W-b Area Continues Probe  Into Misconduct Allegations

American Academy Of Pediatrics' Position On Shots Wrong

By JON FOX jfox@leader.net
 Friday, December 16, 2005 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 2A 





WILKES-BARRE - Six of seven members of a committee to redraw districts for
a move to five regionally elected council members were chosen by city council
and Mayor Tom Leighton on Thursday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The full committee will consist of seven members. Council selects two, the
mayor selects four, and those six members will select the seventh. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Two of the mayor's selections must come from lists of candidates compiled
by the heads of both local Democratic and Republican parties, according to the
city's home rule charter. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At its final meeting of 2005, city council approved its two picks for the
redistricting committee, appointing Chris Evans and Vaughn Koter Jr. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The appointments were made without any public debate and council
unanimously approved the selections. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 During the meeting, Councilwoman Kathy Kane said the choices were selected
from names submitted to council. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After the meeting, council members said only two people had expressed
interest in serving. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Only two people approached us to be on the committee, and we accepted,"
Councilman Tony Thomas said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Leighton selected Joan Kwak and Harry Miller, and from the selections of
Greg Fellerman, head of the city's Democratic Party, he chose Rose Frati. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For the appointee recommended by the head of the Republican Party, Leighton
said he was forced to choose Ted Wampole, the only interested Republican he
was aware of. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Stephen J. Urban, head of the Republican Party, did not respond to a
certified letter sent by the city in November requesting a list of selections,
Leighton said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "In order to move the process forward" and "based on the lack of
cooperation and correspondence," Wampole was appointed, the mayor said, adding
that Wampole had called the city clerk's office to express his interest. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Leighton and all of the members of council are Democrats. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 City residents voted to alter the city charter in 2001 to move from seven
at-large seats to five district seats. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Then, nearly three years ago, a committee chaired by attorney John Moses
drew a series of districts that divided the city into strips with little
attention to existing neighborhoods. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 City council members voted in October to redraw the district lines that had
drawn vehement criticism from some. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Districts should be in place in time for the primary elections of 2007,
city officials have said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In other business: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * Council gave the mayor approval to select Highland Associates to draft
plans for a renovation of the Ice-A-Rama and Coal Street Park. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Preliminary plans include construction of an 86,000-square foot skating
facility, including training and locker rooms and office space in an
additional 30,000-square foot space, according to the request for bids. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Also requested are plans for the construction of basketball courts and the
relocation of playground facilities. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Leighton said renovations will likely progress in phases said he believes
the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins organization will eventually use the rink
as a practice facility. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * Council voted to retain the services of Excalibur Insurance Management
Services for 2006. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

W-b Gets Redistricting Under Way/ Six Named To Board To Create Council Voting Regions