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Luzerne County Government

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January 3, 2009

Quest for home rule on again

A drive to revive home rule is back on in Luzerne County.

January 2, 2009

Investigations of county carrying over into 2009

WILKES-BARRE – Widespread rumors of pending indictments against members of Luzerne County’s government and judiciary failed to materialize in 2008, but that doesn’t mean investigations into possible criminal activity are over, sources familiar with the cases said.

December 31, 2008

County approves 10% tax increase

WILKES-BARRE – Luzerne County commissioners on Tuesday approved the new property tax millage rate for 2009, which includes a 10-percent increase.

December 25, 2008

Court staff reductions put on hold

WILKES-BARRE – Luzerne County commissioners have agreed to hold off implementing staffing cuts in the court system, negating the need for a hearing on a preliminary injunction that was scheduled for Monday.

December 24, 2008

Skrep objects to Philly law firm

Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak expressed outrage Tuesday afternoon over the county’s hiring of a Philadelphia law firm to fight a budget-related lawsuit recently filed by the county court.

December 24, 2008

Roster of non-court layoffs approved

Luzerne County Commissioners approved a roster of 27 layoffs by department Tuesday, and employees learned that more non-court layoffs may be coming.

December 24, 2008

New insurer for county

Luzerne County saved $215,000 on insurance premiums next year through a recent public request-for-proposals process.

December 23, 2008

County’s buyout exclusion disputed

WILKES-BARRE -- A former Luzerne County court employee convicted of illegally altering a court record is asking a federal judge to rule in her favor in connection with a lawsuit that alleges she was wrongly excluded from taking part in an early retirement incentive.

December 20, 2008

Pa. association backs Petrilla

Luzerne County commissioners are about to get some backup in the legal battle to force the courts to reduce staff.

December 20, 2008

County responds to judge’s challenge

WILKES-BARRE – Hit with an injunction that prevents them from laying off court personnel, Luzerne County commissioners on Friday fired back, filing an emergency petition that asks the state Supreme Court to vacate the order and to take jurisdiction of the case.

December 19, 2008

3 hired amid planned cuts

While Luzerne County officials plan to lay off 72 workers, several people were hired this week.

December 19, 2008

Judiciary gets layoff injunction

WILKES-BARRE – A preliminary injunction that prevents county commissioners from cutting court staff might also preclude them from instituting layoffs in other county departments, dependent upon how the order is interpreted.

December 19, 2008

Philly law firm to defend two commissioners

WILKES-BARRE – A law firm that has agreed to defend Luzerne County commissioners in a lawsuit filed by the county court system will be paid up to $375 per hour to work on the case.

December 18, 2008

Judges suing county over cuts

WILKES-BARRE – Unable to resolve a dispute over layoffs within the court system, Luzerne County President Judge Mark Ciavarella on Wednesday followed through on his threat to file a lawsuit that seeks to prevent commissioners from implementing cuts in court personnel.

December 16, 2008

Campaign finance reports on ’Net

All 2008 Luzerne County campaign finance reports have been posted on the county government Web site, Election Bureau Director Leonard Piazza announced Monday.

December 16, 2008

County to sell Hazleton building

Luzerne County paid $700,000 for a Hazleton bank building that a new appraisal has valued at $625,000.

December 16, 2008

Prison gets 13 warden applicants

WILKES-BARRE – Luzerne County Prison Board President Wister Yuhas said interviews of candidates to replace retiring Warden Gene Fischi will begin next week, but he doubts the new warden will be in place before Fischi leaves his post at the end of the month.

December 11, 2008

Row officers may sue commissioners over budget issues

Luzerne County Clerk of Courts Bob Reilly said row officer solicitors have been asked to explore a possible lawsuit against county commissioners over budget cuts.

December 9, 2008

Court likely to sue over budget cuts

It appears likely that the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas will sue over budget cuts because a resolution wasn’t reached during a Monday-morning meeting between court representatives and Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla.