Dunmore Elementary Center and Dunmore Junior/Senior High School are swapping principals less than a month before students return to school and while school officials try to reform the high school schedule.

In two 5-4 votes, the school board this week moved junior-senior high school Principal Robert Galella to Dunmore Elementary Center, and elementary school Principal Matthew Quinn to the junior-senior high school for one year.

“Mr. Galella requested to be removed from the high school,” board President John Farris said at the meeting. “The board wanted a change for numerous reasons. Those are personnel reasons, and I’m not going into them.”

Mr. Quinn taught at Dunmore Elementary Center for 13 years before he took over as the building’s principal in 2008. The same year, Mr. Galella left his post as Tunkhannock Middle School principal to become Dunmore’s middle school principal and curriculum coordinator.

When James Forgione retired as high school principal, the school board merged the two secondary building principal jobs and had Mr. Galella take the position — a move he was reluctant to make.

“The last two years were difficult for me both personally and professionally,” Mr. Galella said. “I know where my skills lie ... I know with this change, I’m going to be able to get back to my roots. I have a vision, and I know how to raise test scores and work with teachers, parents and at-risk kids” in the district’s lower grades.

Mr. Galella started his career as a third- and fourth-grade teacher at Abington Heights from 1998-2004.

School directors wanted a culture change at the high school, but Mr. Galella said he was not the right administrator to make it happen there. He called Mr. Quinn “a strong personality” and a “great leader” who will be just what the high school needs.

Mr. Galella saw raising SAT and Keystone Exam scores, as well as raising staff morale at the high school as priorities. At his new elementary job, he planned an early focus on improving fifth grade reading scores that are below the state average.

Efforts to reach Mr. Quinn were unsuccessful on Wednesday.

School Director John Summa said he voted against the change because he felt Mr. Quinn was doing a “fantastic job,” and the primary grades are important for building a solid foundation. School Director Robert Holtham said the board agreed to the change to improve education at all levels in the district.

“Sometimes change is difficult,” Superintendent Richard McDonald said at this week’s meeting. “Sometimes change is necessary, too. I’ve spoken to both Mr. Galella and Mr. Quinn, and they both are excited about their new positions. And they both pledge to work as hard as they can for the betterment of our students.”

Mr. Quinn’s base salary is $92,140, while Mr. Galella’s is $93,922.

Contact the writer: kwind@timesshamrock.com, @kwindTT on Twitter

Medical assistant

charged with fraud

OLD FORGE — A medical assistant for an Old Forge doctor was charged Wednesday with one count of health care fraud for forging prescriptions to herself and billing Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania for the medications.

Sandra Jalowiec, 43, of Avoca, forged the signature of Michael Jalowiec, D.O., 821 S. Main St., Old Forge, on prescriptions for various narcotics from January 2008 through May 2014, according to court papers. She then submitted claims for payment to Blue Cross, resulting in a loss of $5,000 to $10,000 to the company. Court papers do not say whether Ms. Jalowiec is related to Dr. Jalowiec.

Ms. Jalowiec agreed to plead guilty to the charge at a hearing scheduled for Friday.

— TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER

The chamber paid the freight and is throwing its weight.

Mayor Bill Courtright should secure concessions from the city’s public safety unions before imposing a commuter tax, the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce recommends in a letter to the mayor.

The chamber also says it is considering the mayor’s request to extend consultant Henry Amoroso’s contract for another six months, according to the letter sent to the mayor Tuesday and obtained by The Times-Tribune.

The chamber paid the $30,000 fee for the recovery-plan consultant that the strapped city could not afford. The fee put the business group at the table, and the letter reads as if it gets

a say in how the city should implement the plan.

Both chamber President Robert Durkin and Mr. Courtright said in separate phone interviews that the letter is not akin to the chamber tail wagging the city dog.

“I don’t see it that way at all,” said Mr. Courtright, noting he has a good relationship with the chamber.

Mr. Durkin agreed and said the chamber had stated from the start it would not direct Mr. Amoroso’s work in any way and has not done so. Mr. Amoroso issued his recovery plan July 2.

“We did not have undue direct influence on the development of the plan. We did not want people to think the chamber was hiring the consultant to tell the city what to do,” Mr. Durkin said.

Now, however, that the first thing the city has done out of the gate is introduce a commuter tax, the chamber’s letter simply makes “a public statement,” Mr. Durkin said. They ask the mayor to implement the recovery plan as he and Mr. Amoroso have said it must be done if it is to succeed — in total and not piecemeal.

And one of the things the recovery plan calls for is reopening union contracts to seek various concessions. But specifics regarding concessions have not been worked out, even as the city is on verge of adopting a commuter tax to fund pensions. The chamber believes such a tax is “premature” if enacted without a clear understanding of and commitment to concessions, states the letter.

“It is the view of the chamber that such details (on reopening contracts) have to be made clear in order to capture a complete picture of the whole strategy,” the letter states.

Tax on tap

City council is expected to vote tonight on adopting an ordinance authorizing a 0.75 percent Act 205 earned-income tax on certain commuters to raise $5.1 million a year to shore up the city’s severely distressed pension funds. However, a state bill, if enacted, would require the city to levy the same Act 205 earned-income wage tax on city residents. As the mayor and council members have opposed raising the city’s own wage tax, it’s not clear how the tax matter would be handled if the Act 205 amendment passes. The chamber thinks the city should not rush to impose a commuter tax, in absence of union concessions and the other questions.

“We recommend a more patient and measured approach to this action (an Act 205 tax), taking into account the need to examine issues involving the city’s collective bargaining agreements” and pending changes to state Act 205 pension law and Act 47 distressed municipalities law, the chamber letter states.

