The LuLac Edition #3075, November 25th, 2015

THE LUZERNE COUNTY COUNCIL AND BOB LAWTON 

Outgoing County Manager Bob Lawton. (Photo: Citizen's Voice).

So last night the Luzerne County Council had their long anticipated meeting on the budget, the proposed loan to make payroll and the fate of County Manager Bob Lawton. You needed a scorecard to keep up.
A few thoughts. First off the Council reversed itself and voted to get a loan to get it through the year. The people in the room burst into applause. Most of the people there spoke about the need for continuation of county services, especially those mandated by the state.
Rick Morelli then sent a motion to the floor to fire Robert Lawton. But then realizing he did not have the votes withdrew it. Here’s why:
Morelli might have been able to do this a few years ago when he was Chairman. After Tim McGinlrey’s tenure, Morelli could have built a coalition with the anti Lawton people. He didn’t and when he finally decided to make a move, those who wanted him to do it previously pulled out their long memories.
So the Council instead of firing Lawton put a reprimand in his file for not keeping them informed of the machinations involved to keep the county’s lights on.
Again..too little, too late. If those on Council had a problem with Lawton, it should have documented. Shooting off one’s mouth at a meeting or on the radio or in letters to the editor is pointless. I guarantee if the Brominski backed team of Giamber, Heffernan and Ciaruffoli-Taffera won, there would be enough documentation (if warranted) to remove the Manager. But some members on Council knew that Lawton, even as an “at will” employee, could make the case that there were no documented performance warnings.
Today Lawton resigned but said he’d stay on until the end of the year. Word on the street says that a few Council members might have approached the Manager and suggested the move so as not to have a blemish on his resume. Maybe. But Lawton doesn’t seem to be the type of guy to really buy that sort of thing. After all, his resume was pulled apart before he got here.
There needs to be someone to take over the job when he does leave who can transition the county for at least a year. We don’t need a search committee, a parade of interviewees and all that. A normal Council maybe might be able to deal with that, but there are too many drama queens on Council who will make this process a joke.
My picks would be Dave Pedri, the County Solicitor, Gerry Cross from the Pennsylvania Economy League or Tom Pribula who is working for the City of Hazleton. Cross is set in his position but is smart and reasonable. Pribula should have stayed on but someone (and we all know who) put a bug in Lawton’s ear and poisoned the well for him. Why he’d even consider it would be beyond me. But hey, we have a new Controller so who knows!
So there’s all that but let’s talk about leadership. Even a seventh grade current events student might understand this. Why the Council couldn’t is a mystery to me.
The state has had a budget impasse since July. There has been no funding, except of course for the state employees. 80 per cent of the County budget for Human Services and Court costs come from….wait for it, the State! Why Council never made notice of this is incredible. 
Blame Lawton all you want but there is an element on Council that reminds me of the Republicans in Washington. They’d rather tear down government rather than build it up. The Interim Manager has to do a Paul Ryan and agree to take the job only if this nonsense stops.
Finally Steve Urban Senior told the audience to go home and call the State Legislatures and the Governor because they are the ones holding up the budget. True. But it is the GOP in the House and Senate who are refusing to put an extraction tax on gas drilling. Pennsylvania is the only state not to have one. 
Then there is the issue of property tax reform. There was supposed to be bi partisan agreement on that but every side seems to be backing off.  Surely the Legislators have to know that with reduced property taxes, county tax payers who see the services first hand might not be so reluctant to have a tax increase closer to home. But with no property tax reform in sight because of foot dragging, tax payer morale is at a very low ebb. All sides are to blame on this.  
This budget can be resolved if the Legislature and the Governor reach an agreement. But it won’t because everyone is getting paid, except for Mr. Wolf who doesn’t take a salary.
This whole mess might not have been avoided all together but Jesus, at least there had to be someone under the dome who should have seen this coming.

