Lucerne County Council received timetable for proposed amendments to self-government charter


			
				                                
			
				                                
			
				                                
			
				                                Lucerne District Courthouse

A proposed timetable has been prepared for the Lucerne County Council to advance the proposed amendments to the self-government charter.

Last month, a majority of council members decided that a district government review would not be on the ballot for the May 16 primary.

Councilor Stephen J. Urban proposed a ballot question asking voters if they would like to convene an elected seven-citizen commission to evaluate the Home Rule charter and recommend whether to leave it as it is, revise it, try a different structure, or revert to the old three-commissioner system .

Council members who voted against the study committee argued that the council should be able to communicate proposed improvements to self-government directly to voters through voting questions, stating that such an approach would not entail the committee recommending a return to the old structure.

Several council members said they would support the inclusion of the study group’s question on the November general election ballot if the council received legal information indicating that the council could not proceed with the chosen amendments.

In accordance with a timetable recently provided by the county law office to the council, all proposed bylaw amendments must be submitted to the law office by May 1. After that, the law office will complete the legal analysis.

According to him, depending on the results of this legal review, the council will discuss further actions at a working meeting on June 27.

The Council can then move a resolution to vote on bylaw amendments, or form a Study Group on July 11, and begin public hearings and voting on the resolution on July 25.

Aug. 8 is the last possible date for the council to file a chosen resolution with the county electoral office for inclusion on the November 7 ballot, the release said.

Board members discussed the plan for developing proposed bylaw changes through the board’s Strategic Initiatives Committee. Possible issues under consideration include reducing the size of the 11-member council and changing the composition of the electoral commission.

Manager search

The county committee to find a new manager will hold its first meeting at 5:30 pm tonight at the county courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre.

The council has appointed citizens Daniel Ader, David Fusco and Charles Schiandra to a committee that is to seek, screen and recommend candidates for governor for council consideration.

Topics for the meeting include the election of a chair and vice chair, as well as a discussion of the search process, target dates and approaches taken by previous search committees, the agenda says.

The Council can propose – but not appoint – a schedule. Although the council did not formally propose it, there was discussion about asking the committee to complete the publicity and interviews and send recommended candidates to the council in about two months.

A link to participate remotely in the search committee meeting will be posted in the online meeting section of luzernecounty.org.

Budget/Finance

The Council’s Committee on Budget, Finance and Audit will meet Tuesday at 5:00 pm at the Courthouse, a link to remote participation will be posted on luzernecounty.org.

This committee is primarily responsible for the annual audit of the district, which must be completed by June 30 in accordance with the district’s bylaws.

Meeting agenda topics include an overview of the 2021 audit of the county and a preliminary work schedule for the upcoming 2022 audit.

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

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