Zebulon Robbins Sr.

Anthony Scott 
Jan. 16, 1994 
Anthony C. Scott, Of Floral Park, N.y., Died Jan. 16 In New York.

By LISA SCHEID; Times Leader Hazleton Bureau Chief
 Sunday, January 30, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A QUICK WORDS: HAZLETON HIRES FIRM TO
STUDY AUTHORITIES 





HAZLETON -- A Dallas, Pa.-based consultant began a study this week that
could shake up the management of Hazleton's parking, transit and water
authorities. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mayor John Quigley said the study could recommend increased parking in
downtown Hazleton and transit service to the area's industrial parks.
Consultant Ray Nearhood and Associates will look at ways to make the
authorities more efficient and accountable to the taxpayers, Quigley said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That could include consolidation of administration and management of two or
three of the authorities, Quigley said. Currently, each authority has its own
paid, full-time manager or director. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The study could also conclude that the authorities are being run as
efficiently as possible. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "At this point we don't know," Nearhood said. "I haven't spent that much
time with the parking or transit authority. I can't go making conclusions." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Municipal authorities are a vehicle by which cities, school districts and
counties can acquire, construct, finance, maintain and operate projects. Local
elected officials create an authority and appoint its members. The authority
operates independently of elected government. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Quigley and City Administrator Sam Monticello signed the contract with
Nearhood and Associates Monday. Three days later Quigley publicly announced
the study to about 50 area businessmen at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast
meeting. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Nearhood will be paid $60 per hour and travel and related expenses to
conduct the two- to three-month-long study. The city will provide Nearhood
with private office space, photocopy and other city equipment needed for the
project. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Quigley said the final cost of the study is "open-ended." He estimated it
will cost less than $25,000. The city paid Nearhood $8,000 as a retainer upon
signing the contract. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The study is important to the region's economic future, Quigley said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I submit, whether some care to admit it or not, that as the central city
goes, so goes the entire area.... If this city is to survive, its government
and subordinate entities must build a unity of approach, a shared vision of
the city's needs and a common commitment to reaching them," Quigley said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Infrastructure such as water supply, parking and transportation will be the
key to increasing development in the city, he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Quigley said if planned properly, water, transportation and parking can be
tools to attract businesses to the city. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Quigley invited the area's business leaders to contribute to the study by
"sharing their views of how we can serve more efficiently and effectively." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Nearhood is also expected to interview the authorities' board members and
employees; review municipal authority legislation, city ordinances and
authority by-laws; examine the authorities' structure and current operations
and recommend, if appropriate, new organization. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Nearhood worked for the Pennsylvania Economy League analyzing municipal
problems for five years before becoming College Misericordia's dean of
financial and administrative affairs in 1993. Nearhood does his consultant
work in addition to his college work. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 There aren't many officials examining the operation of their authorities
the way Quigley is, Nearhood said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Authorities tend to get out there and disappear," Nearhood said. "There
are 35,000 municipal authorities in the United States. In terms of public
debt, they are second only to the U.S. government. They spend the public's
money but a lot of times are forgotten. Nobody really takes a look at them." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 While Quigley's move may be bold, it is not unprecedented. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Nothing should come as a surprise," Quigley said. "All I'm doing is
following through." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Since taking office in 1988, Quigley has worked to make the city
authorities more accountable. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Quigley lost a Supreme Court legal fight in 1991 to appoint people to the
water authority. That power rests with City Council. Since winning a second
four-year term, Quigley has gained majority support from council. Now, council
appoints authority board members who are sympathetic to Quigley's agenda. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Last year, Quigley's influence showed when he helped Hazleton City
Authority board members find an auditor to review the management operations of
the water department. The $59,000 study by Washington, D.C.-based Ernst &amp;
Young concluded business practices at the authority were poor. Among the
problems, Ernst &amp; Young found $12,000 in overpayments to a law firm. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Quigley said the Nearhood study of the parking and transit authorities
would be similar in scope to the Ernst &amp; Young audit. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Nearhood said he would use Ernst &amp; Young's 92-page audit to help make
recommendations in his study.

Hazleton Hires Firm To Study Authorities Mayor Quigley Says His Goal Is `unity Of Approach' For The City's Various Efforts To Improve Itself