ARP funding is being discussed

As expected, the Lucerne County Council discussed the American Rescue Plan awards in a business meeting on Tuesday instead of making a decision in a ballot meeting.

The council agreed to provide $60 million to outside organizations, and last week a list of the top 75 nominees was released. Prior to listing, board members individually assessed all 139 applicants through an online portal set up by a district counselor, agreeing not to cooperate with each other.

The main focus of the work session was that the board found that five candidates were not evaluated by anyone, including one of the Lucerne County Dress for Success candidates who provide clothing, job interview assistance and job placement assistance. for women with economic difficulties.

The board concluded that this must have been due to a problem with the consultant's online portal that was used for scoring because three board members - Chris Perry, LeAnn McDermott and John Lombardo - said they kept detailed records about all the objects that they evaluated and did not have these five projects. their list. McDermott said she definitely would have remembered winning Dress for Success and wouldn't have gotten the opportunity.

Robin Booth of Columbia, Maryland, Booth Management Consulting, said her company's work went through several levels of quality control, but she agreed to immediately give the board access to the five applications for board members to evaluate.

Booth noted that three out of five organizations already have projects in the top 75 list, which means they will not be eligible for a second project. However, some board members say that projects that fail the evaluation may receive higher scores and be recommended for awards instead.

Council chair Kendra Radl said council members will see how the five points affect the list of recommended awards.

Council members may discuss the issue at the next business meeting in two weeks to decide how to proceed, Radle said, urging her colleagues to share their suggestions with the county law office.

Council member Tim McGinley discussed the possibility of a new distribution plan that would keep the top 75 recipients but reduce the dollar amount they receive to free up money for additional recipients.

While funding cuts may be a problem for some recipients and possibly affect the completion of their project, others have volunteered to cut requests to free up more funds for other projects.

McGinley said he received information from some of the top 75 applicants who would be willing to accept less, including one who would provide a significant amount of funds.

Radle warned that both the county's legal office and Booth had warned the council to be careful with the appropriation change. Acting County Manager Brian Swetz also said changes to the project to reduce appropriations could affect compliance.

The board also wants the revised list to exclude $735,000 from the Dallas City Council due to a recent criminal lawsuit filed against the organization over allegations of dumping raw sewage at Toby Creek.

Applicant reviews

Diane Kauman urged the board to award the awards based on the evaluation process it approved. She spoke for Second Family Memory Care LLC, which was ranked in the top 75 for $203,551.62 to open a 20-bed dementia "village" in downtown Wilkes-Barre.

Cowman said scores should be determined and said the board would "make a mockery of the process" if changes were made to the awards.

Amy Bezek, owner of Amy Bezek Photography LLC, also addressed the council on Tuesday, saying she feels compelled to say something because a proposed $300,000 reward for her business has been criticized by some.

Bezek told the council she was unable to run her business and generate income for more than a year during the COVID-19 pandemic due to restrictions. She said she was eligible for the award and worked hard to complete the application.

"I'm not saying mine is better than the other," said Bezek, who will use the funding to cover inflation-related infrastructure costs.

non-recipients

Some of the organizations not included in the top 75 provided comments to the board. The county has not released a list of unsuccessful applicants.

Greater Pittston Chamber President Michelle Mikitisch spoke on behalf of her organization and the Greater Hazleton and Wyoming Valley chambers, urging the council to consider their joint efforts to help small businesses if additional funding is identified.

The 6,790 small businesses operating in the county employ more than 50,000 residents, according to the chamber. Businesses employing fewer than 50 people make up 93% of the county's employers.

Many have lost income and incurred additional expenses due to the pandemic, Mikitish said, and are now facing significant increases in the cost of goods, fuel, utilities and labor.

In a written communication, Wright Township Secretary/Treasurer Pamela Hurd said the township leaders are asking the council to contact applicants to see if funding requests can be modified so that more applicants can be considered. The city administration demanded a revision of its request.

"Right Township believes we have made a very competitive bid for stormwater improvements that our community and commuters greatly need and will benefit the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by eliminating the stormwater problem on Highway 309," the post reads.

Wilkes-Barre's attorney, Al Flora, sent a message to the council saying he helped a local non-profit apply for American Rescue funding that would provide summer recreational activities for about 300 children in seven municipalities in the southwestern part of the county.

He said he hoped the grant process would be fair and meet the needs of the community.

“When money is given to private commercial organizations and other groups such as photo studios, trade companies, restaurants, doctors, labor unions and religious ministries, I have to express my concern,” wrote Flora. “One has to wonder whether such organizations have experienced significant impacts from the pandemic compared to those organizations that provide a direct community need.”

Flora urged the board to reject all applications and establish a new review process in which the board cooperates and reviews each application in an open and transparent forum. Each application must also be open to public scrutiny to "avoid even the appearance of illegitimacy arising from potential conflicts of interest or behind-the-scenes lobbying efforts."

Appointments to the Council

The council appointed the following citizens to the outer boards:

• Convention Center Administration, which oversees the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre - Donna Kupinski, Dino Galella and Pat Patte.

• The Flood Protection Authority, which oversees the Wyoming Valley Dam system - James Delaney.

• Housing Authority - Rose Yarmel and Robert Vanio

• Department of Transportation - Michael Cefalo

• Lucerne Reserve - Leonard Burger and John Wilkes

• Arts Advisory Board - Donald Armstrong and Colleen Logan.

• Children and Youth Advisory Board - Robert Childs and Amy Lowell-Hart

• Community College Board of Trustees - George Brown

• Convention Center and Visitors Board - Robert Borwick, Brian Fischer, Carla Taller and Michael Ward.

• Farmland Conservation Council - Master Blaxley and Brian McManus.

• Forty Fort Airport Advisory Board - Michael Berish and David Siminsky

• Planning Commission - Karen Fleischer, Gary Schwartz, William Kane and Salvatore Marsico.

• Zoning Hearing Board - Dave Williams

• Workforce Investment Council - Michel Mikitisch and William Shabener

• Regional Aging Agency Advisory Board - Mildred Passeri, Deborah Walsh and Joseph Jozwiak.

• Executive Board on Drugs and Alcohol (student seat) - Tyler Myers

• Mental Health and Development Services Program Advisory Board - Raelyn Daring and Melisa Littleton.

In other cases, on Tuesday, a majority of council members also voted to approve a new 4-year union contract with assistant district attorneys/public defenders. The contract will include a 3% annual increase, as well as a phased increase for new hires, officials said.

Contact Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or tweet @TLJenLearnAndes.