and respect across the county,” the announcement said.

Williams said her priorities for county council include:

• Fiscal responsibility — ensuring efficient and conservative use of taxpayer funds.

• Accountability and transparency — building trust through open and transparent governance.

• Visionary leadership — developing long-term plans to meet residents’ future needs.

• Equity — serving all county residents fairly and inclusively.

“Denise’s experience and dedication to public service make her a strong candidate for county council. She looks forward to the opportunity to represent and advocate for the residents of Luzerne County,” the announcement said.

County voters will fill five of 11 council seats this year, with the winners taking office in January 2026.

Nine workers were hired in Luzerne County government in December, while two more returned to county employment, according to the new monthly personnel report.

The new employees, their positions and hourly compensation: Frank Aritz, assistant district attorney, $36.09; Bonnie Casella, drug and alcohol fiscal officer, $23.08; Kaylee Chyko, district judge clerk, $17.33; Charles Hausman, road and bridge equipment operator, $19.23; Jennifer Henry, public defender clerk/stenographer, $15.98; Daniel Kelley and Liam Stone, deputy sheriffs, $15.93; Justine Love, county correctional facility nurse, $28.10; and Nancy Sherman, Children, Youth and Families (CYF) caseworker 1, $20.60.

The two prior workers were rehired to these positions: Andrew Elmy, part-time 911 call taker, $19.11; and Scott Hampton, assistant public defender, $38.76.

Under transfers, three workers changed positions through the internal merit hiring process.

These employees, their new positions and hourly compensation: Timothy Chase, emergency management planner, $19.49; Stephen Palubinsky, first assistant public defender, $47.18; and Sarah Walker, public defender chief investigator, $35.02.

Departures

Seven workers retired in December: Charles Balogh, district attorney’s office detective/sergeant; Demetrius Fannick, first assistant public defender; Sandra Kane, community development municipal clerk; Gerald Lavan, prothonotary clerk 3; Doris Magee, Area Agency on Aging manager supervisor; Bruce Reddock, public defender chief investigator; and John Robshaw, prison deputy warden.

Nine workers resigned: Ashley Caccese and Alexandira Smith, CYF caseworker 2s; Matthew Cromyak, deputy sheriff; Justine Kus, building and grounds custodial worker; Nicole Marek, courts executive secretary; Lorna Bragg, CYF caseworker 1; Marc Welch and Savannah Smyth, 911 telecommunicators; and Christina Oprishko, correctional facility treatment coordinator.

Election administrative assistant Chanel Buckner was listed in the termination category, the report said.

Council meeting

County Council will meet Tuesday, with plans to approve a new collective bargaining agreement with detectives through 2028 and vote on the confirmation of a new human services division head.

The meeting is at 6 p.m. in the county courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre, with instructions for the remote attendance option posted under the council’s Public Meetings Online section at luzernecounty.org.

Election Board

The election board will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the county courthouse, with plans to announce specifics for those interested in applying for a vacant fifth chairmanship seat vacated by the resignation of Denise Williams.

Remote attendance instructions are posted online under the council’s Authorities, Boards and Commissions Online section at luzernecounty.org.

Study Commission

The county’s seven-citizen Government Study Commission will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday in the county courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre.

The panel has been meeting regularly to assess potential county home rule charter changes and aims to place its proposal on the November 2025 ballot. Voters will then decide whether to switch to the new structure or keep the system in effect since January 2012.

Instructions to attend remotely are posted under council’s public online meetings section at luzernecounty.org (scroll down on the page).

Luzerne County Council is set to fill 15 vacant board seats Tuesday but will hold off on those with choices to be made, said Vice Chairman Brian Thornton.

“We’re only going to pick the ones that are uncontested. There will be more discussion on the others, so this will give council an extra two weeks to peruse the names,” said Thornton, who oversees the council committee that publicly interviews citizen applicants.

The Luzerne County Community College Board of Trustees will be pushed to the Jan. 28 meeting because there are three open seats and 11 citizens on the eligibility list for possible appointment.

Seats held by Joseph Long, Holly Evanoski and Susan Unvarsky expired the end of last year.

Long and Unvarsky are on the eligibility list along with the following: Arthur Breese, Joseph Timothy Cotter, Bernard Graham, Robert Linskey, Brian McBride, Tim McGinley, Joseph Oprendick, Robert Watson and Patrick Wills. McGinley chairs the county’s elected Government Study Commission and previously served on county council.

