The LuLac Edition #670, Dec. 18th, 2008

PHOTO INDEX: TWO PEOPLE BATTLING FORCES IN THEIR OWN BUILDING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, COMMISSIONER MARYANNE PETRILLA AND BUDGET DIRECTOR TOM PRIBULA. (PHOTOS FROM THE TIMES LEADER.)

THE LAWSUIT

Just a few thoughts on that lawsuit brought by the President Judge of Luzerne County against the County Commissioners. The rationale seems to be that the Court can’t function without the allocated money and it would be impossible to provide full services with a cut. I respectfully submit that there are other ways to achieve this goal rather than suing your fellow partners in government. First off, a position was created for Sam Guesto earlier this year. At the time, a tough budget year was looming and yet by fiat, Judge Ciavarella created the job. This seems to take the air out of the whole argument that the court can’t function. Surely if you can find money for a new position, you can make some cuts. Here’s how:
1. Have each Judge and Court Administrator take a $10% and 5% pay cut. 10% for the Judges, 5% for the Administrators.
2. Work longer hours in order to accommodate the workload. Other county offices are eliminating positions. You’re not. So increase the hours. It won’t kill the salaried people to put in a little extra overtime. They do it in private business when times are tough. Why can’t the court do so?
3. Reinstate the staff of Judge Lokuta. Assign these experienced people to other departments. Or is the grudge against Lokuta so deep that “justice is not only blind, but deaf and dumb” too?
4. Install a Kronos time clock to make sure the Court, in its endeavor to serve the community and not shortchange the county for the money that’s not being cut, have full accountability for its workers. An honest day’s work for their pay. Kronos time clocks are in private business, why not county business? When I was on Jury Duty in the late 80s, the President Judge addressed the issue of parking. He said that if there was a space open after 830AM, whether it be a Judge’s, Court administrator’s or any other labeled one, to take it. “After all, if they’re not here on time, you should park there”.
The County Judiciary with this lawsuit has reinforced the fact that they seem to be a cut above the others, even the County Commissioners who run the county. This lawsuit is an insult to the taxpayers, the county row offices which have to cut their services as well as the other elected and unelected officials who have rolled up their sleeves to solve a big problem. This lawsuit only adds to it and that is the biggest joke and insult of all.
Then there’s Bob Reilly who said he is considering a lawsuit saying "that he won’t have the resources to carry out his mandated responsibilities.” We elect people to be creative, not to be robots. After twenty years on the job, you mean to tell me he can’t be creative in his staffing to get the job done? Private business owners have “mandates” too. It’s called meeting a payroll. If they can do it, the County officials should too. Or maybe at election time, we should give these guys a crack at the private sector to see what it’s really like out there.