Tax rate remains the same in Plains Township budget

web1_ttl090515kings-spt-5.jpg

Curtice returns with a vengeance

At least nine citizens have submitted applications to serve on the committee that will recruit and help select Luzerne County&#8217;s next top manager, officials said.The county council did not terminate county Manager Robert Lawton but voted last month to proceed with the search for his replacement because Lawton has been seeking positions elsewhere. Lawton has declined to publicly discuss his job search.County Councilman Tim McGinley, who was on the council committee that developed the search plan, said he is pleased at least nine citizens are interested in volunteering to serve on the committee. Applications were due Friday, which means additional ones may arrive in the mail early next week.&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know what kind of response we would have because committee members will have to invest a significant amount of time and energy,&#8221; McGinley said.This is the first time an outside committee will be activated under the county&#8217;s home rule charter because the home rule transition committee handled the initial selection process before the council selected Lawton as the first non-interim manager in January 2012.McGinley said the search committee members selected by a council majority may encounter unexpected issues or questions that must be resolved.&#8220;Because this is the first time an outside search committee is in place, it will be a new experience,&#8221; he said.As required by the home rule charter, the council must sit back and allow the outside committee to search, screen and complete initial interviews.The council won&#8217;t start reviewing manager applicants until the committee recommends the candidates it believes are the most qualified, the charter says.The charter requires at least three people on the committee, but the council may select up to five members.The online posting seeking committee members said citizens interested in serving should have a bachelor&#8217;s degree and experience in the job selection and interviewing process for high-level positions.<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Jennifer Learn-Andesjandes@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</shirttailMeta></div>

At least nine apply for committee to seek next Luzerne County manager