Luzerne County Council October 25, 2016 6:01 PM Luzerne County Court House Council Meeting Room 200 N. River Street Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18711 Minutes Voting Session Call to Order The Luzerne County Council convened for a Voting Session in the Council Meeting Room of the Luzerne County Courthouse on October 25, 2016 at 6:01PM. The meeting was called to order by Chair Linda McClosky Houck. Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence Roll Call Present Edward A. Brominski Kathy Dobash (via phone) Harry Haas Eugene Kelleher Linda McClosky Houck Tim McGinley Robert Schnee Eileen Sorokas Stephen A. Urban (arrived at 6:20PM) Jane Walsh Waitkus Rick Williams Also Present C. David Pedri, County Manager Romilda P. Crocamo, Chief County Solicitor Sharon Lawrence, Clerk of Council Luzerne County Council Voting Session October 25, 2016 Page 1 of 5
Recognitions/Ceremonial Proclamations Ms. Houck announced that a ceremonial proclamation for Domestic Violence Awareness Month was presented by Mr. McGinley at a ceremony earlier in the Courthouse Rotunda. Ms. Houck announced Ronald Gorki, a Voter Registration Inspector, retired from the Bureau of Elections and Marilyn Wilkinson, a Caseworker II, retired from MHDS. A letter of recognition will be sent out to each of them from Council. Additions to/deletions from Voting Session Agenda Ms. Houck deleted Item #5 from the agenda. Adoption of Voting Session Agenda Motion to Adopt: Ms. Sorokas Second: Mr. Kelleher Ten (10) Ayes Unanimous The Voting Session Agenda is adopted (10-0) Public Comment on Voting Session Agenda Items Charles Olah (Kingston) wanted to know if Council would be voting on the auditor and Ms. Houck responded that it was removed from the agenda. Mr. Olah asked since it was removed from the voting session will it be added to the work session and Ms. Houck responded that it will not be in the voting session or the work session. 1. Motion to approve minutes of the October 11, 2016 Voting Session Motion by: Ms. Sorokas Second: Mr. Schnee Seven (7) Ayes by Mr. Haas, Mr. Kelleher, Mr. McGinley, Mr. Schnee, Ms. Sorokas, Ms. Waitkus, and Ms. Houck Two (2) Nays by Mr. Brominski and Ms. Dobash One (1) Abstention by Mr. Williams Motion Passed (7-2) with (1) Abstention The October 11, 2016 Voting Session Minutes are approved. Luzerne County Council Voting Session October 25, 2016 Page 2 of 5
2. Motion to adopt ordinance amending the Luzerne County Zoning Map to re-zone a property in the Borough of Duryea from a Heavy Industrial (M-3) Zone to a Two-Family Residential (R-2) Zone Motion by: Mr. Kelleher Second: Mr. McGinley Roll Call Ten (10) Yes Unanimous Ordinance Passed (10-0) 3. Motion to adopt resolution authorizing the County Manager to execute the sale of County-owned property to Mary Catherine Bachman and Joseph Bachman Motion by: Mr. Brominski Second: Ms. Sorokas Roll Call Ten (10) Yes - Unanimous Resolution Passed (10-0) 4. Actions regarding resolution authorizing the County Manager to execute a sales agreement between Luzerne County and Jim Casey for the purchase of the former Luzerne County Juvenile Detention Center 4a. Motion to remove from table Motion by: Mr. Schnee Second: Ms. Dobash Eight (8) Ayes by Mr. Brominski, Ms. Dobash, Mr. Haas, Mr. McGinley, Mr. Schnee, Ms. Waitkus, Mr. Williams, and Ms. Houck Two (2) Nays by Mr. Kelleher and Ms. Sorokas Motion Passed (8-2) Item is Removed from Table 4b. Motion to approve resolution Motion by: Mr. Schnee Second: Mr. Williams Mr. Stephen A. Urban arrived at 6:20 during a discussion between Ms. Waitkus and Mr. Casey Mr. Kelleher suggested that the sale be contingent upon, in writing, resolution by Mr. Casey (to the satisfaction of the Director of Corrections) of any prison security problems that may arise. Luzerne County Council Voting Session October 25, 2016 Page 3 of 5