Another deferral to Jan. 28 is the filling of one seat on the county Housing Authority, which provides affordable housing to low-income individuals and families. Six citizens are on the eligibility list for possible appointment to the seat: Kathleen Chernavage, Mary Lada, Scott Letcher, Devin Reese, Ralph Sharp and Dawn Simmons.

The county Transportation Authority has three applicants for two open seats — Dennis Driscoll, Scott Letcher and Lynette Villano. Villano and Driscoll served in seats that expired the end of 2024.

All county board, authority and commission seats are unpaid except for the Board of Assessment Appeals, which provides a stipend for members presiding over requests for real estate assessment reductions.

Tuesday seats

Among the seats to be filled Tuesday is a Democrat on the county ethics commission.

Two citizens (one Democrat and one Republican) serve on the commission along with the county controller, manager and district attorney.

Diane Dreier served in the Democratic citizen seat and is not seeking reappointment.

Democrat Jay Notartomaso is the lone applicant on the eligibility list.

The other seats to be filled Tuesday along with the applicants on council’s eligibility list:

• County Flood Protection Authority, which oversees the Wyoming Valley Levee System along the Susquehanna River — John Maday (reappointment).

• County Redevelopment Authority, which administers various government programs and a short-line railroad — Scott Linde (reappointment) and Erik Laskosky.

• Conservation District, which has responsibilities related to soil and water conservation — John Hanish and Gary Moyer (both reappointments).

• Arts Advisory Board, which promotes the arts — Donald Armstrong (reappointment), Michele Millington (reappointment) and Brian Gill.

• Farmland Preservation Board, which preserves farms through the purchase of conservation easements — Jon Lucas, Linda Thoma and Richard Yost (all reappointments).

• Forty Fort Airport Advisory Board, which focuses on the county-owned Wyoming Valley Airport in Forty Fort and Wyoming — Scott Serafin and Shawn Stanford (both reappointments).

• Planning Commission, which approves or denies land development and major subdivision applications — Carl Naessig (reappointment).

Resignations

Council’s Tuesday agenda also includes the declaration of three vacancies on county boards due to the resignation of members.

Denise Williams resigned from the five-citizen election board last month because she is running for county council.

Under the home rule charter, the four council-appointed board members — two Democrats and two Republicans — must select a fifth citizen of any affiliation or no affiliation to fill the fifth seat, which is also the chairmanship. Williams, a Democrat, had been unanimously selected to fill the fifth chairmanship seat in April 2021 by four prior election board members.

The election board had unanimously added a chairperson selection procedure to its bylaws in June that formalized a past practice of publicly advertising the seat and interviewing applicants using questions pre-determined by the board and reviewed by the county law office. Details about applying for that vacancy will be released by the board, which meets Wednesday.

In the second vacancy to be declared Tuesday, Peter Bard has resigned from the three-citizen board of tax assessment appeals, citing time constraints. There are no citizens currently on the eligibility list for that board.

Information, including applications, is posted in the council section at luzernecounty.org.

Finally, Rodney Kaiser resigned from a seat on the county Industrial Development Authority, expressing an interest in serving on the county Zoning Board.

Tuesday’s council meeting is at 6 p.m. in the county courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre. Instructions for the remote attendance option will be posted under council’s online meetings section at luzernecounty.org.

Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo has nominated Megan Stone to oversee the county’s human services division.

As one of eight division head positions, council confirmation will be required for a hiring to take effect. Council is set to vote on the confirmation Tuesday.

Crocamo is recommending a salary of $98,000 annually.

The position is open because Lynn Hill resigned last fall.

Stone has worked as human services operations manager since August. She advanced to that position through the internal merit hiring process, according to the human resources department’s monthly personnel report from that time.

Prior to that, Stone worked as an executive secretary in court administration since 2022 and previously as district attorney’s office administrator since June 2020, past reports say.

Stone has more than 20 years of experience in business and office management and communications, according to an email Crocamo forwarded from Stone to council Friday.

Early in her career, Stone worked for Pennsylvania Hospital and then transitioned to running daily operations of a transcription company, it said.

Stone said she found her “passion for human services” while managing the county District Attorney’s Office and assisting with the county Drug Task Force and STOP Coalition, which are aimed at helping those with substance use disorder.

