Women's Club Donates To Victims Resource Center

Ann Adams

By MICHAEL McNARNEY mmcnarney@leader.net
 Saturday, January 03, 2004 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





NANTICOKE - After reading that a judge ordered Pittston to get back into
the trash pickup business, Nanticoke City Administrator Greg Gulick has
offered his city's old trash trucks to Pittston. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``That just meant a lot to me,'' said Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo, who
cited the offer as evidence of improved cooperation between Pittston and
Nanticoke - two cities that face similar fiscal problems. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On Tuesday, a Luzerne County judge ordered Pittston to resume garbage
pickup and reinstate two unionized workers. Lombardo earlier said the city
would have to buy new trucks, since the old trucks were sold. New trucks, he
said, would cost $350,000. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Privatizing garbage collection is a frequent opportunity for cities to cut
expenses. Indeed, Nanticoke put its trash pickup out for bid in 1998. Now, its
two garbage trucks sit idle at the city public works yard. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``If they want to have their mechanic come down to look at them, we'd be
happy to help out,'' Gulick said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Nanticoke has been generous with surplus equipment before, but it got
burned in 2002 when a garbage truck lent to Wilkes-Barre ended up being towed
back to town with what was described as a blown motor. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Nanticoke officials estimated it would cost $20,000 for a new engine. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Said Mayor Tom McGroarty at the time: ``They said we could use it until it
died, and it died.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Gulick said the truck hasn't been checked since it was towed home. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Lombardo said he will talk with City Council next week about whether the
city will appeal the judge's ruling to resume garbage pickup. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I think we need to make a decision,'' Lombardo said. ``Honestly, without
legal advice, I'm not sure what the decision will be.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Michael McNarney, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7305. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Required To Resume Trash Pickup, Pittston Offered Aid Nanticoke Offers Its Garbage Trucks, Idle Since Service Was Privatized In 1998.