Motion to Amend Resolution by: Mr. Kelleher Second: Mr. McGinley Motion to Amend Resolution Passed (11-0) Resolution is Amended Roll Call Vote to Approve Amended Resolution: Six (6) Yes by Mr. Kelleher, Mr. McGinley, Mr. Schnee, Ms. Sorokas, Mr. Williams, and Ms. Houck Five (5) No by Mr. Brominski, Ms. Dobash, Mr. Haas, Mr. Stephen A. Urban, and Ms. Waitkus Amended Resolution Passed (6-5) NOTE: After Public Commentary by Bob Caruso, the Roll Call Vote to Approve the Amended Resolution was Reconsidered and Failed (5-6). Items From The Public Bob Caruso stated there will be a significant chance of voter intimidation on Election Day and asked that the Sheriff s Department be fully deployed all day to assure voters are protected from intimidation. At the conclusion of Mr. Caruso s public comment, Ms. Sorokas stated she would like to change her vote. She thought she was voting to amend the resolution on the Roll Call Vote. She did not realize the vote to amend the resolution was taken with an Aye or Nay vote. Ms. Houck reviewed how the votes taken. There was confusion as to how many times votes were taken and for what (i.e. to remove from table, amend, or approve). Ms. Houck stated since the vote was called there will need to be a reconsideration. She suggested a 2 minute recess. Motion to Recess by: Mr. Haas Second: Mr. Williams Meeting Recessed Meeting Reconvened by Ms. Houck. Motion to Reconsider Vote Approving Amended Resolution by: Ms. Sorokas Second: Mr. Stephen A. Urban Roll Call Seven (7) Yes by Ms. Dobash, Mr. Haas, Mr. Kelleher, Mr. McGinley, Ms. Sorokas, Mr. Stephen A. Urban, and Ms. Waitkus Four (4) No by Mr. Brominski, Mr. Schnee, Mr. Williams, and Ms. Houck Motion Passed (7-4) Vote will be Reconsidered Luzerne County Council Voting Session October 25, 2016 Page 4 of 5
Roll Call Vote to Approve Amended Resolution: Five (5) Yes by Mr. Kelleher, Mr. McGinley, Mr. Schnee, Mr. Williams, and Ms. Houck Six (6) No by Mr. Brominski, Ms. Dobash, Mr. Haas, Ms. Sorokas, Mr. Stephen A. Urban, and Ms. Waitkus Amended Resolution Fails (5-6) Charles Olah (Kingston) commented on the non-corruption resolution and the speakers from the Legislative Meeting that was held prior to the Council meeting. Mr. Olah stated that the Charter was written to get rid of corruption but is missing enforcement of it. He feels that the juvenile detention center is going to sit in the same state going forward and there should be some profitable way to use it. Brian Shiner (Kingston) thanked the six Council members who voted not to sell the juvenile detention center. Mr. Shiner would like to see Council handle things in a consistent manner and referenced the 2013 audit committee and selection process of the auditor. He felt that the public should have been allowed to be present at the recent interviews and meetings regarding the selection of the auditor. Fred Javer (Harveys Lake) commented on the juvenile detention center. Mr. Javer suggested a utilization study be done on all county owned property to determine if it should be retained or sold going forward. The properties should also be appraised to determine what they should be sold for. Motion to adjourn: Mr. Kelleher Second: Mr. Brominski Meeting Adjourned at 7:14 PM Respectfully Submitted, Sharon Lawrence Clerk of Council * Audio of this meeting can be found in its entirety on the County Council webpage http://www.luzernecounty.org/county/luzerne-county-council or by contacting the Office of the Clerk of Council at (570) 825-1634 or via email to sharon.lawrence@luzernecounty.org Luzerne County Council Voting Session October 25, 2016 Page 5 of 5