web1_Gambardella.cmyk-1-.jpg

Trial date set in deadly Freeland drug deal case

web1_20191211_162620.jpg

SHINE after-school program gets $20,000 from Cabot Oil

<p>Although it was around 11 p.m. at the close of a marathon five-hour meeting Tuesday, Luzerne County Council members took the time to offer parting words to four colleagues, including Stephen A. Urban.</p><p>A retired Army lieutenant colonel, Urban wrapped up two decades as an elected county official, first serving as a commissioner from 2000 through 2011 and then as a councilman since the county&#8217;s January 2012 switch to a customized home rule government structure.</p><p>Urban, who decided not to seek reelection in November, said he did not expect parting wishes because he thought there would be one more meeting this year.</p><p>Council Chairman Tim McGinley said a Dec. 17 meeting tentatively scheduled won&#8217;t be held because there are no pending decisions before the sitting council.</p><p>Poking fun at Urban&#8217;s occasional arrivals as meetings are starting, McGinley said he will hold another one if Urban promises to come on time.</p><p>Councilman Chris Perry told Urban he wishes he had more of his vast institutional understanding of county government.</p><p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t always agree, but your knowledge is just impressive,&#8221; Perry said.</p><p>Although they&#8217;ve clashed at times, Councilman Robert Schnee said he considers Urban a friend and also respects his knowledge and military background.</p><p>A southern county resident, Schnee said Urban has amassed a fan base in the Hazleton area.</p><p>&#8220;Everybody I talk to down there loves him,&#8221; Schnee said. &#8220;That&#8217;s a compliment when people speak highly of you.&#8221;</p><p>Also exiting are Jane Walsh Waitkus, Patrick Bilbow and Rick Morelli.</p><p>Walsh Waitkus has served a four-year term and was not reelected in November. A council majority selected Bilbow and Morelli to fill vacancies this year.</p><p>Expressing an interest in sharing a &#8220;secret&#8221; with the audience, Walsh Waitkus said she had circulated her petition to run four years ago when her adult daughter&#8217;s cancer was in remission after a successful stem cell transplant.</p><p>&#8220;Unfortunately that summer before the election, she relapsed and died. I thought, &#8216;Oh my gosh. How can I go forward?&#8217;&#8221; Walsh Waitkus said, noting she also has been caring for two grandchildren as a result.</p><p>She said she is thankful she embraced the challenge, describing her term as a &#8220;whirlwind&#8221; and &#8220;wonderful experience.&#8221;</p><p>Schnee said Walsh Waitkus is &#8220;one of the finest people&#8221; he&#8217;s known.</p><p>Bilbow, who did not win a seat in November, said serving has been an &#8220;honor&#8221; and &#8220;everything I thought it would be and more.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s unfortunate. I felt like I was really just finding my way, and now I&#8217;m being shown the door,&#8221; he said, laughing.</p><p>A home rule charter drafter and prior councilman, Morelli praised his colleagues for their professionalism and asserted the county is on a path of &#8220;getting out of where we were&#8221; and becoming a model.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m leaving here knowing that home rule is working and is the right choice,&#8221; Morelli said.</p><p>McGinley, who was reelected to another term along with Schnee, said he doesn&#8217;t believe many &#8220;realize the time and effort&#8221; council members invest in reviewing and analyzing information to &#8220;come up with the best solutions&#8221; and alternatives.</p><p>&#8220;We look forward to moving forward. Hopefully we have a very strong working council in the future,&#8221; he said.</p><p>LeeAnn McDermott, Walter Griffith, Stephen J. Urban (Councilman Urban&#8217;s son) and Kendra Radle will take office Jan. 6.</p><p>Citizen Mark Rabo also thanked the outgoing members for their service.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not easy being in that seat,&#8221; Rabo said.</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/2019/12/web1_countycouncil02-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Luzerne County Councilman Stephen A. Urban </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/web1_countycouncil02-1-.jpg</photo0><caption0>Luzerne County Councilman Stephen A. Urban </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jennifer Learn-Andes</p><p>jandes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Stephen A. Urban, other departing Luzerne County Council members commended