A Mountain Top resident, Stone said her attention to detail and organizational skills keep “things running like a well-oiled machine.”

“My expertise and passion for Luzerne County shines through every aspect of my work,” Stone wrote. “I am a firm believer in hard work and doing what I need to do to make things run smoothly and efficiently.”

The human services overseer manages the following county departments: Children, Youth and Families; Mental Health and Developmental Services; Drug and Alcohol; Area Agency on Aging; and Veteran Affairs.

Hill held the position since February 2017 and received $103,797 annually. County grants writer Michele Sparich has been serving as acting division head.

If confirmed, Stone would be the fourth non-interim human services division head since the 2012 implementation of home rule.

Prior to Hill, Michael Donahue was division head from June 2016 through the end of that year. David Schwille oversaw human services from the start of 2014 through April 2016. The position was not permanently filled prior to Schwille’s appointment.

The county currently has one other division head opening overseeing operational services. That position was advertised at $96,270 to $101,270, and applications are due Jan. 20. The operational services division head oversees matters relating to engineering, roads and bridges, planning and zoning, 911, emergency management, buildings and grounds, the boiler plant and solid waste management.

Tuesday’s council meeting is at 6 p.m. in the county courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre. Instructions for the remote attendance option will be posted under council’s online meetings section at luzernecounty.org.

In an exercise that is required every five years, Luzerne County is reassessing natural and man-made threats to residents and possible ways to reduce the risks.

This hazard mitigation plan will fill hundreds of pages with charts and maps and come before county council for approval later this year.

County Emergency Services Director Lucille Morgan said Wednesday the task is bleak but necessary.

“It’s hard to respond to a disaster when it’s happening if you don’t have plan, a team and the right equipment in place. It’s really good to think ahead,” Morgan said, citing the department’s mantra to plan and train on a sunny day.

Council had voted in September to retain Michael Baker International Inc. to update the plan. The Philadelphia-based company prepared the current 2020 plan posted, which is posted under the planning department section at luzernecounty.org.

Each hazard must be documented to include past occurrences and a vulnerability assessment.

The general hazards in the current plan: drought and crop failure; earthquakes; flooding and ice jams; hailstorms; hurricanes, tropical storms and Nor’easters; landslides; pandemics and infectious disease; radon exposure; mine subsidence and sinkholes; tornadoes and windstorms; wildfires; winter storms; cyber-terrorism; levee and dam failure; hazardous materials releases; a nuclear incident; and opioid addiction.

Morgan said a county steering committee is working with municipalities to ensure all hazards are documented and ranked.

“In this new update, we’ll be able to see if anything got better or worse,” she said.

There will be a more in-depth review of mine subsidence due to recent incidents, Morgan said. That included a massive sinkhole that formed in Toby Creek in Luzerne last year and a 2023 subsidence measuring 70 feet that opened behind a Newport Township apartment complex.

Morgan also expects to place more emphasis on cybersecurity, which has been a priority of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and county information technology department.

Based on discussion to date, the new report will also address risks facing the homeless and others in the “under-served population,” she said.

While the opioid crisis remains a concern, the number of deaths has declined, Morgan noted.

County Coroner Jillian Matthews said Wednesday there were 87 drug overdose deaths in the county in 2024, with the confirmation of two additional cases pending toxicology test results. In comparison, there were 145 drug overdose deaths in 2023. These statistics cover all drugs, not only opioids.

“I think they made some inroads with that, so that might get a lower priority rating in the new plan,” Morgan said.

The hazard plan steering committee held two meetings to date, Morgan said. A public meeting will also be held March 10 to present data and seek comment, with the time and location to be announced as it nears.

Approximately 20 municipalities have participated in the planning process so far, and the county is encouraging more to get involved to ensure no hazard is missed, Morgan said. The mitigation plan is required for county municipalities to remain eligible for some grants. Hazards must be identified in the report to qualify for funding to address them, she said.

The county received a FEMA grant to cover $75,000 of the county’s consulting expenses.

Although Morgan said she wants this plan to be the most comprehensive to date, the unforeseen is always possible. She recalled a runaway unmanned military surveillance blimp that broke loose from its ground tether in Maryland and eventually came down near Muncy in 2015.

“We never expected a balloon with a long tether, but we try to plan as best as we can,” Morgan said. “You can’t prepare for everything.”

