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County social services recruit new hires, honor longtime employees at courthouse event

Charges against alleged Hazleton rapist forwarded to county court

<p>HAZLETON &#8212; Mayor Jeff Cusat said the city will run out of money in November unless action is taken.</p><p>At Tuesday night&#8217;s council meeting, Cusat said a deficit of $856,000 in the city&#8217;s budget might mean laying off the street department as early as June.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to wait until the last minute,&#8221; Cusat said.</p><p>Council member Grace Cuozzo disagreed with Cusat&#8217;s numbers, pointing out the Hazleton City Authority has offered to make an early payment to the city of over $400,000.</p><p>Both Cuozzo and council president Jack Mundie also pointed out the Hazleton City Authority has offered land to the city, which could be sold with proceeds going into the general fund.</p><p>Cuozzo encouraged Cusat to look at all the options and to spend responsibly.</p><p>In response to a resolution granting salary increases to unionized city hall employees, Cuozzo said, &#8220;Why would we be giving raises to some employees while considering the laying off of a whole department?&#8221;</p><p>Cusat said the increases would only amount to $17,000 which he called a drop in the bucket when compared to the city&#8217;s anticipated shortfall.</p><p>&#8220;If we go to arbitration over this, that&#8217;s $15,000 right there,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Cusat said salaries started at $20,000 which Cuozzo said was for part-time workers.</p><p>Councilman David Sosar said, &#8220;There is no reason to do this now; we have time.&#8221;</p><p>The resolution was tabled with councilman Bobby Gavio casting the lone &#8220;no&#8221; vote.</p><p>Cuozzo also asked Cusat why no city engineer has been appointed as of yet.</p><p>&#8220;The third class city code requires that appointment by May 1,&#8221; she said.</p><p>The council also unanimously approved the transfer of sick time from police officer Richard Hutnik to his wife, police officer Jessica Hutnik,&nbsp;during maternity leave.</p><p>Council member Jean Mope said, &#8220;We&#8217;ve been assured that this does not set any type of precedent.&#8221;</p><p>During public comment, resident Judy Yurko asked the council to look into a regionalized police force.</p><p>&#8220;It seems it would free money up to do the things that we need to do,&#8221; said Yurko.</p><p>Sosar said part of the problem is that, as a third class city under optional plan 2, the city could not regionalize its police force without approval of the state house and senate.</p><p>Both Sosar and Mundie emphasized the importance of contacting local representatives, seeking input about both legislation and funding.</p><p>Resident Mark Rabo encouraged the mayor and the council to aggressively deal with blighted properties.</p><p>&#8220;Blighted properties affect the city in so many ways,&#8221; he said. &#8220;They erode the tax base, create a hazardous environment and make it less likely that businesses will move into the area.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Cuozzo </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_Cuozzo_Grace_toned.jpg</photo0><caption0>Cuozzo </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_cusat-election-2015_toned.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cusat </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_cusat-election-2015_toned.jpg</photo1><caption1>Cusat </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Hazleton City Council, mayor discuss possible shortfall in funds before year’s end