The Lackawanna County commissioners took the first step toward a proposed major restructuring of county government Wednesday, introducing legislation to let voters decide whether to eliminate four elected row offices.
The ordinance would place a referendum on the May 21 primary election ballot to amend the Home Rule Charter to abolish the offices of register of wills, recorder of deeds, clerk of judicial records and sheriff.
Read the proposed amendment HERE
If voters approve the ballot question, the duties of the register of wills, recorder of deeds and sheriff's offices would be integrated into the county's general administrative operations on Jan. 5, with the clerk of judicial records to follow in January 2016.
A final vote on putting the question on the ballot is expected, Wednesday, Feb. 13.
Majority Commissioner Corey O'Brien said the issue facing voters will be a simple one: Do they want a bigger government that costs more money or a smaller government that costs less?
"I think we all want smaller government that costs less and fewer elected officials. ... We have a unique and historic opportunity to streamline the government," he said.
He and fellow majority Commissioner Jim Wansacz have estimated that eliminating the four row offices will save taxpayers a minimum of $1 million over the first five years and lead to more efficient delivery of services.
"This will move us into the 21st century," Mr. Wansacz said. "It will keep us going forward."
The county is required by the Pennsylvania Constitution to have a sheriff, but the position would become an administration appointment under the proposed charter amendment. Only two other counties in the state - Luzerne and Northampton - have appointed sheriffs.
Minority Commissioner Patrick O'Malley suggested amending the ordinance to make abolishing the sheriff's office and the other three offices separate questions.
"I believe the sheriff should be independent of the commissioners office," Mr. O'Malley said.
Jessup resident Robert Berta, who ran unsuccessfully for commissioner in 2007 and for sheriff in 2009, was the only member of the public to speak against the charter amendment.
"The voters of Lackawanna County should have the right to elect their (row) officers and their sheriff," Mr. Berta told the commissioners. "I don't think they should be appointed positions."
It would be the first revision of the Home Rule Charter since the document was adopted by voters in 1976.
The proposed amendment would repeal four of the charter's 17 articles - those dealing with the qualifications, powers and duties of the four targeted offices - and rewrite three others.
It would specifically give the commissioners the power to appoint the sheriff and "to exercise all powers, functions and duties previously assigned" to the other three offices.
Unrelated to the commissioners' proposal, Childs resident Michael Catanzaro renewed his call for a charter amendment that would require any property tax increases or decreases to go before the voters for approval in a referendum.
Mr. Catanzaro first approached the commissioners with the idea more than a year ago.
Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com