'05 Election Was Smooth, County Vote Chief Says/ Consolidating Municipalities'
Wards Is The Next Job For Leonard Piazza's Office.

Anti-spending Advocates Capture 3 Seats/ Approval Of A $10 Million Expansion
Project Was A Major Issue In The Campaign

By JON FOX jfox@leader.net
 Friday, November 11, 2005 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE - The cost of making copies in City Hall could drop
drastically, but only if you work for the city. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 City council members Thursday approved a plan from Mayor Tom Leighton's
administration to upgrade the copiers and printers in City Hall and at police
headquarters. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; By replacing the desktop printers, copiers and fax machines scattered
throughout the two buildings with nine new machines, city Administrator J.J.
Murphy said, the cost of a copy will be reduced to "about a penny." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Copies currently cost the city about 20 cents a page, Murphy said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But anyone looking to get copies of documents as part of the state's open
records law can look to pay more than twice that. The city charges the public
50 cents per page. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The state law governing open records states the cost of copies "must be
reasonable and based on prevailing fees for comparable duplication services
provided by local business entities." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Staples, an office supply store in Wilkes-Barre Township, charges 6 cents
per copy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Council sets those fees," said City Attorney Tim Henry when asked about
50-cent charge. "We may have to look at those fees." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Upgrading the machinery will reduce costs from $3,700 a month to between
$3,200 and $3,500 a month, Murphy said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In other business: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * Council approved a plan to forgive more than $220,000 in back taxes owed
on the former Old River Road Bakery at 250 Old River Road contingent on the
city acquisition of the property. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Murphy said the possible acquisition of the South Wilkes-Barre eyesore is
part of an aggressive attempt to improve blighted properties. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The best thing we can do is get rid of the eyesore and put either homes
that will pay taxes or commercial properties that will pay taxes," Murphy
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * Councilman Jim McCarthy renewed his 7-year-old request to pass a city law
to force those convicted of a felony drug charge to register with local law
enforcement. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * Councilman Mike McGinley called for city officials to ensure contractors
working in the city obtain proper permits before beginning work. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "If nobody asks a question, is (the contractor) going to get a permit every
time?" he asked. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

W-b Oks Plan To Save On Photocopying, Printing / Pages Will Go From 20 Cents A
Copy To 1 Cent For Workers. Public Will Still Pay 50 Cents, But The Fee Will
Be Reviewed

W-b Oks Plan To Save On Photocopying, Printing / Pages Will Go From 20 Cents A Copy To 1 Cent For Workers. Public Will Still Pay 50 Cents, But The Fee Will Be Reviewed