PLAINS TWP. — Dallas jumped to a blistering start Tuesday night, hitting four of its first five 3-pointers and taking a 16-point lead before five minutes had expired.

The Mountaineers needed every bit of the early advantage to keep Wilkes-Barre Area chasing a deficit all game.

The Wolfpack managed to get within four late in the third quarter, but Dallas did just enough down the stretch for a 57-49 win in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 boys basketball game.

Dallas (3-0 Div. 1, 9-4 overall) stayed on the heels of first-place Pittston Area (4-0 Div. 1, 9-4). WBA fell to 2-2 in the division and 6-7 overall.

“We’re young. If we’re going to get beat, it’s because of our youth,” said Dallas coach Mark Belenski, who had to replace four starters from a 21-win team last season.

Jude Nocito, the only returning starter, led the early outburst with 10 of his 14 points in the first quarter. His 3-pointer followed by a cut to the hoop by Pat Flanagan gave Dallas a 19-3 lead at 3:16.

WBA kept chipping away and an 8-2 run to end the first half — highlighted by a rare four-point play from David Jannuzzi — moved the Wolfpack within 29-23 at the break.

WBA moved within 34-30 midway through the third quarter on an inside basket by Jordany Rodriguez. The Wolfpack closed the gap four again later in the period. Both times, Dallas answered.

“When we got stops, we turned the ball over,” WBA coach Jim Lavan said. “When we scored, they scored. We just couldn’t put back-to-back possessions together.”

Dallas bumped its lead to 53-40 near the midway portion of the fourth quarter with a 10-2 run where Joey Nocito netted five points. WBA battled back and cut the deficit to 53-48 as Jannuzzi led the charge.

Mike Keating scored inside with 2:48 remaining, but the Wolfpack managed just a lone free throw after that despite getting a couple turnovers as Dallas tried to work the clock.

“At the end of the game, we started playing catch too much and stopped attacking the rim,” Belenski said. “Our youth almost cost us that game.”

Dallas 57, Wilkes-Barre Area 49

DALLAS (57) — Jude Nocito 6 0-0 14, Joey Nocito 3 1-3 7, Jack Dale 5 2-3 13, Chris Flanagan 0 0-0 0, Tyce Mason 4 1-2 12, Pat Flanagan 2 0-0 5, Brady Zapoticky 2 0-0 4, Kael Berry 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 4-8 57.

WBA (49) — Quran Brooks 1 0-2 2, David Jannuzzi 6 8-9 21, Mike Keating 6 1-2 13, Rylie Ramirez 2 0-1 4, Jacob Johnson 2 2-2 6, Achilles Fuentes 0 0-2 0, Jordany Rodriguez 1 1-2 3, Donte Robinson 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 12-20 49.

Dallas`21`8`14`14 — 57

Wilkes-Barre Area`9`14`15`11 — 49

Three-point goals: DAL 7 (Ju.Nocito 2, Dale 1, P.Flanagan, Mason 3). WBA 1 (Jannuzzi).

Luzerne County is now seeking applicants for the vacant operational services division head position with an annual salary range of $96,270 to $101,270.

If the chosen applicant ends up receiving close to or the maximum advertised salary, it’ll mean four of the county’s eight top division heads will receive annual compensation exceeding $100,000.

The operational services division head position is open with Jennifer Pecora’s resignation last month to accept a job outside county government.

Pecora had been hired as operational division head at $98,800 annually in February 2024.

County Manager Romilda Crocamo had originally proposed compensation of $110,000, but several council members argued the compensation should remain at the $98,800 budgeted at that time.

Compensation for the position was increased to $101,270 in the salary listing tied to council’s 2025 budget.

The operational services division head oversees matters relating to engineering, roads, bridges, planning, zoning, 911, emergency management, buildings, grounds, the boiler plant and solid waste management.

Although the first two operational division heads were licensed engineers, that requirement was eliminated in 2016 in an attempt to widen the applicant pool.

Applications are due by Jan. 20.

Council confirmation is required for the county manager’s division head nominees to be hired.

In another vacancy, applications were due Dec. 9 for the human services division head position, which was advertised at an annual range of $98,000 to $103,797.

Crocamo is in the process of selecting a nominee for that position.

This division head oversees the following county departments: Children, Youth and Families; Mental Health and Developmental Services; Drug and Alcohol; Area Agency on Aging; and Veteran Affairs.

