SCRANTON — With Bill Courtright’s resignation, city council will get first crack at choosing a replacement.

Under the city’s Home Rule Charter and Administrative Code, a resignation or a criminal conviction by a sitting mayor are two of the ways the office may become vacant.

Once a mayoral vacancy occurs, city council has up to 30 days to select a mayor to fill the remainder of the unexpired term.

During this 30-day period, the city council president — in this case, Pat Rogan — becomes the acting mayor.

If council does not or cannot appoint a mayor for whatever reason, including a tie vote, within the 30-day time frame, Lackawanna County Court would decide who becomes mayor to fill the unexpired term.

The unexpired mayoral term runs through 2021. Courtright was reelected to a second four year term in 2017.

After the Jan. 9 raids by FBI agents of City Hall and Courtright’s home, council broached with its solicitor the process of possibly filling a mayoral vacancy.

Council had not discussed potential candidates to fill the vacancy, because at that point it was still premature, Councilmen Wayne Evans and Tim Perry said. While the resignation was not totally unexpected, it still is difficult, they said.

“As much as you think you are prepared for this ... nobody wants to see that happen,” Evans said. “We certainly want to make sure all of us are prepared on what the procedure is. We’ll do our best to do our best.”

Perry said council wants to make sure they find the best candidate to serve the rest of the term.

“It’s kind of all opened up quickly,” Perry said. “Our biggest job is making sure city government goes on and doesn’t miss a beat.”

Rogan said he will meet with city department heads today and tell them to keep doing what they’re doing, so services are not interrupted. Council will have an executive session Wednesday, before its regular weekly meeting at 12:30 p.m. at City Hall, to discuss picking a new mayor.

“I’m focused right now on the task at hand, making sure government operates and picking the next mayor,” Rogan said.

Councilman Kyle Donahue said transparency moving forward will be key.

“We’ve got to figure out a way to move forward in an open and transparent way,” he said. “It can’t be done behind closed doors.”

JOSEPH KOHUT, TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER, SARAH HOFIUS HALL and JON O’CONNELL, staff writers, contributed to this report.

Contact the writer:

jlockwood@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5185;

@jlockwoodTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — They’ve seen the situation before, just not in Scranton City Hall.

Allentown and Reading both had mayors caught up in corruption probes. Two former Lackawanna County commissioners went to prison for wrongdoing in office.

But Scranton Mayor Bill Courtright’s resignation Monday on the heels of a federal plea agreement to conspiracy, extortion and bribery hit hard for some current and former city officials.

“Nobody wants to see that happen,” Councilman Wayne Evans said. “It’s a shame all around in every respect.”

Councilman Kyle Donahue called it a sad day.

Councilman Bill Gaughan, who has been an outspoken critic of the mayor over the years, said the corruption scandal undermines the work of good city officials and employees, who now will have to strive to reverse the damage.

“What’s gone on is absolutely disgusting,” he said. “I think I’ve had a reputation from the beginning of being a thorn in the mayor’s side. But I was honestly just trying to get answers. It kind of makes sense now.”

Others noted the city made significant recovery gains since 2014 under Courtright and newer councils.

City solicitor Jessica Eskra, who was appointed by Courtright, said she is proud of his achievements and those of his administration.

“At this point, I'm just letting the facts come out and develop as they are going to over the next few weeks,” she said. “I'll keep my personal feelings to myself.”

Officials also said city services — including police and fire protection and garbage pickup — will continue as usual.

“I'm very saddened that Mayor Courtright has resigned. The city will move on and city business will be taken care of,” council solicitor Amil Minora said.

On whether Courtright has done a good job, Minora said, “I think the results speak for themselves. The city is in better shape than when he took office.”

Lackawanna County Controller Gary DiBileo served on Scranton City Council for two years with Courtright, from 2003 to 2005.

“I find it hard to believe,” DiBileo said of the allegations in the indictment. “That's not the Bill Court-right I know.”

JOSEPH KOHUT, TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER, SARAH HOFIUS HALL and JON O’CONNELL, staff writers, contributed to this report.

Contact the writer:

jlockwood@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5185;

@jlockwoodTT on Twitter

Forest City

Community luncheon: Stone Soup Kitchen at Christ Church free community luncheon, Saturday, July 27, noon-1 p.m., Christ Episcopal Church, Delaware and Dundaff streets; 570-785-3425 to confirm the luncheon will be served (in case of questionable weather or a sudden church-related event).

Olyphant

Street fair: Celebration in honor of Olyphant Hometown Hero banners and the benefit/fundraiser for the Olyphant Borough Freedom Fighter statue, Saturday, July 27, 3 to 10 p.m., Delaware Street; Delaware Street will be closed between Lackawanna Avenue and West Grant Street.