As for the chamber’s call for concessions before a commuter tax, Mr. Courtright said, “That’s their opinion.”

Mr. Courtright said he has had a few conversations, but no negotiations, with union representatives.

“Whatever we do with them is going to have to be negotiated because they have a contract through 2017,” Mr. Courtright said. “Negotiation is going to take time.”

Mr. Courtright said a commuter tax is necessary and that infusion alone won’t fund all of the city’s pension contributions.

Mr. Durkin said first imposing a commuter tax to help fund pensions would cede leverage the city might have in negotiating reopened contracts.

“It (a commuter tax) is a potential bargaining chip with the unions. Why would you give that away,” Mr. Durkin said. “We’re not looking to blame anybody or come on strong that we’re anti-union. We’re not. We’re simply saying the plan says ‘reopen the contracts.’ The reasonable thing might be to implement those things first.”

Mr. Courtright said his discussions with the unions did not involve the city enacting a commuter tax first as a condition of future concessions.

Amoroso returns?

As for the mayor’s request that the chamber again rehire Mr. Amoroso to continue his consulting work for the city, Mr. Durkin said the chamber’s consideration of that request was not a quid pro quo for the chamber’s recommendations. Mr. Amoroso’s work was strong but there is more to be done to implement the plan, the letter to the mayor says.

The chamber on Wednesday wrote to its previous donors and other businesses asking them to again contribute toward funding Mr. Amoroso’s $30,000 fee for another six months, Mr. Durkin said. This extension would have Mr. Amoroso help secure donations from nonprofit organizations, assist in union negotiations and on debt service issues, and develop an economic strategy moving forward, Mr. Durkin said.

The chamber also sent to its members on Wednesday a similar letter that made the same points and also listed the Amoroso report’s recommendations.

Meanwhile, the Act 205 commuter tax ordinance is expected to be the subject of a public council caucus tonight at 6 p.m. before council’s regular meeting at 6:30 p.m., when the ordinance is on the agenda for adoption.

Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com, @jlockwoodTT on Twitter

A July 18 story about “American Pickers” looking for leads on collections in Northeast Pennsylvania contained an incorrect email address for the show’s producer. Individuals with collections can email the details to

jfriedman@cineflix.com.

SCRANTON — Police arrested a Clarks Green man Tuesday night and charged him for sexually abusing a young girl, South Abington Twp. police said.

Police charged Kevin John Smith, 43, 210 Tedrick St., with indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, corruption of minors and unsworn falsification to authorities in a written statement. Mr. Smith inappropriately touched the victim, now 9 years old, from May 2011 through April 2012.

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

The child disclosed the abuse to a family member in May and police began their investigation. Mr. Smith initially denied ever touching the girl and agreed to take a polygraph test on Friday to prove it to police.

“I have nothing to hide,” Mr. Smith said, according to a criminal complaint.

However, Mr. Smith admitted during the polygraph examination that he touched her inappropriately about three to five times in one year in his Clarks Green home.

Police learned he had an alcohol abuse problem, and Mr. Smith admitted he was drinking at the time it first

happened.

He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Paul J. Ware and sent to Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

Contact the writer:

jkohut@timesshamrock.com;

@jkohutTT on Twitter

Fatal hit-and-run

heads to trial

HONESDALE — A Wayne County man charged in the fatal hit-and-run of a New York teen will stand trial, a preliminary hearing determined Wednesday.

Jason Day, 32, of Buckingham Twp., is charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, accidents involving death, homicide by vehicle and related charges.

Mr. Day was driving on Route 191 in May, just past the Hancock Bridge in Buckingham Twp., when he struck and killed 19-year-old Zachary Possemato, police said.

Mr. Day later told police he thought he hit a deer and didn’t stop to check, also admitting that he had several drinks before driving home.

Mr. Day is free on bail.

— REBEKAH BROWN

Wayne County man due homicide trial

HONESDALE — A Wayne County man facing homicide charges in the shooting death of his niece will stand trial, following a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

State police charged Louis Ogden, 51, with homicide and drug charges in June. Mr. Ogden, of South Canaan Twp., argued with his niece, Rebecca Pisall, 20, over the $20 he charged her for heroin. She told her uncle she wanted her money back and then he shot her. She was flown to Geisinger Community Medical Center, but died the next day.

Mr. Ogden said the gun went off and he only meant to scare his niece, police said.

Mr. Ogden remains in Wayne County Correctional Facility without bail.

— REBEKAH BROWN

Nicholson man sent

to prison for arson

SCRANTON — A Nicholson man will spend up to 23½ months in jail for arson after lighting a woman’s car on fire during a drunken New Year’s Eve party last year.

Michael Sippel, 20, said he made a “stupid decision” that night, before Lackawanna County Judge Vito Geroulo sentenced him to eight months to 23½ months in county jail and ordered him to pay $1,838.98.

Mr. Sippel told police after the Dec. 31 party that he might have set the car on fire, but didn’t remember. Firefighters found a 20-pound propane tank in the back seat.

Judge Geroulo warned Mr. Sippel that drinking until he couldn’t remember his actions was a dangerous habit, referring to a case where a man killed a woman while blacked out after drinking.

“You’re not even old enough to drink and you have a real problem with alcohol,” Judge Geroulo said. “This could lead to disaster,” he added.

— REBEKAH BROWN

School board OKs $75G payment

TUNKHANNOCK — The Tunkhannock Area School Board approved a “retirement incentive payment” for former assistant superintendent Ann Way at its meeting last Thursday.

Ms. Way will be paid a salary incentive of $65,111.51, and an unused sick day incentive of $10,017.16 for a total of $75,128.67. In addition, healthcare will be provided until she is Medicare eligible, but the dollar value of that was not available.

