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Court documents: Alleged hit-and-run driver Michael Scavone can no longer afford private lawyer

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“Henry and Mudge” to be first production in 2016 Times-Tribune Children’s Series at the Scranton Cultural Center

WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Mayor Tony George has already drawn criticism for hiring a neighbor and expects to hear more about her residency.Joyce Zaykowski started Monday in an administrative post that pays an annual salary of $45,000 plus benefits.The mayor Tuesday said she does not live in the city and has a home in the Back Mountain. Zaykowski and her husband Lawrence live on Mary Street, Shavertown, Kingston Township, according to property records.Zaykowski and her sister divide their time taking care of their elderly father, George said.&#8220;She is staying with her dad,&#8221; George said.Her hiring was not announced last week. It followed an announcement by George that he was considering firefighter layoffs and a 25-mill property tax increase to cover revenue shortfalls in the $51.5 million balanced budget he assumed when he took office on Jan. 4. A public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 9 on his proposed amendments to the budget.While on council last year, George cast the lone vote against the budget submitted by former Mayor Tom Leighton. George questioned revenue projections at the time and revisited them last month, reducing the entries for the collection of delinquent taxes, fees and fines . He cut those projections by a combined $550,000 and combined them with a total of $1.3 million reductions in other areas. When added with a $1.8 million unbudgeted expense for repairs to the police station, the shortfall reached approximately $3.65 million, he said.When pressed about adding people to the payroll while layoffs loomed, George last week defended Zaykowski&#8217;s job, saying it was needed to make sure the city did not risk losing grant funding for the Solomon Creek flood protection and Coal Street extension projects.He acknowledged he might face further questions about Zaykowski&#8217;s out-of-town address. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see what happens,&#8221; George said.&#8220;She&#8217;s there most of the time,&#8221; he said of how often she stays with her father. Her plans are to eventually move into the city, he said.<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Jerry Lynottjlynott@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott</shirttailMeta></div>

New hire by Mayor Tony George not a Wilkes-Barre resident