Regional

Corvette Club meets: Corvette Club of NEPA meeting, Thursday, July 11, 7 p.m., Marzoni’s, 26 Montage Mountain Road, Moosic; interested Corvette owners welcome; two weekend rides scheduled for July; CCNEPA.com.

CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be sent to yesdesk@timessham

rock.com or Clipboard, c/o YES!Desk, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. YES!Desk, 570-348-9121.

HARRISBURG

Counties and municipalities in the 117th Legislative District will receive more than $3.4 million in natural gas drilling impact fee revenues.

Lackawanna County will receive $229,275.13, Luzerne County will receive $345,271.16 and Wyoming County will receive $1,345,282.59. Municipalities across Wyoming County will receive a combined $1.5 million in additional revenues.

Local governments can use the funds for projects directly affected by the industry, such as affordable housing, road repairs, infrastructure improvements, and emergency training and response.

— CLAYTON OVER

July 2, 1934

Heat wave deadly

High temperatures and humidity contributed to the death of a laborer on July 1.

Dr. John O’Dea, acting Lackawanna County coroner, reported that Herman West of East Scranton was cutting wood for a picnic at a farm in Mount Cobb. He was discovered unconscious in the farm’s barn and was taken to Hahnemann Hospital in Scranton. O’Dea said West died shortly after arriving at the hospital.

West’s death, according to O’Dea, was caused by acute dilation of the heart brought on by the heat and exertion.

West worked as a laborer for the Pine Brook Colliery.

School tax trimmed

The Scranton School District announced that the tax rate for the district would drop from 20 to 18 mills in the new budget thanks to efficiencies implemented by the district.

The efficiencies included increasing the student-to-teacher ratio without taxing the teachers, going over purchases, changing practices that cost money and consolidating jobs.

Previously, for example, the district paid for a taxi to drive a truant officer around to each of the district’s schools to deliver paychecks; afterward, the district mailed the checks to each school. Also, the district previously paid someone a $1,200 salary to count daily attendance; afterward, truant officers counted the attendance.

Shopping list

Whole chickens were 49 cents each, smoked ham was 19 cents per pound, 100 clams were 79 cents, watermelons were 69 cents each, 3 pounds of peaches were 25 cents, a dozen oranges cost 19 cents, three large bottles of ginger ale were 49 cents, sharp cheese was 25 cents per pound and 2 pounds of coffee was 49 cents.

BRIAN FULTON, library manager, oversees The Times-

Tribune’s expansive digital and paper archives and is an authority on local history.

Contact Brian at bfulton@timesshamrock.com or

570-348-9140.

WHITEHALL TWP.
Dave & Buster’s at Lehigh Valley Mall

Dave & Buster’s is coming to Lehigh Valley Mall.

The entertainment-dining hybrid has been identified as the tenant for a planned 30,703-square-foot building at the outparcel along MacArthur Road in documents filed with the township, confirmed Whitehall Mayor Michael Harakal Jr. and Lee Rackus, bureau chief of the township’s planning, zoning and development.

Demolition of a vacant office building and two vacant restaurants on Mac-Arthur Road will clear the way for the construction of Dave & Buster’s and another unidentified restaurant.

Dave & Buster’s, a place where guests can play arcade games, watch sports and order food and drinks, will give the mall a restaurant-and-entertainment concept that fits into the kinds of experiential tenants shopping centers crave nowadays.

— (ALLENTOWN ) MORNING CALL

TUNKHANNOCK

For the first time in more than two decades, Tunkhannock has a Republican mayor.

On Monday, borough council President Bob Robinson read Mayor Norm Ball’s June 25 letter of resignation into the record. Council then selected former council President A. Stacy Huber as mayor. Huber was recommended by Ball in his resignation letter.

Moments later, Wyoming County President Judge Russell Shurtleff had Huber affirm his oath of responsibility.

After a number of thank-yous from Ball, he and Huber exchanged seats.

— ROBERT L. BAKER

SCRANTON — From his start as Scranton mayor in 2014, Bill Courtright used the highest office in City Hall for pay-to-play shakedowns, federal law enforcement officials charge.

Courtright brazenly directed unnamed city representatives to hold up licenses, permits or contracts to extort cash and campaign contributions from entities doing business in or with the city, according to those officials.

Over five years, tens of thousands of dollars of ill-gotten cash ended up in a safe in Courtright’s West Mountain home, delivered by intermediaries.

The corruption only came to a halt Jan. 9, when FBI agents raided Courtright’s home and City Hall.

The accusations were made public Monday in a federal charging document called a criminal information and its companion plea agreement. Courtright agreed to plead guilty today to felonies of criminal conspiracy, extortion and bribery.

In light of the FBI raids five months ago, the charges and plea did not come as a surprise to city officials. But they expressed shock as charging documents revealed an apparent culture of corruption.

“This is a terrible day for the city of Scranton,” Councilman Bill Gaughan said.

Councilman Kyle Donahue added, “It’s unprecedented and it’s a sad day. He came in (to office) and felt entitled to that, which is unbelievable, too.”