Lynn Hill had resigned from that position last fall. She had held the position since February 2017 and received $103,797 annually.

Current compensation

The other division heads and their current compensation, according to county records:

• Mary Roselle, budget/finance, $135,000

• Harry W. Skene, chief solicitor, $115,000

• Joseph Yeager, chief public defender, $105,000

• Jim Rose, administrative services, $98,000

• James Wilbur, correctional services, $96,862

• Paula Radick, judicial services and records, $96,862

Crocamo had informed council she was increasing Roselle’s compensation from $117,875 to $135,000 last fall, largely because she was assigning additional deputy manager responsibilities to Roselle’s position.

“The responsibilities of this position will be expanded to include assisting the county manager with helping Luzerne County successfully reach its goals in all areas while continuing to ensure a healthy financial position,” Crocamo told council by email.

Crocamo stressed Monday she did not create a new deputy manager position and instead exercised the manager’s authority to assign new responsibilities and duties within the administration.

She also noted Monday that Roselle has yielded savings and investment earnings that far exceed her compensation.

Skene’s compensation increased from $100,890 to $115,000 due to “increased responsibilities with legal representation and review of matters surrounding the opioid (litigation) settlement funding,” she told council.

“In addition, the Office of Law is being restructured using several part-time attorneys and eliminating vacant full-time positions, resulting in increased supervision of staff,” she wrote.

Crocamo said compensation is crucial for both recruitment and retention.

“In the contemporary landscape of county government, the role of division heads has emerged as both a pivotal and challenging position. These individuals not only bear the weight of significant responsibilities but also navigate a complex web of expectations, criticisms and operational demands,” Crocamo said. “Given the critical nature of their work — which often extends beyond conventional working hours — organizations must recognize the importance of offering competitive salaries that not only entice skilled professionals to apply for these roles but also ensure their retention over time.”

“An appropriate salary structure for division heads is essential not only for attracting talent but also for sustaining their commitment and performance in an often tumultuous environment. We will be working to have salaries that reflect their value,” Crocamo said.

During a meeting last week, Plains Township resident Gerald Cross respectfully urged Luzerne County’s Government Study Commission to reconsider its recommendation to reduce the size of council from 11 to seven members.

The commission has been assessing potential county home rule charter changes and aims to place its proposal on the November 2025 ballot. Voters will then decide whether to accept the new design or keep the system in effect since January 2012.

Cross thoroughly understands the charter because he was executive director of the Pennsylvania Economy League when it served as a consultant to the commission of citizens that drafted it. A nonpartisan/nonprofit public policy organization, the league is serving as a consultant for the current commission, although Cross has retired and spoke last week as a resident/taxpayer.

Modifying the council size rises to the level of changing the form of government, he said.

Cross said he observed more commission discussion, thought and investigation into other “less consequential” revisions also under consideration.

“To me, changing the form of government is a high bar, and you need to be sure whether or not the size of government is causing ineffective and inefficient government for citizens,” Cross said. “Outside of anecdotes about a council of 11, I can’t recall this commission doing the same level of review or study that you gave these other items.”

Cross argued a council size alteration warrants more “discussion of the merits or deficiencies of the current form” because it will have lasting effects, some not easy to foresee.

Critics have said 11 members is too unwieldy. Charter drafters chose a larger council so more people would be involved in decisions. Those seeking approval from council must convince a majority of at least six.

Commission Chairman Tim McGinley told Cross there were several discussions about the council size and noted it was a “strong majority but not a unanimous” decision to recommend seven. He also stressed the commission is free to change positions because no decisions are final until the panel prepares a final document to put before voters.

Five of seven commission members voted for the recommended reduction to seven.

Council districts

The study commission is still contemplating whether to recommend keeping council seats at large or switching to election by regional districts — or a hybrid of both options.

Commission Secretary Ted Ritsick and member Matt Mitchell have been working with the county Mapping/GIS Department to plot out exploratory maps of various scenarios.

Ritsick said he expects these maps should be available for the next commission meeting on Jan. 16.

These initial maps will show potential layouts of three, four, five and seven districts and include the number of registered voters and their political party affiliations, total population and municipalities in each zone.

Ritsick emphasized these maps are solely for research purposes because extensive due diligence is required before the panel reaches a decision on the matter.