— ROBERT BAKER

Propane to power Elk Lake school

DIMOCK TWP. — The Elk Lake School Board recently approved plans for a temporary propane installation at the school.

By January, Elk Lake plans to be running completely on natural gas. By transitioning to natural gas, Elk Lake hopes to drastically cut energy costs while using an energy source in its backyard.

The propane installation will power the school until it is ready to switch to natural gas in January.

— JEFFREY HORVATH

Teacher acquitted of sex assault

WILKES-BARRE — A jury acquitted a suspended Hanover Area School District teacher Wednesday of two counts of institutional sexual assault.

Edward Evans said he’s now focused on getting his job back.

Jury foreman Jeffrey Lotz of Conyngham said while the jury couldn’t definitively say whether Mr. Evans had sex with a student, the teacher put himself in a bad position by taking the 18-year-old into his bedroom.

“We found the defendant very stupid, but not guilty,” Mr. Lotz said.

The student alleged while in Mr. Evans’ bedroom, they gave each other oral sex. The Times-Tribune does not identify reported victims of sexual assault.

— STAFF REPORT

Casey: More flood protection needed

WEST PITTSTON — U.S. Sen. Bob Casey asked for more federal money to help small communities with flood protection projects, citing West Pittston as a prime example of one that would benefit.

Since the Tropical Storm Lee flooding of September 2011 wreaked havoc on their community, borough residents have been lobbying for a study to determine if a levee would be feasible.

But a backlog in requests for the Small Flood Risk Management Project continues to delay federal analysis of their effort, said Mr. Casey, a Democrat.

— ELIZABETH SKRAPITS

Cops: Drunk man resisted arrest

CARBONDALE — Police arrested a 31-year-old man Wednesday after a drunken fight he had with his parents.

After leaving a burger joint, Jason James Omillian of Carbondale was busted and charged with resisting arrest and public drunkenness, according to the criminal

complaint.

Two officers took him to the ground when he fought their attempts to handcuff him. Mr. Omillian’s face struck the pavement, causing a cut and swelling on his lip.

The suspect had a blood-alcohol content of 0.18 percent via a preliminary breath test. He also had a bottle of vodka on him.

— PETER CAMERON

The flight of people from the labor force has sent the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metro area unemployment rate down three-tenths of a percentage point in June to 6.9 percent but it remained the highest among the state’s 14 metro areas.

The data released from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry show the lowest the rate in the region since October of 2008, yet fewer people are working.

While a decline in the percentage of people who are unemployed can generally be viewed as a positive, the cause is not — the departure of people in the labor force, those able to work and actively seeking work. Over the year, that number is down by 7,700 and falling fast with 1,400 fewer workers than the prior month.

That's a decline in the workforce of nearly 3 percent over the year.

While everyone is happy to see the unemployment rates drop, Dana Harris, Ph.D., professor of economics at Keystone College, said when the rate falls due to a shrinking labor force it causes concerns.

“We have to find out why the labor force is falling this much,” she said. “People may compare 6.9 to 9.1 and say ‘this is a great!’ But the way we are getting there may not be the best way.”

Some possibilities include out migration — people finding work outside the area and moving. Dr. Harris suggested young workers may have graduated from college since the recession and returned to Northeast Pennsylvania to live with family. With the national economy rebounding, it’s possible this boomerang cohort found work and are leaving. Or people may be tired of looking for work unsuccessfully and just giving up.

Underscoring the contradiction in the jobless recovery is one number — the count of seasonally-adjusted employed people: the region had 1,000 fewer people working in June at 6.9 percent unemployment, than were working in June 2013, when unemployment was 9.1 percent.

Establishment data, the tally of jobs within the metro area, showed a decline of 600 non-farm jobs over the year, with the declines of 1,700 in retail and 2,100 in business services offset by gains of 900 in mining and construction and 1,200 in transportation, warehousing and utilities.

Employment in retail, information and the federal government employment hit their lowest levels since records for the area began to be collected in 1990.

“Seems like we had losses across the board in nearly every sector,” Dr. Harris said.

Contact the writer: dfalchek@timesshamrock.com

Burglar steals money from stand

SCRANTON — A burglar broke into a West Scranton Little League concession stand earlier this week and stole an unknown amount of money from the cash register, city police said.

The burglary took place at a stand near Eighth Avenue sometime between 8 p.m. on Monday and 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, acting Capt. Glenn Thomas said.

The burglar gained entry to the concession stand by kicking in a door. Police are trying to determine how much money was stolen.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

Voters in the 10th Congressional District will have a third option in the Nov. 4 election.

Independent Nick Troiano of Williamsport on Wednesday delivered nomination papers containing 7,053 signatures to the Department of State in Harrisburg to secure a spot on the general election ballot.

Upon official certification, Mr. Troiano, 25, will join two other Lycoming County residents — incumbent Republican Rep. Tom Marino of Lycoming Twp. and Democrat Scott Brion of Jackson Twp. — as a candidate for the 10th District seat.

The signatures, which Mr. Troiano said came from registered voters in all 15 counties in the district, were almost double the 3,592 he needed to submit by Friday to get on the ballot.

“What we have accomplished is remarkable and is a tangible demonstration that our campaign has the capacity, ideas and momentum to win in November,” Mr. Troiano, a Pike County native, told supporters on the steps of the state

Capitol.

With dissatisfaction with government at a historical high and the number of Americans who choose to affiliate with either of the major parties at a historical low, Mr. Troiano said the question is how to return to a two-party system that actually works.

“The only way we can send the message that things must change is to send a truly independent leader to Washington to let our oldest, longest-serving, most partisan and most corrupt Congress in history know the party is over,” he said.

Mr. Marino, who is seeking his third term, and Mr. Brion were both unopposed for their respective party’s nomination in the primary election.