‘Quid pro quo’

Courtright and unindicted co-conspirators associated with the Friends of Bill Courtright Campaign Committee shook down individuals and entities conducting business in or with the city, federal officials charge.

Courtright threatened economic harm to those entities — and made good on his threats with adverse official actions — to obtain payments, campaign contributions and other property.

For example, Courtright demanded a $4,000 bribe from the firm that collects the city’s delinquent taxes and trash fees, called “Company No. 1,” in exchange for the city continuing the contract.

Northeast Revenue Service of Plains Twp. collects the city’s delinquent taxes and garbage fees. Efforts to reach John Rodgers, president of Northeast Revenue Service, were unsuccessful.

“At the direction of Courtright, the $4,000 cash payment was hand-delivered to an intermediary, who accepted the corrupt payment on behalf of Courtright,” the criminal information says.

Courtright also directed one or more city representatives to halt development projects of a friend and supporter of a former unspecified mayor, and who did not donate in 2013 to Courtright’s first mayoral campaign. That person was identified as “Person No. 2.”

The federal document says Person No. 2 was the owner and manager of a company that developed commercial and residential properties in the city and needed occupancy permits, contractor’s licenses and other official authorizations from the city’s Licensing, Inspections and Permits Department.

Several of Person No. 2’s projects were halted and only allowed to proceed after that person agreed to give financial support to Courtright.

The mayor demanded from Person No. 2 a payment of $5,000, which came in the form of $2,500 in cash and $2,500 in a campaign contribution. That campaign donation was made by check Jan. 4, 2018, as a “quid pro quo” for Courtright helping Person No. 2 obtain a contractor’s license from the LIP department, and for the mayor to assist with official actions “as specific opportunities arose.”

According to public campaign finance records, developer Arthur Russo was the only campaign contributor to give $2,500 on Jan. 4, 2018.

Russo issued a statement to The Times-Tribune saying, “As a lifelong city resident and a downtown business developer, I applaud the investigation and efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI. We all have a civic duty to make our hometown a better place for families and businesses to thrive.”

‘Cash in a safe’

Courtright also targeted other unnamed people who owned or operated businesses that sought licenses, grants, services, contracts and other things of value from city offices, obtaining cash, campaign contributions and other valuable property, the court papers say.

During the raid of his home five months ago, federal agents said they discovered Courtright “stored thousands of dollars in cash in a safe at his residence,” part of which was ill-gotten money paid to the mayor.

Along with obtaining tens of thousands of dollars in cash, Courtright also obtained from unspecified persons and entities the use of property at an unspecified beach, installation of a staircase and framing at his business, Summit Karate Club in West Scranton, and landscaping at his West Mountain home.

As part of the conspiracy, Courtright insulated himself by using intermediaries to accept bribes, generally ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 at a time, and pass them to him.

The plea agreement calls for Courtright to forfeit $36,750. It’s not clear if this is the total amount illegally obtained.

Courtright’s attorney signed the plea agreement June 26; U.S. attorneys signed it June 27 and Monday.

‘It’s a mess’

City LIP Director Patrick Hinton said he was not surprised that his department figures into the situation.

“I’m sure part of it does deal with the (LIP) office,” Hinton said. “I wish I could give you more information, but I’m not going to comment (further). I’m not surprised.”

Asked if he conducted any illegal actions, Hinton said no.

“It certainly wasn’t me, I could assure you of that,” Hinton said.

He declined to comment on whether he had been aware of any corrupt acts. He said he cooperated with federal authorities in terms of answering any questions they had or providing any information they sought, but said he was not a behind the scenes cooperating witness.

“Some of the events have been very unpleasant. I certainly didn’t do any wrongdoing,” Hinton said. “Because of my position, unfortunately, I was kind of in the middle of this ugliness that was going on.”

“For me, doing the right thing, I paid the price for it,” Hinton continued.

He said he could not be more specific about the right thing he did. As for paying a price, he would only say it involved a lot of things that affect him outside of his job in City Hall.

Hinton also said he and the other cabinet members know they potentially could be let go from their positions by a new mayor.

“Yeah, I could sure be out of a job,” Hinton said. “It’s a mess. It’s a mess.”

‘Immense setback’

Monday’s developments began with Courtright informing city council in a letter delivered around 1:30 p.m. that he planned to resign.

“As of 4 p.m. today, I hereby resign from my position as Mayor of the City of Scranton,” Courtright wrote in the letter.

Efforts to contact Courtright and his attorney, Paul Walker, were unsuccessful.

Shortly after 3 p.m., the U.S. Attorney’s Office issued a statement saying Courtright is scheduled to appear in federal court at 9 a.m. today in Williamsport.

In that same statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office also announced a press conference today at 2 p.m. at the William J. Nealon Federal Building and Courthouse in Scranton.