Board seats

County council’s Authorities, Boards and Commissions Committee is scheduled to publicly interview citizens interested in board seats at 5 p.m. Monday (Jan. 6) in the county courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre.

Instructions to attend remotely will be posted under council’s online public meetings link at luzernecounty.org.

Council Chairman John Lombardo said council may fill at least some of the vacant seats at its next meeting Jan. 14.

Among the seats that must be filled due to terms expiring the end of 2024, according to the county:

• One seat on the five-citizen county Flood Protection Authority, which oversees the Wyoming Valley Levee system along the Susquehanna River.

• Three seats on the 15-citizen board of trustees that oversees the Luzerne County Community College.

• Two seats on the county’s five-citizen Redevelopment Authority, which administers various government programs and a short-line railroad.

For some vacancies, those in the expired seats are seeking reappointment.

Information, including applications, is posted in the council section at luzernecounty.org.

Luzerne County’s prison inmate medical services provider — Wellpath LLC — has filed for bankruptcy, raising questions about the potential impact on the county.

The provider must supply a range of medical and mental health services and personnel, including prescription and nonprescription drugs and emergency ambulance transport, officials have said.

A Wellpath spokesperson said last week the company “expects its operations to continue as usual throughout the court-supervised sale process, ensuring uninterrupted delivery of localized, high-quality, compassionate patient care.”

County Manager Romilda Crocamo said the administration has been closely monitoring the situation.

“There has been no disruption of services. It’s not affecting services,” Crocamo said. “As with any contract, if there are issues, I will advise council.”

The bankruptcy could impact the resolution of pending litigation.

While the county and Wellpath recently jointly settled litigation threatened in federal court over two 2023 female inmate suicide deaths, there are currently seven other pending legal actions in the county naming Wellpath as a defendant.

Wellpath said a critical element of Chapter 11 protection under U.S. law is the “automatic stay,” which freezes any ongoing litigation against the company as of Nov. 11, 2024, the bankruptcy filing date.

“This means that all ongoing litigation may now be addressed through the Chapter 11 process while Wellpath works in parallel with stakeholders to strengthen its financial structure,” said the spokesperson, Christina Iglesias.

Crocamo said she cannot comment on pending litigation.

According to a Wellpath statement about the bankruptcy, which was filed in Texas, the company has agreed to a reorganization and transactions that are expected to reduce the debt of its correctional health care business by approximately $550 million.

It cited challenges initially prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic — including unexpected labor investments and costs for equipment, testing and vaccines — that were later magnified by inflation and rising interest rates.

“Despite the circumstances, we continued to put patient care first and made significant investments to ensure our patients received the highest level of care,” company chief executive officer Ben Slocum said in the statement.

The company’s board and management concluded a court-supervised process was the “best path forward to strengthen our financial foundation and stabilize Wellpath for the long-term” so it can continue delivering “essential services to vulnerable populations.”

“We look forward to emerging from this process under new ownership and being better equipped for sustainable growth,” Slocum said.

Wellpath provides medical and mental health care services in more than 400 facilities across the country, including prisons and state hospitals.

County history

The county switched to an outside provider a decade ago because the administration determined partial outsourcing would be more cost-efficient for the county’s Water Street prison and nearby minimum offenders building on Reichard Street in Wilkes-Barre.

With one brief exception, Wellpath has handled the service since March 2015. Wellpath was originally named Correct Care Solutions.

In November 2019, council had agreed to the administration’s recommendation to hire Wexford Health Sources, but it brought back Wellpath in April 2020 after Wexford exercised its option to terminate, as allowed in its contract, if either party determined it was in their “best interest.”

Most recently, council unanimously voted in November 2023 to continue retaining Wellpath, which was the only company that submitted a proposal to perform the work.

That contract was $4.4 million for 2024, $4.7 million for 2025 and $4.9 million for 2026, which included costs for a medication-assisted treatment program for inmates with substance use disorder, officials said at that time.

LEHMAN TWP. — Lake-Lehman got off to a great start Friday night, scoring the game’s first 14 points.

The caveat was its opponent — a Holy Redeemer team which has put up some impressive offensive numbers this season.

Lehman, though, never let Redeemer back into the game except for a brief time in the second quarter as the Black Knights routed the Royals 65-35 in a matchup of first-place teams in Division 2 of Wyoming Valley Conference basketball.

