web1_xcalibur02.jpg

Valley West’s Jon Lagoski reaches X-calibur semis; 12 from host Sem advance to semis

web1_TTL121915GBBCoughlin2.jpg

Local sports roundup: Jordan Black, Pat Mitchell lead Pittston Area past Wyoming Area

HAZLETON &#8212; The city council approved a second reading of its proposed 2016 budget on Friday night.A special meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Dec. 29, at which it is anticipated the budget will be finalized.Council members, however, are aware that it is possible the budget can be amended by mayor-elect Jeff Cusat when he takes office in January.The proposed budget keeps the real estate tax rate at 3.12 mills with revenue and expenditures of $9,596,076. A mill is $1 tax for every $1,000 in assessed value.Council members also addressed Cusat&#8217;s recent announcement that he will not retain Frank DeAndrea as police chief.Councilman David Sosar thanked DeAndrea for his time of service and work to improve the city.Several resolutions were passed permitting applications for Local Share Account grants, including funding requests for Gabriel House, the Hazleton Regional Airport terminal renovation, the municipal parking garage and maintenance at the Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts.Councilwoman Jean Mope reminded attendees that, although the council was approving projects its believed worthy of funding, final decisions as to receipt of those grants will come from the state.Attendees and council members engaged in a extended debate in regard to an LSA application for funding a study and supplementing costs associated with law enforcement.Resident Mark Rabo said the application was not consistent with state directives regarding LSA grants.&#8220;This would only be appropriate if the application was requesting funding for regionalization or for oversight of gaming activities,&#8221; said Rabo.Council did approve the application.Councilman John Keegan, while addressing the real estate transfer tax, said the city must be willing to raise taxes if necessary if it means providing an increased police presence.&#8220;If people feel safe, we&#8217;ll have more businesses moving into the area, more people purchasing property and we&#8217;ll be building our tax base,&#8221; said Keegan.Keegan, a pharmacist, said he had planned to bring in several syringes to show council what drugs looked like.&#8220;I know what they look like. I could see them on Second Street if I wanted to,&#8221; Sosar said.Council members also addressed the recent death of Code Enforcement Officer Rick Wech.Jack Mundie, president of council, said his father had hired Wech during Mayor John Quigley&#8217;s administration and that he had served the city well.Council changes loomKeegan will retain his seat on council only until the end of the year with Robert Gavio elected to fill his spot.When Cusat assumes his role as mayor, however, a seat on council will become vacant.Although generally the city council appoints members to any vacant seat, when a council seat opened up in September, the council requested the decision be made by the Luzerne County Court.<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Proposed spending plan holds line on taxes</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Geri Gibbonsggibbons@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</shirttailMeta></div>

Hazleton approves second reading of the budget