At City Hall on Monday, business mostly went on as usual, but some Courtright confidantes were visibly shaken.

Dabbing tears from their eyes, the mayor’s secretaries, Kay Garvey and Maureen McNichols, declined to comment.

City Business Administrator David Bulzoni said he was shocked and disappointed at the allegations in the indictment. Bulzoni has known Courtright for 45 years.

“We worked so hard to move the city forward, to really gain a measure of respect for the city throughout the state, which had been lacking for quite some time,” Bulzoni said. “This is an immense setback ... we still have to get up and go to work. There is still work to be done. Our jobs are to continue to improve the city.”

If the allegations regarding Northeast Revenue Service are true, the city must evaluate its relationship with the company, Bulzoni said.

JOSEPH KOHUT, TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER, SARAH HOFIUS HALL and JON O’CONNELL, staff writers, contributed to this report.

Contact the writer:

jlockwood@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5185;

@jlockwoodTT on Twitter

Scranton Mayor Bill Courtright agreed to plead guilty to the following charges:

• Attempt to obstruct commerce by extortion under color of official right, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

• Bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

• Conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Defendants rarely receive the maximum sentence, which typically is imposed only on those who have an extensive criminal record. There is no agreement on sentencing, but the government has agreed to recommend a lighter sentence.

A judge also can reject the plea deal. Courtright will not be permitted to withdraw his plea if he is unhappy with the sentence.

— TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER

The rise and fall of Scranton Mayor Bill Courtright

Nov. 2003: Bill Courtright, a Democrat and owner of Summit Karate School, is top vote-getting in winning election to a four-year term on City Council to run 2004-2007. He and another newcomer, Janet Evans, form a new majority on council with then-current Councilman Gary DiBileo.

Nov. 2007: Courtright wins reelection to a second, four-year term on Scranton City Council, for the years 2008-11.

Nov. 2009: Courtright wins election to a four-year term as Scranton City Tax Collector, with the term to run 2010-13.

Nov. 2013: Incumbent Mayor Chris Doherty, a Democrat, does not seek reelection. Courtright wins election to a four-year mayoral term by easily defeating Republican Jim Mulligan.

Jan. 2014: Pledging to reinvent Scranton’s city government and asking for patience and cooperation during difficult times ahead, Courtright is sworn in as the city’s 30th person to serve as mayor since 1866. He introduces outside financial advisor Henry Amoroso of New Jersey, who was hired by the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce at the request of Courtright to assist the city at no cost to the city.

April 2014: Courtright calls his first 100 days baptism by fire, for being beset by various problems, including a big water main break, three sizable snowstorms, in quick succession, disagreements with city authorities, and a burst pipe in City Hall.

2015: Courtight and his administration renegotiate police and fire union contracts that finally resolves a long court battle over long overdue backpay the unions previously won a few years earlier in court against Doherty.

2016: Courtright and his administration complete monetizations of the parking and sewer systems, both major planks of the city’s Act 47 recovery plan. The parking deal also resolves the city’s disastrous 2012 default on Scranton Parking Authority debt.

2017: With major recovery initiatives either completed or underway, the city’s Act 47 recovery coordinator, Pennsylvania Economy League, eyes an eventual successful exit from Act 47 oversight. PEL also credits the city’s fiscal turnaround to the Courtright administration and newer councils, and the overall marked departure from the prior City Hall political war between Doherty and Janet Evans-led councils.

November 2017: Courtright wins reelection to a second, four-year mayoral term by again defeating Mulligan. This term is to run 2018-21.

Jan. 2019. The FBI raids City Hall and Courtright’s home on West Mountain. After a few days of swirling rumors, Courtright says he is not resigning and retained an attorney. That attorney, Paul Walker, issues a statement saying the mayor has fully cooperated with law enforcement authorities in the matter, which the mayor and Walker believe to be related to campaign finances.

June 2019: Courtright dispels rumors he will resign upon being indicted on June 18, 2019, three days after his daughter’s wedding on June 15, 2019.

July 1, 2019: Court documents posted on the federal court docket system at about 3:20 p.m. show that Courtright has agreed to plead guilty to charges of bribery, extortion and criminal conspiracy. Earlier, in a one-sentence letter, Courtright informed City Council around 1:30 p.m. that he will resign on July 1 at 4 p.m. Shortly after 3 p.m., the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Courtright would appear in federal court in Williamsport on July 2 on a pending court matter. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI also scheduled a press conference about Courtright for July 2 at 2 p.m. in Scranton.

The accusations were made public Monday in a federal charging document called a criminal information and its companion plea agreement.

A Nicholson home was destroyed by fire Monday afternoon.

Nicholson Assistant Fire Chief Ted Roberts said that around 1 p.m. a home at 8 Harding Avenue, owned by Tom Campbell was engulfed in flames when his firefighters arrived.