Contact the writer:

dsingleton@timesshamrock.com

Woman hit by car remains critical

SCRANTON — A West Pittston woman struck by a car in downtown Scranton on Tuesday remained in critical condition Wednesday night at Geisinger Community Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Westyn Hinchey said.

Nicole Avvisato, 27, was struck by Ralph Scarfo’s Volvo at Lackawanna and Wyoming avenues around 4:30 p.m. Mr. Scarfo, 46, of Scranton, has not been charged, acting Scranton Police Capt. Glenn Thomas said.

Ms. Avvisato bled heavily from her head, but was conscious while a witness, Keith Heimbuch, dialed 911, Mr. Heimbuch said at the scene Tuesday.

She is an employee of the Lackawanna County district attorney’s office.

The investigation continues, Capt. Thomas said.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

The FBI is investigating at least three and possibly as many as five bomb threats Wednesday to banks in Northeast Pennsylvania.

A caller demanded money and said explosives were planted in and around the Wells Fargo Bank, 330 Meadow Ave. Peoples Security Bank, 420 Davis St., both in Scranton, and PNC Bank, 650 Main St., Avoca. The banks were evacuated without incident and no bombs were discovered, police said.

Scranton police Lt. Marty Crofton said the phone threats were similar to a spate of calls earlier this month to banks and a grocery store, though the department has no definitive evidence at this time.

Two more banks in Northeast Luzerne County also received threats, according to Avoca police, though no further information was available.

A spokeswoman for the FBI said the agency has opened an investigation, but refused to comment.

JAMES HALPIN, staff writer, contributed to this report.

Contact the writer:

pcameron@timesshamrock.com, @pcameronTT on Twitter

FBI interview reports about the night federal Correctional Officer Eric Williams was slain reveal how his colleagues quickly rallied to identify his attacker, then convince him to turn over the murder weapon and surrender.

The reports, documenting interviews with correctional officers working the night Officer Williams was beaten and stabbed to death at U.S.tates Penitentiary at Canaan in Wayne County, were included as exhibits in court filings by defense attorneys for inmate Jessie Con-ui.

Mr. Con-ui, 37, is charged with first-degree murder of a federal correctional officer and faces the death penalty if convicted. According to prosecutors, Mr. Con-ui charged at Officer Williams, knocked him down a staircase, then stabbed him more than 200 times and stomped his head on Feb. 25, 2013. Officer Williams, 34, of Nanticoke, was working alone in a unit housing of about 130 inmates and was preparing to lock them into their cells for a nightly head count when he was attacked.

After finding Officer Williams and summoning medical aid, a lieutenant armed with a pepper ball gun led colleagues around the cell block locking down all the cells. After the cells were locked down, the lieutenant retreated to the prison infirmary to wait with Officer Williams until an ambulance came. Other correctional officers went cell to cell looking for any wounds or blood on inmates and spotted blood on Mr. Con-ui. The lieutenant soon returned to identify the inmate, who was barricaded in his cell.

When Lt. Brian Sudul approached Mr. Con-ui’s cell, he could see an eight-inch, sharpened Plexiglas knife in a sink. Lt. Sudul asked Mr. Con-ui to surrender. Mr. Con-ui feared the officers wanted to kill him in retaliation, and initially refused. Other officers already assured Mr. Con-ui they were being watched by cameras and couldn’t hurt him.

“I give you my word no harm will come to you,” Lt. Sudul said, according to the FBI reports.

“OK, I will cuff up,” Mr. Con-ui said.

Mr. Con-ui then handed the knife through the food slot on his cell door and submitted to being handcuffed. While being led to a holding area, Mr. Con-ui blurted out, “Hey man, I am sorry, but I had to do what I had to do. I am sick of all your people’s disrespect,” according to the reports.

Word soon arrived that Officer Williams wouldn’t survive. Mr. Con-ui was transferred from the prison a short time later.

Mr. Con-ui was angered over a shakedown of his cell supposedly ordered by Officer Williams a day earlier, prosecutors previously said.

In his FBI interview, Lt. Sudul said he was “shocked” Mr. Con-ui was the suspect, saying he was “the last guy” he would expect to attack an officer.

“Every CO that Sudul talked to after the attack agreed Con-ui never caused problems inside the prison,” the FBI wrote.

At the time of the incident, Mr. Con-ui was at the tail end of his 11-year federal drug trafficking sentence. In September 2012, he would have immediately been returned to Arizona to serve 25 years to life for killing a gang rival. He currently is jailed at ADX Florence, the nation’s only supermaximum security prison in Colorado, known as the “Alcatraz of the Rockies.”

He awaits trial on murder charges in federal court.

Contact the writer: bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com, @cvbobkal

SCRANTON — With paint, lumber, brushes, nails and hammers, high-schoolers from all over the country and homeowners in West Scranton came together.

NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania partnered with around 335 kids from the Group Cares Foundation, Levline, Colorado to do home improvement projects for elderly, modest-income and disabled homeowners.

The group stayed the week at Marywood University and helped repair and refurbish 55 homes, said Jesse Ergott, executive director of NeighborWorks.

He said it’s the fourth year the nonprofit worked with Group Cares but the first time in West Scranton.

Tim Schubach from Group Cares said the kids, who come from as far west as Missouri, arrived on Sunday afternoon and were split up into crews of six.

On Thursday, kids covered in paint took a break from the labor and played frisbee, basketball and enjoyed refreshments at the Jackson Street Park.

“They learn skills at the same time as they’re serving the residents,” Mr. Ergott said.

He added that the volunteers get a good chance to know the residents.

“It’s an opportunity to bring some hope to the residents,” he said, noting that some of the work is done on the homes of elderly residents whose families are not around anymore.

