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Casey, others denounce cuts to federal program that helped hire 12 full-time cops in Wilkes-Barre

mallard fillmore

First Posted: 3/7/2012 WILKES-BARRE &amp;#8211; On Monday, all five City Council members said they had questions regarding the waiving of permit fees for the demolition of the Hotel Sterling and were looking forward to discussing the issue.
At Tuesday night's work session, none of the council members brought it up.
"The question hasn't been raised to council," said Council Chairman Mike Merritt.
Asked what he meant by that, Merritt said Mayor Tom Leighton has not yet offered a recommendation on whether the city should waive the estimated $50,000 in permit fees as requested by the Luzerne County Council.
Merritt said council could waive all, part or none of the fees.
A majority of council members interviewed Monday said they would oppose dropping the fee, which would be paid by the county. They cited the city's financial investment in the Sterling &amp;#8211; about $300,000 &amp;#8211; as the reason.
The County Council can opt to provide the $1 million for demolition, mothball the building for possible future development or do nothing. The county has a stake in the property because of $6 million in community development loans for the project.
The city, which condemned the 114-year-old structure, could be forced to come up with the demolition cost should the county decide to revoke its offer to finance the demolition. City Controller Kathy Kane informed council of a movement to support state legislation that would clarify the law as it applies to arbitration awards and to municipal pensions, binding arbitration and unfunded state mandates. 
Kane gave a packet of information for each council member from the Coalition for Sustainable Communities. She said she will meet with council and the administration to discuss the concerns in detail.
On Thursday, council will vote:
&amp;#8226; On the appointments of Dan Lavery to the city Housing Authority and Christine Jensen, former city human resources director, to the Planning Commission.
&amp;#8226; To enter into a 30-month lease agreement with FAHS Construction group, Binghamton, N.Y., for 5,000 square feet of property under the Veterans Memorial Bridge. Leighton said the company will make repairs to the bridge this spring.
&amp;#8226; To purchase new energy efficient widows for the police department headquarters for $81,646 from Northeast Window Inc.