Roberts said the home was a total loss and the fire marshal would be called in, but the cause of the fire was not suspicious.

Fire companies from Factoryville, Dalton, Fleetville, Hop Bottom, Tunkhannock and Chinchilla assisted and mutiple other units were on standbye for the companies that were battling the blaze.

He said Tuesday morning some hot spots had flared back up at the scene, which the Nicholson firefighters were keeping in check.

Contact the writer: bbaker@wcexaminer.com, 570-836-2123 x33

WILLIAMSPORT — Former Scranton Mayor Bill Courtright pleaded guilty this morning to three felony counts of criminal conspiracy, bribery and extortion.

Courtright was arraigned on the corruption charges that stem from an ongoing FBI investigation dating back to at least 2017.

WILLIAMSPORT — Former Scranton Mayor Bill Courtright pleaded guilty this morning to three felony counts of criminal conspiracy, bribery and extortion.

Courtright was arraigned on the corruption charges that stem from an ongoing FBI investigation dating back to at least 2017. In a criminal information made public Monday, federal authorities charged that Courtright directed unnamed city representatives to hold up licenses, permits or contracts to extort cash and campaign contributions from entities doing business in or with the city. The corruption began soon after Courtright took office in 2014.

On Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Consiglio read a statement of facts, with evidence prosecutors would have presented had the case gone to trial.

Consiglio related a recorded telephone conversation between Courtright and Person No. 2.

The federal document says Person No. 2 was the owner and manager of a company that developed commercial and residential properties in the city and needed occupancy permits, contractor’s licenses and other official authorizations from the city’s Licensing, Inspections and Permits Department.

Several of Person No. 2’s projects were halted and only allowed to proceed after that person agreed to give financial support to Courtright.

The mayor demanded from Person No. 2 a payment of $5,000, which came in the form of $2,500 in cash and $2,500 in a campaign contribution. That campaign donation was made by check Jan. 4, 2018, as a “quid pro quo” for Courtright helping Person No. 2 obtain a contractor’s license from the LIP department, and for the mayor to assist with official actions “as specific opportunities arose.”

According to public campaign finance records, developer Arthur Russo was the only campaign contributor to give $2,500 on Jan. 4, 2018.

Consiglio said Person No. 2 was a friend and supporter of the former mayor, Chris Doherty.

In the conversation, Russo apologized for not being able to attend the Courtright’s 2017 inaugural party. Courtright told Russo: “I don’t worry about you coming, I worry about the money.”

Courtright often used intermediaries to collect payments, Consiglio said. They were not identified in court Tuesday, but prosecutors quoted Courtright from electronic intercepts as describing one as a “rock.”

“He would die before he told anyone,” Courtright said.

Prosecutors said Courtright complained to other city officials if a vendor gave too little in campaign contributions compared to the amount business they do with the city.

Consiglio also described a businessman not identified in the criminal information. Referred to as Person No. 3, Consiglio described him as someone associated with a “multimillion dollar development project.”

This is the person who did renovations at the former mayor’s karate studio and at his home. False payment records were created, Consiglio said.

Scranton developer Donald Mammano built the stairs behind the karate studio, according to the building permit issued Sept. 26, 2018.

Mammano owns several apartment and commercial buildings in the city, including one at 317 Linden St. and the Iron Lofts along Franklin Avenue.

He’s credited with saving the old Watres Armory on Adams Avenue after he bought it at auction for $150,000 in 2014.

He’s in the early stages of a $5.5 million project to convert a vacant six-story warehouse at 614 Wyoming Ave. into apartments and offices.

Mammano could not immediately be reached for comment.

Courtright also demanded a $4,000 bribe from the firm that collects the city’s delinquent taxes and trash fees, called “Company No. 1,” in exchange for the city continuing the contract, according to the federal charging documents. Northeast Revenue Service of Plains Twp. collects the city’s delinquent taxes and garbage fees. The president of Northeast Revenue, identified as Person No. 1 in the federal compliant, is John Rodgers.

At least one intermediary who delivered money to Courtright, revealed in court to be associated with “Person No. 1,” was actually working on behalf of the FBI. This had been going on since at least 2017.

Consiglio revealed that federal authorities interviewed Courtright after the raid at City Hall in December.

He denied taking payoffs, but later that day, agents found a safe in his basement at his home containing $29,450. The safe contained funds that included the payoffs made by an FBI cooperator.

The assistant U.S. attorneys declined comment as they left the federal courthouse this morning. Scowling, so did Courtright, who arrived in Williamsport with his attorney, Paul Walker, shortly after 8 a.m.

Courtright will be sentenced Nov. 14 in Scranton. He was released on his own recognizance.

Later today in Scranton, authorities will hold a press conference on the case.

Courtright resigned from office shortly before the accusations became public.

The accusations were made public Monday in a federal charging document called a criminal information and its companion plea agreement.

