Wilkes U. Benefactor Fenner Dies At Age 88

Anna Legosh

By JOLYN RESNICK jolynr@leader.net
 Saturday, November 17, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 6A 





WILKES-BARRE - Teamsters Business Agent Joe Gorham on Friday sent a mixed
message to Mayor Tom McGroarty concerning a private company being able to
clean Public Square Park. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On one hand, he said the union will not surrender any of its work. On the
other hand, Gorham said the union would be willing to meet with the city and
Diamond City Partnership to ``further the best interests of the city.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Diamond City Partnership, in conjunction with private businesses,
contracted with a private cleaning company to clean downtown sidewalks. The
businesses are paying the costs for the service, which is designed to augment
city public works crews' efforts. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The mayor has denied the company access to the park area. For months
McGroarty said the union contract forbids any entity but Public Works crews to
perform the work. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The contract does not state specifically that city public works crews are
the only people who can clean the park area, but the mayor was concerned that
the union would file a grievance. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Gorham has said that he didn't have problems with the supplemental cleaning
of the park area. In a press release Thursday McGroarty said union stewards
told him the private cleaning crews would ``eliminate potential overtime for
public works crews.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McGroarty also said in the press release that he welcomes the additional
cleaning. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After hearing from Gorham early Friday, City Human Resources Director
Christine Jensen followed up with a letter on Friday stating the union
business agent ``vindicated'' the mayor's position by taking ``the same
position as (McGroarty) did earlier in the week.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 She also asked to meet with Gorham in the future to discuss other issues,
such as manning the commingled recycling collection on Christmas Eve. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Gorham could not be reached for comment Friday evening. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Jolyn Resnick, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7210. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Union Agrees To Talks With Mayor, Civic Group 
A Business Group's Proposal For A Private Cleaning Of Public Square Park Has
Become A Thorny Subject In Wilkes-barre.

Union Agrees To Talks With Mayor, Civic Group A Business Group's Proposal For A Private Cleaning Of Public Square Park Has Become A Thorny Subject In Wilkes-barre.