“It was a total team effort,” said Lehman coach Charlie Lavan, whose team improved to 3-0 in the division and 5-5 overall. “Everybody stepped up one way or another.”

Lehman standout Ella Wilson stepped up the most, scoring 30 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Kathryn Morgan helped the Black Knights dominate the glass with a game-high 13 rebounds.

Kinley Purdy had 16 points and Delcia Biscotto had 11, including a 3-pointer as part of an 8-0 run to start the fourth quarter that pretty much dashed any Redeemer comeback hopes. Wilson finished off Redeemer with four consecutive technical free throws after a basket by Purdy midway through the final quarter.

Redeemer (2-1 Div. 2, 8-3) didn’t help its cause with poor shooting throughout, especially behind the arc. The Royals finished 4-of-36 (11%) from 3-point range.

The Royals were effective inside in the second quarter as Bella Boylan scored eight points. They got within 24-17 early in the third quarter, but Lehman was able to score in transition to bump the advantage back to double digits.

“We’ve been working hard on that,” Lavan said. “Instead of being the ones getting run on, we want to be the ones doing the running.”

Lehman is now tied with Nanticoke Area atop the division. Redeemer slipped to third place.

Boylan led Redeemer with 13 points followed by McKenzie Chimock with eight.

“Lehman had a really good game plan and executed the game plan,” Redeemer coach John Jezorwski said. “I think we were just a little bit sluggish today. Things that usually happen for us … we didn’t create any turnovers, we didn’t create any havoc in our defensive end which usually leads to our offense.”

Lake-Lehman 65, Holy Redeemer 35

HOLY REDEEMER (35) — Megan Albrecht 2 2-2 7, Bella Boylan 6 0-0 13, Brooke Kroptavich 0 3-4 3, Kayla Pekarovsky 0 0-0 0, McKenzie Chimock 3 0-0 8, Kearney Quinn 0 0-0 0, Tessa Cegelka 1 0-0 2, Kourtney Jezorwski 0 0-0 0, Mary Lombardi 0 0-0 0, Izzy Wasley 1 09-0 2, Irelyn Curley 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 5-6 35.

LAKE-LEHMAN (65) — Delcia Biscotto 3 3-4 11, Wilson 12 5-6 30, Kathryn Morgan 3 1-3 7, Kinley Purdy 5 6-7 16, Olivia Oliver 0 0-0 0, Gianna Decesaris 0 0-2 0, Olivia Corcoran 0 1-2 1, Amanda Battin 0 0-0 0, Morgan Breslford 0 0-0 0, Lexi Peiffer 0 0-0 0, Kae Dougherty 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 16-24 65.

Holy Redeemer`3`13`10`9 — 35

Lake-Lehman`14`10`15`26 — 65

Three-point goals: HR 4 (Albrecht, Boylan, Chimock 2). LL 3 (Biscotto 2, Wilson).

Dallas senior defensive end Zach Williams and senior kicker Rowan Laubach were selected Friday to the Pennsylvania Football News Coaches-Select Class 4A All-State second team.

The two Mountaineers join three Wyoming Area players as Wyoming Valley Conference selections. On Thursday, Wyoming Area senior running back Lidge Kellum was named to the Class 3A first team while senior offensive lineman Chase DeSanto and sophomore wide receiver Luke Kopetchny were chosen to the second team.

Over 250 programs nominated players in the six classifications. The voting was done by head coaches, with PFN having no input in the selections.

Williams was known for his quickness and relentless play. He recorded 81 tackles, including 19 for loss, while adding six sacks and a fumble recovery. He also started on the offensive line after switching from tight end.

Laubach, who was also a soccer standout, was one of the most accurate kickers in the WVC throughout his career. He hit on 50-of-53 extra points and 5-of-7 field goals this season, including a 47-yarder. He also averaged 38.9 yards per punt.

The Lackawanna Football Conference had six players chosen to the three all-state teams released on Friday.

Valley View senior running back Preston Reed was selected to the Class 4A first team. Honesdale senior guard Wyatt Rutherford was named second team.

In Class 2A, Riverside senior tight end Richie Kostoff and junior defensive end Tavian Branch were first-team choices. Riverside senior outside linebacker Quinn Puchilowski made the second team.

In Class 6A, Scranton senior defensive tackle Dyjeere Weekes was a second-team selection.