web1_TTL091618Multicultural_9-1-.jpg

Multicultural Parade, Festival to put diversity on display

web1_Judith-Marie-Cefaly-04052019.jpg

Cefaly sentenced to more prison time from spa embezzlement

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Another apology Thursday by city council Chairman Mike Belusko for allowing a personal attack on two men by a speaker last month received a mixed reception from them.</p><p>During council&#8217;s regularly scheduled public meeting Belusko acknowledged he was wrong for allowing it to happen, but stopped short of criticizing the comments against Mark Shaffer and Jason Carr.</p><p>&#8220;At Tuesday&#8217;s work session I apologized to my fellow council members, not for the statements made, but for my lack of action,&#8221; Belusko said. &#8220;Today I would like to apologize to you, my sincere apology to all of those involved.&#8221;</p><p>At the Aug. 15 meeting Belusko gave Linda Joseph a public forum to campaign for Republican Councilman Tony Brooks and blast Shaffer, a Democrat whose challenging Brooks for the District B seat, and Carr, who posts on the Greater Wilkes-Barre Taxpayers Association Facebook page.</p><p>Shaffer, who said he&#8217;s not affiliated with the group, accepted the apology. He said he previously spoke to Belusko.</p><p>&#8220;When I talked to him in private he seemed sincere too, &#8221; Shaffer said.</p><p>But Carr did not accept it. He declined to comment specifically on what was said about, citing pending litigation.</p><p>&#8220;It seems as though he&#8217;s condoning those actions,&#8221; Carr said. &#8220;I&#8217;m concerned for other citizens as well in the future.&#8221;</p><p>Carr also joined with John Suchoski in his concerns about whether Gateway Center Associates has enough funding to build hotel/conference center and condominiums planned for the former Hotel Sterling property.</p><p>Suchoski said based on the presentation Steve Barrouk made to council to buy the property last year the estimated $35 million project would be privately funded. But in July the state approved a $2 million grant through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program for Gateway Center Associates.</p><p>&#8220;I do believe we were lied to, John,&#8221; Belusko said.</p><p>Barrouk, however, dismissed their comments.</p><p>&#8220;Nobody was lied to,&#8221; said Barrouk, a former Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber head and the real estate broker for the property sale.</p><p>The city is not providing the RACP funds that was authorized in the state capital budget for the project, Barrouk said. &#8220;I find the whole conversation ridiculous,&#8221; he said.</p><p>City Administrator Rick Gazenski said late last year the developer gave a 19-month time frame for work to begin on the site.</p><p>Councilwoman Beth Gilbert was the only council member to oppose the sale of the city-owned property to Gateway for $600,000.</p><p>&#8220;In terms of the grant money, that was one of the reasons why I voted against it because I didn&#8217;t believe them for a second when they said they weren&#8217;t going to seek any grant money,&#8221; Gilbert said.</p><p>In regular business, council approved:</p><p>&#8226; The purchase of 13 sets of fire turnout gear for $40,202 from Witmer Public Safety Group Inc. of Coatesville.</p><p>&#8226; A resolution supporting Senate Bill 625 in the state Legislature that would allow municipalities to regulate the possession of firearms on municipal property.</p><p>&#8226; The second and final reading of an ordinance dealing with the treatment of animals, specifically making it illegal to leave an animal unattended outside in severe weather and in an unattended motor vehicle when conditions endanger the well-being of the animal.</p><p>&#8226; The reappointments of Barry Payne to the Planning Commission and Francis &#8220;Thomas&#8221; Collis to the Traffic Committee.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_belusko_toned-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wilkes-Barre council chairman Mike Belusko</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_belusko_toned-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wilkes-Barre council chairman Mike Belusko</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>

Apology offered again and Sterling development funding discussed by Wilkes-Barre city council