“It brings some life into their house again,” he said.

A contractor goes to the site before the project starts, he said, and draws up the specs. With site coaches on hand, the students began the work.

One of the homeowners, Tom Hall, has lived on North Sumner Avenue for 14 years and West Scranton his whole life.

“I had the deck in my back (yard) and they removed the old railings and steps and replaced them,” he said, “and tomorrow they’re going to finish painting.”

It took the group of three girls and two boys four days to finish the project, he said.

Mr. Hall, who recently had back surgery, said the work was high quality.

“My group was amazing,” he said.

Jillian Hissick, 18, from Cheshire, Connecticut, worked on Mr. Hill’s home and said she had a fantastic experience.

This is her second mission trip ­— last year she was in Shamokin.

She said she enjoys the work because it’s nice “to come and do something for other people and help improve their lives.”

Thomas Mulholland, 15, also from Cheshire, did interior painting on a home with Katherine Harrison, 17, of Roanoke, Virginia..

Both Thomas and Katherine enjoyed their stay in Scranton.

“I met a lot of new people and did a lot of good work,” Thomas said.

Katherine said Scranton is “a cool area with a lot of character.”

Both plan to volunteer again next year.

Contact the writer:

kbolus@timesshamrock.com, @kbolusTT on Twitter.

For the first time since 1994, Scranton will again impose a commuter tax, this time to shore up the strapped city’s severely underfunded pension system.

City council on Thursday adopted a 0.75 percent earned-income tax on nonresident workers to raise an estimated $5.1 million a year. Council voted 4-1, with President Bob McGoff and councilmen Pat Rogan, Joe Wechsler and Wayne Evans in favor and Councilman Bill Gaughan opposed, to adopt an ordinance authorizing the Act 205 earned-income tax on nonresidents who work in the city.

Despite pending changes to Act 205 that would require the city to levy the same tax on residents, Mr. Rogan and Mayor Bill Courtright insisted residents would not see a wage-tax hike.

Mr. Courtright and other officials told council the tax is necessary so the pension system doesn’t collapse and sink the city with it. The alternative would be exorbitant property tax hikes on city residents, he said.

“I think one of the alternatives we would have to look at if the (commuter) tax doesn’t pass, that we’d rather not look at, is a much larger increase in the real estate tax than we’ve proposed. It could be much, much higher,” Mr. Courtright told council.

Larry Durkin, attorney for the city’s Composite Pension Board, also said the pension system is flirting with insolvency, with more money going out than coming in. If the stock market were to tank, as it did a few years ago, the pension fund’s investments likely would be wiped out, he said. The city would still be required to pay pensions, city solicitor Jason Shrive said. A collapse could put to the city under a receivership or in bankruptcy, he said.

The earned-income wage tax for pensions is allowed under state Act 205 .

Several city residents and a few nonresidents who spoke opposed the tax. Laureen Cummings of Old Forge, a home health nursing company owner, said the city needs “to look at the real problem here, and that is your unions ... I’m completely against this (tax). I’m surprised this room isn’t packed. It’s not just affecting Scranton, but now everybody’s going to be affected by your vote tonight.”

City residents Les Spindler and Dave Dobrzyn defended the tax.

Mr. Spindler said a “delay would take money out of city pockets,” and, “We need every penny we could get coming into the city.”

State Rep. Sid Michaels Kavulich, D-Taylor, said he is concerned for commuters and, “It is overwhelming that they don’t want to pay this commuter tax.” He said he is exploring whether state Act 47, the distressed municipalities law, trumps Act 205. He also questioned whether the unions’ willingness to negotiate concessions means the city has not exhausted all options before resorting to a commuter tax.

Council’s debate mirrored its prior discussions when the tax ordinance was introduced and advanced.

Mr. Gaughan said a commuter tax is premature without union concessions and in absence of the mayor’s 2015 budget proposal; and due to a pending state bill to amend Act 205 to include a commensurate hike on residents.

“City residents will face a 33 percent increase in their wage tax, which would be crippling,” Mr. Gaughan said. “I haven’t heard a good reason yet as to why the administration is in such a rush to impose this tax.”

Mr. Rogan disagreed and said adopting a commuter tax now, under current Act 205, means city residents won’t pay more.

“Just to be very clear,” Mr. Rogan said in caucus before the meeting, “adoption of this tax will not mean one cent additional tax for the residents of Scranton.”

Mr. Shrive replied, “Not as the law stands today.”

Mr. Rogan asked Mr. Courtright, “We can safely tell the residents of city of Scranton that their earned income tax is not going up, no matter what the state does, is that correct?”

Mr. Courtright replied, “That would be our position now, as the law exists. I wish I could see into the future, but I can’t. That would be our position now, as the law exists.”

The mayor and other supporters said that if Act 205 is amended, the city would have to revisit the commuter tax issue. Mr. Shrive said the options would be to amend it, repeal it or impose it on city residents. The mayor said he has no intention of raising the city’s wage tax, which already is at 2.4 percent. Another 1 percent of city wage tax goes to the school district.

Another idea if the Act 205 amendment passes — lowering the city’s wage tax by 0.75 percent and then raising it by that amount to comply with the new law — won’t work, Mr. Gaughan said. He said the city cannot lower and raise its wage tax in the same budget year.

Mr. Rogan, Mr. Wechsler and Mr. McGoff said the city cannot wait to see what the state does, and the Act 205 tax on commuters is the first step of a plan devised by financial consultant Henry Amoroso. Mr. Rogan said city leaders “have to look out for our own.”

Mr. Evans, in his first meeting after being sworn in to office earlier Thursday, said he was disappointed that the administration did not secure concessions for pension reform first, but he supports the Amoroso plan and its Act 205 commuter tax plank. He said he was taking it “on faith” that union concessions would be forthcoming, which drew chuckles from the audience.