THE CLOCK KID SUING

That kid from Irving Texas who brought a clock to school and was detained because he didn’t articulate what it was is now suing the School District and the City for 15 million dollars. This was the same kid who was invited to The White House to show the President the clock.
Ahmed Mohamed’s attorneys assert, the teenager’s name and likeness will be “forever associated with arguably the most contentious and divisive socio-political issue of our time.”
A day after Mohamed met Obama at an October event at the White House, Mohamed’s family announced it was leaving the U.S. for Qatar.
Good, God speed!
But I guarantee you one thing. If a kid named Mario, Sean, Stanley or Jamal built a clock, and got some heat like this, they’d get nowhere near The White House.

OH JESUS, HERE COMES TRUMP 

 Donald Trump. (Photo: Business Insider).

Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason released the following statement regarding news that Donald Trump will headline the PA GOP’s Annual Commonwealth Club luncheon on Friday, December 11th.
“Donald Trump is a successful and dynamic businessman and we are excited to hear about his vision for the future of our country,” Gleason said. “The importance of Pennsylvania to the presidential campaign is clear and Donald Trump addressing Pennsylvania Republicans puts us in the middle of the national stage.”
Following the many years of tradition, the Commonwealth Club Luncheon will be closed to the press.
So Trump now comes to the Keystone State to showcase his campaign. Can’t wait for him at the Pennsylvania Society Dinner! 

BIG EVENT THIS SUNDAY FROM DIAMOND CITY SKATING CLUB 

MEDIA MATTERS

ECTV

ECTV Live hosts David DeCosmo and Rusty Fender will welcome Bill Goldsworthy to the program during the week of November 30th to talk about the role of the American Red Cross and its ongoing need for volunteers! 

ECTV Live can be seen on Comcast Cable channel 19 (61 in some areas) and is aired three times daily throughout the week.

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine

Brian Hughes speaks with Tony Fenton from Nationwide about Cyber Crime, and how small businesses and retailers need better protection from cyber criminals. Monday November 30th is Cyber Monday.

Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning speaks with Caitlyn about a Tea Party to benefit "Sight for Madi", coming up on Sunday Dec 6th.

And an encore of Brian's interview with Paul Stillman from 6 Seconds, about bullying at school, at and in the workplace.

Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on NASH-FM, 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X and Sports Radio 590, and 6:25am on Magic 93.

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

SUE HENRY’S SPECIAL EDITION

Tune in to Sue Henry's "Special Edition" this week as Sue recaps the week's news. Special Edition is heard Saturdays and Sunday on these Entercom stations, WILK FM Saturday at 2pm Sunday at 6 am on Froggy 101 Sunday at 7 am on The Sports Hub 102.3 Sunday at 7 am on K R Z 98.5 Sunday at noon on WILK FM 103.1.

BUDDY RUMCHEK

Want to hear some great parodies on the news? Tune in to WILK Radio at 6:40 and 8:40 AM on Mondays. As Ralph Cramden used to say, “It’s a laugh riot!”

KAREL ON THE STREET

Tune in Wednesdays on WILK Radio for Karel on the Street. Hear some of the funniest and heartwarming comments on the issues of the day on Webster and Nancy with Karel Zubris.

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP!!!!!

The Doo-Wop Sock Hop can be heard every Sunday night from 6P to 9P on “105 The River (104.9 FM) Host is the incomparable Bobby V. www.105theriver.net
www.doowopsockhop.net

1965

Our 1965 logo.

Man of La Mancha opens in a Greenwich Village theatre in New York and eventually becomes one of the greatest musical hits of all time, winning a Tony Award for its star, Richard Kiley……The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is established as a specialized agency of the United Nations....Soviet general Mikhail Kazakov assumes command of the Warsaw Pact…. Congolese lieutenant general Mobutu ousts Joseph Kasavubu and declares himself president....At the Hammaguir launch facility in the Sahara Desert, France launches a Diamant A rocket with its first satellite, Asterix-1 on board, becoming the third country to enter outer space………………in Pennsylvania State Attorney General Walter Alessandroni says he is looking into running for either Governor or Lt. Governor….. in Scranton the transition begins between the outgoing Schmidt administration and the incoming Walsh crew…..and fifty years ago the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Rescue Me” by Fontella Bass.