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<p>WILKES-BARRE TWP. &#8212; The Luzerne County Convention Center Authority named new officers and welcomed three new members to the board during its public meeting Wednesday at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.</p><p>In separate votes the authority that oversees the operation of the arena unanimously approved Ed Harry as chairman, Barry Payne as vice chairman and David Capin as treasurer. The authority has 11 appointed board members. Alex Milanes was excused due to a family illness.</p><p>New members Michelle Reilly, John Ruckno and Gary Zingaretti attended the regularly scheduled meeting.</p><p>The authority also approved the purchase of new phone system and interior door for the facility that opened in 1999.</p><p>Capin, who also chairs the finance committee, said the phone system is approximately 10 years old and in need of an upgrade. The cost is not to exceed $18,000 and much of the installation can be done in-house at a considerable savings, he said.</p><p>The door, located near the command center on the event level at the rear of the arena, should be replaced for safety and security reasons, Capin said. He described the replacement as a rolling garage door that costs $7,000.</p><p>Neither had to be put out to bid because each one fell below the $25,000 threshold for bidding.</p><p>When asked by authority member Hal Bloss about how the authority would pay for the projects, Capin responded, &#8220;The money&#8217;s there.&#8221; The arena, managed by SMG, exceeded its 2016 budgeted operating income of $202,013 by several hundred thousand dollars.</p><p>Harry provided status reports of three other projects previously approved by the authority &#8212; the replacement of the ice rink, reinforcement of the structural steel supporting the roof and acoustical upgrades.</p><p>&#8220;I think we&#8217;re good to go as soon as the last event,&#8221; Harry said of the rink replacement. The work must begin after the one event scheduled in June and the hockey season ends for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. It has a tight schedule for completion in order to be ready for the start of the next season.</p><p>In addition the acoustical upgrades will be done in conjunction with the work on the steel, Harry said.</p><p>The authority issued individual resolutions to recognize the service of former members, Angelo Answini, attorney Jonathon Comitz and Dave Palermo.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">The 16th Annual Northeast Penslyvania Home and Garden Show held at the Mohegan Sun Arena  ----------------Fred Adams|for Times Leader 1-27-17</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_hg1_faa.jpg</photo0><caption0>The 16th Annual Northeast Penslyvania Home and Garden Show held at the Mohegan Sun Arena  ----------------Fred Adams|for Times Leader 1-27-17</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Arena authority appoints officers, adds new members to board