Snow days often reserved for riding sleds and sipping hot chocolate could soon include homework and online lessons.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed a bill today that will allow schools to replace snow days with “flexible instructional days” — which would mean students would learn from home and not have to make up the days schools are closed for inclement weather or other emergencies.

School districts interested in the option will have to submit an application to the state, detailing how educators will ensure students have access to technology, meet the requirements of special education students and monitor attendance.

Leaders of area school districts — which had as many as seven or eight snow days last year — said flex days may be worth pursuing.

“It would be beneficial to students in the long run. There’s less disruption to instruction, and it keeps us on the instructional calendar for testing,” Scranton Superintendent Alexis Kirijan, Ed.D., said. “I think it’s a great concept.”

But the district would need to complete significant work before flex days could be used, she said.

While the district’s online learning platform, Apex, would provide a way for students to learn and interact with their teachers on a snow day, all students and teachers must be trained on how to use it, she said. The district must also make sure lessons are available online.

“Although it has many advantages, it would take time, money and training to be able to implement fully if you want to do it right,” Kirijan said.

If a student did not have a computer, tablet, smartphone or other device to access lessons, the district would loan that student a computer, she said.

Abington Heights Superintendent Michael Mahon, Ph.D., said the district will also explore the use of flex days.

While teachers and students in upper grades often use the Google Classroom online platform for assignments, Mahon said he is concerned with technology and online interaction for students in elementary grades.

Along with ensuring students have access to technology and an internet connection, the district would also need to look at how flex days would affect the paychecks of hourly employees, Mahon said. For example, aides are not paid for a snow day, but are then paid for hours worked on the make-up day. With flex days, there would be no make-up days for the aides to work.

“We’re very interested in exploring the idea,” Mahon said. “There are many things that would need to be considered.”

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9133; @hofiushallTT on Twitter

The Trump administration says the 2020 Census questionnaire is moving ahead without a question about citizenship.
That's according to an attorney for a civil rights group that helped fight the addition of the question.
Kristen Clarke said Tuesday that Trump administration attorneys notified parties in lawsuits challenging the question that the printing of the hundreds of millions of documents for the 2020 counts would be starting soon.
The White House didn't immediately comment on the decision. President Donald Trump has decried last week's Supreme Court ruling saying the question was sought under a false pretext.
Spokespeople for the U.S. Census Bureau have not responded to emails or phone calls seeking comment.
 

Scranton officials are reviewing the city’s contract with Northeast Revenue Service after federal investigators revealed an alleged pay-to-play scheme involving the delinquent-tax-collection company, its president and former Mayor Bill Courtright.

Courtright pleaded guilty Tuesday morning to three felony counts of criminal conspiracy, bribery and extortion stemming from an ongoing FBI probe dating back to at least 2017. Federal charging documents do not name Northeast Revenue Service or its president, but refer to the firm that collects the city’s delinquent taxes as Company No. 1 and that company’s president as Person No. 1. Northeast collects the city’s delinquent taxes and garbage fees and its president is John Rodgers.

Charging documents describe how Courtright demanded a $4,000 bribe from Company No. 1 in exchange for the city continuing the contract originally signed in 2011. On or about Nov. 17, 2017, an unnamed intermediary accepted the corrupt payment on behalf of Courtright, who believed the money came from Person No. 1.

Courtright admitted in court Tuesday to dealings that saw him accept thousands of dollars in cash and purported campaign contributions from Person No. 1 and people acting on Person No. 1’s behalf in a quid-pro-quo arrangement aimed at maintaining Company No. 1’s contract with the city, U.S. Attorney David Freed said during a Tuesday press conference.

“Courtright accepted these funds knowing that the funds were given to corruptly influence his official action to maintain the contract with Company No. 1,” Freed said.

Efforts to reach Rodgers were unsuccessful. The company issued a statement noting its cooperation with investigators. It also noted no Northeast officers or employees have been charged with crimes in connection to Courtright.

“We operate with the highest ethical practices for the benefit of Scranton’s taxpayers,” the statement reads in part. “Since our work commenced under the prior Mayor, we have repeatedly been awarded new contracts by the city based on our successful track record with collections. We intend to continue to provide the highest standard of professional services, as we have always done.”

subhead

Northeast factored into a different federal corruption investigation involving pay-to-play in Allentown.

A 2017 federal indictment noted officials with the firm made campaign contributions and helped pay for dinner and Philadelphia Eagles tickets for former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski in a pay-to-play scheme he orchestrated. Pawlowski resigned in 2018, following his conviction on 47 federal corruption charges.

The indictment charged Pawlowski with telling Allentown city employees to ensure Northeast got a 2014 contract to collect the city’s delinquent taxes following the contributions, the Eagles game and the dinner. The indictment did not identify the firm or its campaign-contributing officials by name, but it did identify specific campaign contributions made by Rodgers, who attended the Eagles game with Pawlowski in January 2014.

