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Luzerne County should continue offering the option to attend meetings virtually after in-person gatherings eventually return, county Councilman Walter Griffith said.

He has submitted a resolution, up for discussion at Tuesday’s council work session, that would permanently mandate the use of electronic and telecommunications for all meetings of council and county authorities, boards and commissions.

These agencies have all been meeting through online platforms or teleconference since March 2020, he said.

“If anything good has come out of the coronavirus, it is the ability to have meetings that the public can attend from all sections of the county without the hassle of driving an hour to the courthouse,” Griffith said.

His proposed resolution points to the county home rule charter’s preamble wording that county citizens have “both the right and responsibility to participate in all phases of county government.”

Tuesday’s virtual work session follows a 6 p.m. voting meeting, with attendance instructions posted on council’s public meetings online link at <a href="https://www.luzernecounty.org/1279/Public-Meetings-Online" target="_blank" rel="noopener">luzernecounty.org</a>.

No mute

To eliminate background noise and other disruptions, audience attendees typically don’t have the option to unmute during virtual meetings of council and county boards beyond periods carved out for public comment.

Learning of this dynamic last week, Griffith said it must be changed because citizens have the right under state law to raise objections during public meetings if they believe proper procedures are not being followed.

County Chief Solicitor Romilda Crocamo said she concurs with Griffith and will discuss the matter with the IT department and council to figure out a solution.

Griffith said any citizens refusing to respect decorum by remaining quiet could be force-muted by the administrator, just as they would be escorted out of an in-person meeting.

Tax break

Council is set to vote Tuesday on whether to grant Bluecup Ventures’ tax break request for a $120 million warehouse complex on mine-scarred land in Hazle Township.

The project would eliminate a massive culm bank along Route 309 clearly visible to motorists as they cross the county line.

Based in Fairfield, Connecticut, Bluecup Ventures is seeking a 65% real estate tax reduction on the three new buildings for 10 years instead of the 100% usually requested by developers. The land would remain fully taxable throughout.

Taxing bodies currently collectively receive $15,439 in real estate tax revenue annually from the property in its deteriorated state. Their receipts are projected to rise to $1.74 million each year during the break and to $3.6 million after the break expires in a decade, the company said.

Nanticoke eyesore

Council voting agenda items also include Nanticoke’s request to forgive $8,137 in county back taxes owed on a blighted property the city has acquired to demolish.

The roof of this property at 1206-1208 Prospect St. caved in last year, and a structural engineer deemed the property unsafe and in immediate danger of collapse, city Manager Donna Wall told council.

Seeking to show he looks out for public safety, Republican county council candidate Ronald D. Knapp sent a media announcement indicating he was the one who alerted city council of the need to inspect the building last May. Also a Nanticoke council candidate, Knapp said he requested the city examination because he worried building passersby were in danger.

DA seat

The county election board may decide Wednesday if the county district attorney race will be on the ballot this November or in 2023.

Prior first assistant DA Sam Sanguedolce was automatically appointed to fill the post March 25, when Stefanie Salavantis resigned because she is running for county judge.

A new state statute says the first assistant serves “until the first Monday in January following the next municipal election occurring not less than 90 days after the occurrence of the vacancy.”

Municipal elections are held every two years, including 2021. The vacancy occurred too late to appear on the May 18 primary election ballot.

The election board is faced with two conflicting legal opinions.

County Assistant Solicitor Michael Butera said the race cannot be on the ballot until the 2023 primary because nominees must be selected through a primary in a municipal election year. However, Attorney Joseph M. Cosgrove, who was retained by the county Office of Law to provide an opinion, takes a position the new statute requires the DA race to be on the ballot this November because it is the next municipal election.

Crocamo said the county Office of Law as a whole recommends adding the race to this November’s ballot.

Wednesday’s virtual meeting starts at 5 p.m. Information on attending will be posted on the election page at <a href="https://www.luzernecounty.org/396/Elections" target="_blank" rel="noopener">luzernecounty.org</a>.

Luzerne County may keep virtual meetings after in-person ones resume