An ordinance ending a residency requirement for top Luzerne County managers is slated for a vote at Tuesday’s county council meeting, but it’s not expected to pass.
The county manager, eight division heads, prison deputy warden, sheriff and heads of emergency management and 911 are subject to the residency requirement, which was approved in March 2016. Under the policy, applicants must establish residency within six months of their hiring.
County Councilman Rick Williams pushed for a repeal, arguing it’s not good government to reject highly qualified applicants who live a short distance across the county border. County Manager C. David Pedri had agreed, saying the policy shrinks the applicant pool.
Williams was among five council members who voted April 11 to introduce an ordinance repealing the residency rule, and six of 11 votes are required for final passage.
The six council members who voted against the ordinance introduction said on April 11 or previously said they believe it should remain in effect because residency demonstrates a commitment to the county and may strengthen job performance.
As Luzerne County officials debate whether to keep their policy, commissioners in neighboring Lackawanna County voted May 17 to implement a resolution requiring all newly hired county managers and non-union employees to reside in the county, according to the county website.
Lackawanna’s policy requires residency within six months of hiring.
Luzerne County council members also are set to vote Tuesday on the proposed sale of 28 tax-delinquent repository properties.
The purchases are for $500 each because these abandoned properties did not sell in at least two previous back-tax auctions. The county’s surplus of approximately 1,000 repository properties is a liability concern because the county is the legal trustee while the owners of record have abandoned them and stopped paying real estate taxes, officials have said.
Council members tabled a vote on the matter earlier this month because they wanted more time to review descriptions and photographs of the properties.
State law allows repository sales at any time. A list of available properties is at the tax claim office in the county courthouse in Wilkes-Barre or at www.luzernecountytaxclaim.com.
In other business Tuesday, county Budget/Finance Division Head Brian Swetz is scheduled to present a first-quarter financial report during the work session portion of the meeting.
A four-page summary indicates both revenue and expenses are projected to meet budgeted goals. The general fund operating budget is $134.85 million.
As of March 31, the county received $30.2 million in revenue, or 22 percent, the summary said.
Spending is at 19 percent because expenses through the period were $23.4 million, with another $1.7 million encumbered, it said.
The summary said overtime at the county prison on Water Street in Wilkes-Barre is 16 percent over budget in the first quarter, although specific dollar amounts were not included. The county budget earmarked $1.15 million for overtime in the correctional services division for the year, which also covers staffing at a second building for offenders with lesser charges.
According to the summary, overtime has since decreased with the addition of trained officers to fill vacant positions and increased management oversight.
First quarter spending was below budget in some other areas of correctional services, the summary said.
The summary also notes the county has received $202,023 in revenue since June 1 from property owners who were billed for incorrectly receiving more than the one allowable homestead tax break for an owner-occupied primary residence.
Participants saved $45 to $57 on their county taxes annually from 2009 until the county-funded break ended in 2015.