In a December 2015 interview, Rodgers denied contributing as part of a pay-to-play scheme.

Allentown officials ended that city’s contractual relationship with Northeast in early 2017, according to the Morning Call newspaper of Allentown. City administrators faced pressure to end the contract since late 2015, when it was mentioned in several guilty pleas made by former Allentown officials as part of an FBI investigation, the newspaper reported in 2017.

subhead

Scranton Councilman Bill Gaughan said the city should terminate its contract with Northeast in light of information revealed in the Courtright scandal.

“Any business or entity that engaged in a pay-to-play scheme needs to be terminated,” Gaughan said. “We need to operate in an open and transparent fashion, and continuing to do business with this company is not in the best interest of the city at this point.”

The Times-Tribune reported in March that nearly one-quarter of trash fee accounts in the city are delinquent and totaled $16.8 million. After hearing from Northeast officials at an April caucus, some council members expressed no confidence in the firm and called for the city to put the collection contract out to bid.

“When we had (Northeast) before the City Council talking about the garbage fees, I think we all had some concerns about the performance and certainly we have more concerns now because of the revelations that just came out,” Councilman Wayne Evans said. “Certainly under the situation now, we really need to take a much closer look at our relationship.”

Councilman Kyle Donahue said that relationship should end.

“We need to restore confidence back in city government,” he said.

Efforts to reach Councilman Tim Perry were unsuccessful.

City Solicitor Jessica Eskra is conducting a legal review of the Northeast contract and officials are exploring the city’s options, said Acting Mayor Pat Rogan.

Nonetheless, Rogan said decisions regarding Scranton’s future relationship with the firm should be made by whoever is ultimately appointed permanent mayor in conjunction with city council.

“My philosophy during this time period is that any major decision should be made by the permanent mayor,” he said.

Leaders of government entities in Luzerne County, meanwhile, say they are happy with services provided by Northeast. The firm collects delinquent taxes for Luzerne County and levees fees assessed by the county flood protection authority.

On Tuesday, leaders of both bodies said they were surprised to hear the company mentioned in relation to the charges against Courtright.

Contact the writer:
jhorvath@timesshamrock.com;
570-348-9141;
@jhorvathTT on Twitter

The specialty medical group Delta Medix says one of its former urologists performed surgery at Geisinger Community Medical Center, and that’s a big problem.

Already locked in three legal battles with five doctors who left to work for Danville-based health system Geisinger, Delta Medix opened another case in Lackawanna County Court, this time accusing only Dr. Brian Kapp for breaking the terms of his contract by practicing too close to Delta’s downtown Scranton medical offices.

Last year, Delta sued Geisinger and five of its former urologists and partners — Ira Kohn, James L. Stefanelli, Jerald B. Gilbert, J. Robert Ramey and Kapp — asking the courts to block them from practicing within 40 miles of Scranton and to stop Geisinger from poaching its patients and employees.

The Delta doctors signed noncompete agreements, and Kapp promised that, should he quit to work for a competitor and practice within 40 miles of Scranton, he would pay his share of Delta’s outstanding debt and lease obligations, the suit says.

For him, that amounts to more than $1.2 million.

Delta says Kapp not only joined a competing health system in Scranton, but as of June 24, has been “practicing medicine and performing surgeries” at Geisinger Community Medical Center in the city.

“Our understanding was that they were going to stay away,” said Delta attorney Lisa Lori. “Now we know that one of them came back, so, in this suit, we’re seeking payment of the money.”

Lori said she believes none of the other urologists have crossed the 40-mile boundary.

Kapp’s lawyer said Delta is being greedy.

“Dr. Kapp is a great doctor focused on taking care of patients,” attorney Tim Polishan said. “Delta Medix’s lawsuit is focused on trying to get money from Dr. Kapp.”

The lawsuit, which asks a judge to compel Kapp to pay his share of the practice’s debt plus court costs, is the latest episode in a bitter fight between the doctors and two competing providers.

In September, Geisinger filed a countersuit claiming Delta’s noncompete agreement is legally deficient and unenforceable.

On their own, the five urologists also filed a countersuit accusing Delta, its chief executive officer, Margo Opsasnick, and other partners of seeking personal enrichment.

The suit says by squeezing out the urologists, should they sell the practice to a health system, fewer shareholders would mean each would receive a larger slice of the proceeds.

Lori passionately denied the accusation.

The other cases are pending in county court.

Contact the writer: joconnell@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9131; @jon_oc on Twitter

A Scranton man already charged with taking an underage girl from the city to western Pennsylvania is now accused of sexually assaulting a girl years ago.

A judge continued a preliminary hearing for Floyd Thurston, 45, 429 Colfax Ave. , Apt. 2, on both sets of charges Tuesday. City police detectives first arrested Thurston in late May, after investigators said Thurston fled the area with a 15-year-old girl. Authorities eventually apprehended Thurston in Oil City, Venango County. Detectives filed additional charges against Thurston last week stemming from incidents between 1997 and 2001.