Mr. Shrive said the tax is estimated to raise $1.2 million in fourth quarter of this year, minus costs of mailing notices to employers and the collection agency fee.

The tax won’t apply to commuters whose home municipalities already have earned-income taxes greater to or equal to Scranton’s, such as Carbondale and Wilkes-Barre.

In other business, council voted 5-0 on each of the following:

• To introduce a resolution to approve the mayor’s appointment of Patrick DeSarno as fire chief. Chief DeSarno, 53, had been serving as acting fire chief since Jan. 6, and resigned from that post July 25. His appointment as fire chief was effective Saturday. He resigned after becoming fully vested on the 25th anniversary of his hiring date in May. His pension will be frozen until after he turns 55 and after he retires from the fire department. As acting chief, Mr. DeSarno earned his union firefighter salary of $69,366, but now as chief he earns an annual salary of $50,000 under the 2014 budget enacted by the former mayor and council. However, Mr. Courtright and this year’s council are expected to raise the fire chief’s salary in the 2015 budget.

• To advance on second readings , and then adopt on third readings, a pair of ordinances to execute easements with Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority for various properties along Nay Aug Avenue and for a section of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail in the city.

• To adopt an ordinance adopting the 2009 edition of the International Maintenance Code regulating and governing maintenance, condemnation and demolition of buildings, and permits and fees; and repealing a 14-year-old ordinance.

• To adopt an ordinance to create a special account for health care contributions from employees of Republic Parking who are members of Teamsters Local 229, and for receipt and disbursement of those funds.

• To adopt a resolution approving the reappointment of Steven Kochis of Hickory Street to the zoning board. His prior term expired July 16 and his new term will expire July 15, 2019.

In another matter, council will recess for the month of August. Council’s next regular meeting will be Sept. 4.

Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com, @jlockwoodTT on Twitter

New officers at helm

of Honesdale Rotary

Outgoing President Ken Doolittle handed the Honesdale Rotary’s gavel to Jordan Ubertini during a an installation ceremony at Woodloch Springs in Hawley.

Jordan, a senior financial advisor with Merrill Lynch, promised to uphold the Rotary’s guiding principles of service, high ethical standards and the advancement of international understanding.

“It is an honor and privilege to lead this club,” he said, “I’m looking forward to a fun year ahead of our club making a positive impact on our community alongside such a great group of people.”

The Honesdale father was accompanied to the installation dinner by his wife Chelsey.

Also inducted during the ceremony were First Vice President Andrea Lane Chapman and Second Vice President Zach Jennings. Larry Caruth is treasurer, Kay Reynolds, secretary, and Margaret Allen , Sergeant-at-arms.

Honesdale Rotary has raised funds to help Honesdale Little Baseball, the Honesdale Emergency Pantry and the Rotary International’s campaign to eradicate polio worldwide.

Roman travelers

Local travelers met up with former Carbondale resident Maria Talerico in her new hometown of Rome during a recent trip led by Travelworld Escort Bernadette Lepre.

On her sixth trip to Italy, Bernadette showed the group around Firenze, Pisa, Verona, Ferrara, Burano, San Gimignano, Venezia and Roma.

Among those on the trip were: Anthony Carachilo, John Carachilo, Diane Karosus, Eileen Kafchinski, Cathy Larnerd, Brittany Matala, Carolyn Matala, Nancy Santarsiero, Tom Seymour, Kaitlyn Shockey, Jessica Short, Joyce Short, Lisa Stevenson and Lynnette Lepre VanDeusen. Several of them are Maria’s cousins.

High notes

Stan Pratt, a World War II reenactor with the 103rd Infantry Division, will share his knowledge today as part of the Wayne County Historical Society’s Plain Speaking Summer Series. Stan will be portraying one of Wayne County’s most prominent military heroes, Gen. Lyman L. Lemnitzer, a Honesdale native and career military man who went on to become the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. ...

Ken Doolittle, left, passes the Honesdale Rotary gavel to Jordan Ubertini. Left from Mr. Ubertini are Andrea Land Chapman, Zach Jennings, Larry Caruth and Margaret Allen.

New officers at Honesdale Rotary

Outgoing President Ken Doolittle handed the Honesdale Rotary’s gavel to Jordan Ubertini during a an installation ceremony at Woodloch Springs in Hawley.

Jordan, a senior financial advisor with Merrill Lynch, promised to uphold the Rotary’s guiding principles of service, high ethical standards and the advancement of international understanding.

“It is an honor and privilege to lead this club,” he said, “I’m looking forward to a fun year ahead of our club making a positive impact on our community alongside such a great group of people.”

The Honesdale father was accompanied to the installation dinner by his wife Chelsey.

Also inducted during the ceremony were First Vice President Andrea Lane Chapman and Second Vice President Zach Jennings. Larry Caruth is treasurer, Kay Reynolds, secretary, and Margaret Allen , Sergeant-at-arms.

Honesdale Rotary has raised funds to help Honesdale Little Baseball, the Honesdale Emergency Pantry and the Rotary International’s campaign to eradicate polio worldwide.

Roman travelers

Local travelers met up with former Carbondale resident Maria Talerico in her new hometown of Rome during a recent trip led by Travelworld Escort Bernadette Lepre.

On her sixth trip to Italy, Bernadette showed the group around Firenze, Pisa, Verona, Ferrara, Burano, San Gimignano, Venezia and Roma.

Among those on the trip were: Anthony Carachilo, John Carachilo, Diane Karosus, Eileen Kafchinski, Cathy Larnerd, Brittany Matala, Carolyn Matala, Nancy Santarsiero, Tom Seymour, Kaitlyn Shockey, Jessica Short, Joyce Short, Lisa Stevenson and Lynnette Lepre VanDeusen. Several of them are Maria’s

cousins.

