Lackawanna County voters decided Tuesday to form a commission to study and possibly recommend a broad reorganization of county government but rejected the elimination of four elected row offices.
In what could be a prelude to the most significant restructuring of county government since adoption of the Home Rule Charter in 1976, voters approved establishment of a government study commission to examine the existing three-commissioner form of government and consider whether a different form should be adopted.
The electorate solidly rejected four other referendum questions to amend the charter to eliminate the elected offices of register of wills, recorder of deeds, clerk of judicial records and sheriff.
Businessman Chuck Volpe, who spearheaded the government study initiative and was one of the seven people elected to serve on the study commission, branded the row office proposal a "power grab" by the commissioners. Voters "saw it for what it was," he said.
"I think the people of Lackawanna County won today," he said.
Majority Commissioners Corey O'Brien and Jim Wansacz, who approved putting the elimination of the row offices on the ballot, argued it would save taxpayers a minimum of $2.2 million over the next four years.
"I think there was a lot of confusion out there. I think people would rather study the issue before making a decision," said Paul Lyon, a spokesman for Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Wansacz. "I think once people understand the efficiencies and savings that could be realized through row office consolidation, they will agree with the commissioners' approach."
The defeat of the row office questions means the candidates nominated Tuesday for register of wills, recorder of deeds and sheriff will appear on the November ballot. The clerk of judicial records office is not up for election this year.
Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com
With 97 percent of 163 precincts reporting:
Abolish sheriff
Yes 12,584
ââNo 25,460
Abolish clerk of judicial records
Yes 15,977
ââNo 21,430
Abolish recorder of deeds
Yes 15,785
ââNo 21,369
Abolish register of wills
Yes 15,952
ââNo 21,454
Establish commission
ââYes 22,805
No 14,530