A woman told police in April that Thurston sexually abused her when she was between the ages of 10 and 14 years old. The abuse happened at residences in South Scranton. The woman told police Thurston inappropriately touched her and made her touch him sexually for about two years, then he started raping her, detectives wrote in charging documents.

The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual assault.

Police interviewed Thurston about the incidents. Thurston denied any wrongdoing. Thurston also denied an inappropriate relationship with the 15-year-old girl he took to Oil City earlier this year.

Thurston is held in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $200,000 bail. He is due back in court for a preliminary hearings on both sets of charges on July 15.

Contact the writer: cover@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5363; @ClaytonOver on Twitter

SCRANTON

City Hall will be closed Thursday in observance of Independence Day.

There won’t be any garbage collection in Scranton on Thursday, as the Department of Public Works will be off. Garbage and blue recycling will fall a day behind.

Lackawanna County offices, including the courthouse, also will be closed Thursday.

Meanwhile, Scranton City Council changed its weekly meetings for July from Monday nights to Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m., preceded by a caucus at noon.

— JIM LOCKWOOD

A Dunmore bank hit a visibility milestone Monday when global index and analytics company FTSE Russell added it to its all-cap index.

FNCB Bank is now listed on the Russell 3000 Index, a perk that comes as the bank’s market capitalization, $157.5 million as of Monday, meets the index’s recently revised lower threshold of $152.3 million.

“This is something strategically we’ve been working on for several years,” said Chief Financial Officer James Bone. “We started down a path … we wanted to increase the marketability and liquidity of the bank’s stock.”

Last year, FNCB leveled up when it started trading on the Nasdaq exchange.

Joining the Russell 3000 Index means FNCB stock gets even more exposure to a broader range of investors, including institutional investors and mutual funds, Bone said.

“We believe that’s good for both the company and the shareholders in general,” he said.

The all-cap Index combines the company’s large-cap Russell 1000, which includes publicly traded companies with a market cap between $3.6 billion and $974.2 billion, and the small-cap Russell 2000, for companies with a market cap between $152.3 million and $3.6 billion.

Market cap represents a company’s outstanding shares multiplied by its stock price.

During its annual reconstitution earlier this year, FTSE Russell widened the range for the Russell 3000, which opened the door for FNCB to jump in, as well as into the Russell 2000, when changes went into effect at the end of trading Friday.

The new status also comes as fund managers and financial consultants steer more investment toward diversified, passive index funds instead of active trading.

Buying into an index, rather than individual stocks, gives investors stability because they own a broader range of securities.

Joining the Russell 3000 “offers a platform to increase our visibility and exposure to leading institutional investors,” FNCB President Gerard A. Champi said in a statement. “It’s reflective of our continued growth, strong financial performance and shareholder value.”

Contact the writer:

joconnell@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9131; @jon_oc

SCRANTON — Although former Scranton Mayor Bill Courtright pleaded guilty to federal charges Tuesday, the federal probe into public corruption that took him down is extensive and ongoing, U.S. Attorney David Freed said today.

“Today’s events specifically deal with Scranton city government and activity within the city of Scranton,” Freed said.

Freed addressed the media and others at Scranton’s federal courthouse, hours after Courtright pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy, bribery and extortion charges in Williamsport.

Courtright’s corruption, which began soon after he was sworn in to his first term as mayor in early 2014, involved using his position and power as mayor to target, extort and shake down vendors, developers and others doing business in or with the city, Freed said.

“He tied official contracting decisions as mayor to amounts of money that vendors paid,” Freed said.

In one instance, Courtright directed an unnamed city employee to give a license to a person not qualified to get one, and also suggested the required reference letters could be forged, Freed said. The license recipient paid Courtright for the help.

Asked why city employees involved in the schemes have not been charged, Freed said: “The question there is, did those people share a criminal intent or were they doing as they were told by an official who had power over their jobs. So that’s what we have to ferret out during the course of an investigation.”

Unnamed intermediaries — fewer than five — delivered cash payoffs to Courtright and checks to his campaign committee. At times, however, Courtright stuffed thousands of dollars of bribes into his pockets, Freed said.

Some of that ill-gotten cash was provided by FBI cooperators; the marked bills they paid him were discovered in a safe during a Jan. 9 raid at Courtright’s home, officials said.

As for whether others may face charges, “That’s what the rest of the investigation is focusing on,” Freed said.

Scranton residents Joan Hodowanitz and Marie Schumacher attended Freed’s press conference.

“This gives me hope that at least someone is looking into the corruption,” Hodowanitz said.

Schumacher felt differently.

“I feel worse because I think we have a lot of people who are going to be rewarded. They’re going to keep their jobs. They’re going to keep their contracts,” Schumacher said.

Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5185; @jlockwoodTT on Twitter