High notes

Stan Pratt, a World War II reenactor with the 103rd Infantry Division, will share his knowledge today as part of the Wayne County Historical Society’s Plain Speaking Summer Series. Stan will be portraying one of Wayne County’s most prominent military heroes, Gen. Lyman L. Lemnitzer, a Honesdale native and career military man who went on to become the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Archbald

Bus trip: Knights of Columbus Council 2644 fundraiser bus trip to the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, Sept. 20, bus leaves Wildcat Saloon & Eatery, Route 247, Sturges, 9:30 a.m.; leaves casino, 5 p.m.; $30, includes $20/casino rebate, $5/food voucher, refreshments/snacks provided, raffles, non-refundable payment due by Sept. 6; 570-489-2371.

Dunmore

Student orientation: Dunmore Middle School seventh-grade/transfer students orientation, Aug. 25, 1:15-2 p.m., cafeteria; 570-346-2043.

Fell Twp.

Lights meeting: Community Christmas Light Project informational meeting, Monday, following 7 p.m. supervisor’s meeting, municipal building.

Greenfield Twp.

Gospel quartet: Finch Hill Baptist Church Lumber River Gospel Quartet concert, Aug. 22, 7 p.m., 404 Route 106 (at Routes 247), love offering; 570-282-7062.

Jermyn

Block party: Jermyn Neighborhood Crime Watch National Night Out block party, Aug. 12, 6-10 p.m., Artisan Fire Company Grounds, Maple Street, parade Main Street to fire company grounds, 6 p.m.; free hot dogs, hamburgers and soft drinks; games, face painting, raffle baskets, entertainment by Dani-elle and Years of Madness, demonstrations, special guests include: Jaws of Life, SWAT team, Academy of Mixed Martial Arts, RailRiders, fingerprinters and sheriff horses.

Regional

Golf tournament: Holy Rosary Golf Tournament, Sept. 14, registration, noon, shotgun start, 1 p.m., Pine Hills Country Club, Taylor; $90/golfer, $360/foursome (includes tee sponsor); includes lunch, dinner, contests, prizes and raffles, sponsorships available on registration form; Rob McDonnell, 570-451-1331 or Holy Rosary School, 570-457-2553.

Connectors meet: Patriot Connectors meeting, Aug. 14, 7 p.m., Wallenpaupack Area High School library; guest speaker: Bob Beirerle, editor of “Our Town” magazine.

Group meeting/picnic: North Anthracite Council - League of Ukrainian Catholics meeting, Aug. 17, Moleben prayer service, 2 p.m., business session, 2:30; SS. Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, 706 N. Warren St., Berwick; picnic at Everett residence follows, agenda: upcoming Sobor of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia and the National Convention in Johnstown; Dorothy Jamula, 570 822-5354.

Educational program: State Game Commission educational programs on bats, Aug. 19, 7 and 8:30 p.m., Northeast Region Office, 3917 Memorial Hwy., Dallas; bat biology and behavior, ecological importance, common myths, population monitoring and effects of white-nose syndrome on bats, film titled “The Race to Save Pennsylvania’s Bats,” free; 570-675-1143.

South Scranton

Free meal: St. Stanislaus Youth Center free meal, Saturday, 1-3 p.m., 530 E. Elm St.; 570-343-6017.

Susquehanna County

Community walk: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Second Annual Susquehanna County Out of the Darkness Community Walk, Sept. 13, Montrose Area Jr.-Sr. High School, registration, 9:30 a.m., walk, 11; www.outofthedarkness.org or 888-333-2377.

Wayne County

Student orientation: Wayne Highlands Middle School orientation for sixth-grade and transfer students, Aug. 21, 1:30 p.m.; 570-253-5900.

West Pittston

Festival meeting: Cherry blossom festival meeting, Aug. 17, 4 p.m., school building, Luzerne Avenue, behind Corpus Christi Parish; looking for pictures of past festivals bring to meeting or email them to president Ralph Salerno.

CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be sent to yesdesk@timesshamrock.com, Clipboard, c/o YES!Desk, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503, or 570-348-9121.

MARRIAGE LICENSES

■ Mark Joseph Baskovsky and Theresa Marie Carey, both of Scott Twp.

■ John Joseph Mezick and Clarence Allen Noble, both of Defuniak Springs, Fla.

■ Michael Kerzetski and Jennifer Kochis, both of Dunmore.

■ David Lawrence Duchnik and Marisa Lynn Keklak, both of Scott Twp.

■ Erica Marie Foy and Dennis Edwin Ritter Jr., both of Madison Twp.

■ Jesse Douglas Durren and Elizabeth Nicole Yablonski, both of Scranton.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ Brandon and Monica Diane Sanborn, Clarks Summit, to Matthew and Ava Maria A. Wysowski, Clarks Summit; a property at 418 Highland Ave., South Abington Twp., for $186,600.

■ Tyler J. and Salome Strickler, Clarks Summit, to Francis W. and Mary E. Trickel, Clarks Summit; a property at 437 Greenwood Ave., Clarks Summit, for $100,000.

■ Clyde R. Morris and Andrew H. Morris Jr., South Abington Twp., to Brian Hartman, South Abington Twp.; a property at 437 Powell Ave., Clarks Summit, for $90,000.

■ John F. and Linda E. Donohue to Paul Jefferson; a property at Thornhurst Country Club Estates, Thornhurst Twp, for $77,900.

■ Gail and Vince Vagni, Dean and Margaret Rosetti and Paulette Rosetti, Jessup, to Dominic R. Coassolo and Ashley M. Calachino, Blakely; a property at 602 Powell Ave., Jessup, for $126,000.

