The dispute over what Home Rule Charter question or questions will appear on the May primary ballot in Lackawanna County is now in the hands of the county court.
Judge Vito Geroulo agreed today to grant a hearing to proponents of a county government study commission who are trying to get a referendum to study the charter on the May 21 ballot.
The hearing is expected to be next week before Judge Geroulo, President Judge Thomas Munley and Judge Terrence Nealon, who will be sitting as both the election board and the court.
A petition filed on behalf of study commission proponent Chuck Volpe asks the court to find the preliminary signatures filed this week with the Department of Elections to get the question on the ballot are valid.
More significantly, it wants the judges to find that another proposed ballot question - this one supported by the commissioners to amend the charter to get rid of four elected row offices - should be set aside and not appear on the primary ballot.
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