W-b Police Reassign Drug Unit Detectives 
Merging Efforts With The State Will Give The City Department Better Capability
To Fight Drug Crimes, Top Officials Say.

Agnes Clothier

By MICHAEL McNARNEY mmcnarney@leader.net
 Saturday, February 15, 2003 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 6A 





WILKES-BARRE - The battle for a smaller, ward-based City Council will go at
least one more round. Proponents of the measure filed an appeal Friday that
seeks to overturn a judge's decision the negated the November 2001 vote in
favor of a smaller council. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The appeal has already cost the Wilkes-Barre Area Taxpayers' Association
and the Luzerne County Green Party $510, Association President Christine
Katsock said. The group might pay hundreds of dollars more in legal fees, she
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Katsock - who is a Republican candidate for mayor - and her allies are
trying to reverse a decision by Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge
Joseph Augello to overturn election results that called for a smaller,
ward-based council. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Augello based his ruling on the failure of the Luzerne County Department of
Voter Services to post `plain English' explanations of the ballot question at
polling places. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The ruling followed a lawsuit by 14 Wilkes-Barre residents who said they
were confused by the question. Voters approved the measure 2,400 to 1,886. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Katsock said she and her lawyer, Harry Skene, are exploring if the appeal
could affect plans for the May primary. As things stand, each party can select
up to seven at-large candidates. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Katsock also said she will ask the Commonwealth Court to deal with the
appeal quickly. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Michael McNarney, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7305. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
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W-b Council-reform Backers Appeal Decision Against Plan