■ Anne M. Kovacs by her power of attorney, Patricia Eileen Kovacs, to Timothy Williams; a property at 44 Doris Road, Scott Twp., for $64,800.

■ S&G Acquisitions Inc., Olyphant, to James and Ashley Carroll, Olyphant; a property at East Lackawanna Avenue and Alice Street, Olyphant, for $39,000.

■ Mark J. Powell, executor of the estate of William McDonough, Moosic, to Jarrod J. Powell, Moosic; a property at Rear 502 School St., Moosic, for $55,000.

■ Michael G. Jennifer K. Dolan, South Abington Twp., to John David and Julia B. Yanek, Dunmore; a property at 120 Maggies Road, South Abington Twp., for $225,000.

ESTATES FILED

■ Mary T. Rudolph, 327 Baker Lane, South Abington Twp., letters testamentary to Cecilia M. Williams, 58 W. River St., Wilkes-Barre.

■ Phyllis Karpinski, 99 Vine St., Taylor, letters testamentary to Anthony F. Karpinski, 94 Mackie Lane, Taylor.

■ Amelia Korczakowski, 85 Mountain Road, Jefferson Twp., letters testamentary to Lenore Butler same address.

■ Leslie Herbster, 1109 W. Locust St., Scranton, letters of administration to Gregory Herbster, 202 Debbie Drive, Scranton.

■ Ruth G. Bean, 13 Snook St., Scranton, letters testamentary to Carol C. McMullen, vice president and trust officer, Peoples Security Bank & Trust.

■ Mary C. Gabello, 1425 Cherry St., Scranton, letters testamentary to Sharon M. Durkan, 265 W. Foothill Blue, Unit I-208, San Dimas, Calif.

■ Frank N. Mastri, 140 Living Waters Road, Jefferson Twp., letters of administration to David Mastri, same address.

DIVORCES SOUGHT

■ Carol L. Fanucci, Moosic, v. Richard N. Fanucci, Moosic; married Dec. 30, 1977; pro se.

■ Timothy Hewitt, South Abington Twp., v. Stacie Hewitt, Clarks Summit; married Oct. 13, 2001, in Clarks Summit; Brian J. Cali, attorney.

■ Gina Griffiths, Olyphant, v. Stephen Michael Griffiths, Olyphant; married Dec. 4, 2008, in Las Vegas, Nev.; Brenda M. Kobal, attorney.

■ Michael J. Nowlin, Scranton, v. Sherri L. Nowlin, Scranton; married June 30, 2003, in Lackawanna County; John R. Williams Jr., attorney.

LAWSUIT

■ Jacqueline Blazek, 3737 Third Ave., Apt. 302, San Diego, Calif., v. Matthew Orr and Gerald Curcerello, 622 E. Scott St., Olyphant, seeking in excess of $50,000 on two counts, for injuries suffered in a dog attack at 405 Gravity Ave., Olyphant, on Sept. 18, 2012; Eric W. Wassel, attorney.

ONLINE:

thetimes-tribune.com/courts

SCRANTON — Starting today, parking is banned on a 5-mile section of Main Avenue while work crews upgrade curb-cut ramps.

The 10-day ban stretches from the Taylor border to Providence Road in Scranton, PennDOT said.

More than 17,000 cars travel on this part of Main Avenue every day, according to PennDOT.

— PETER CAMERON

The state Department of Public Welfare revoked the Greater Pittston YMCA’s day care certificate after a 6-year-old girl was left in a hot van after a field trip to a petting zoo.

A letter from the department’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning followed an investigation of the July 7 incident where the girl had fallen asleep in the van and was missing for 40 to 45 minutes until a staff member found her in the parking lot.

Deputy Secretary Barbara G. Mizenberg, Ph.D., recounted previous shortcomings at the day care center within the past year as further justification for the revocation, noting that the facility failed to comply with its corrective plans. The facility had its license revoked in July 2013 for violating state rules on minimum staffing and was operating under a provision certificate.

As part of the process, the Greater Pittston YMCA was directed to post the revocation letter and turn over the names and addresses of parents and guardians so they could be notified.

The YMCA has 30 days to appeal the revocation. A state spokesperson said the department has not yet received an appeal from the facility and is continuing to operate.

The Greater Pittston YMCA fired at least one staff member over the July 7 incident and suspended all field trips.

Attempts to reach YMCA officials were unsuccessful.

Contact the writer:

dfalchek@timesshamrock.com

Old Forge Police have arrested a trio they say stole 11 vehicles in July, torching one, smashing up another and sending a third off a cliff.

David Quick, 18, 802 Glenwood Road, Old Forge was arraigned Thursday on a slew of charges including arson, theft and criminal conspiracy.

The other two in the car theft ring are 17-year-old juveniles, Old Forge Police Chief Jason Dubernas said.

Mr. Quick turned 18, subsequently becoming a legal adult, on July 19, the first day police say the threesome started their four-day spree.

Seven of the vehicles were stolen from Old Forge, the chief said, while the others were taken from Moosic, Duryea and Scranton.

Before setting one of the stolen vehicles, a Chevy truck, on fire, one of the juvenile suspects admitted to police he stole it from an Old Forge neighborhood while looking for unlocked vehicles containing the keys, according to the criminal complaint.

Mr. Quick and one of the juveniles took the stolen truck along Route 502 to a state forest, doused the vehicle in gasoline and set it ablaze.

The group took other stolen cars on joyrides, then returned them to the area of origin.

Bail for Mr. Quick was set at $5,000. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

Contact the writer:

jkohut@timesshamrock.com;

@jkohutTT on Twitter, pcameron@timesshamrock.com,

@pcameronTT on Twitter