`sorry' Bank Robber Gets Nearly 7 Years

Anthony Kosloski 
Dec. 7, 1994 
Anthony W. Kosloski Of High Street, Ashley, Died Wednesday At His Daughter's 
Home In Wilkes-barre.

By TOM OBRZUT JR.; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Friday, December 09, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE -- Mayor Lee Namey categorized his 1995 budget as "living
within our means" and City Council apparently agreed. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On Thursday, the six council members unanimously approved Namey's $24.3
million spending plan. Councilman Tom McGroarty was absent. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was the seventh consecutive year that Namey has presented a budget that
did not increase taxes. In fact, next year's budget decreases overall spending
from $24.7 million. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The city's property tax will remain at $55.63 per $1,000 of assessed
property value. A person with a home assessed at $4,000 will still pay $222.52
in taxes. The city's 3 percent wage tax also does not change. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But the budget cuts a tax assessor's position and three jobs each from the
police and public works' departments. The cuts were achieved through
retirement or attrition, said City Administrator Richard Muessig. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The budget also decreases funding for equipment and civic donations. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Namey's plan to trim three police officers would leave the police
department with 83 officers, down eight from 1993. But when the city receives
$375,000 from a federal crime bill grant to help fund five officers through
1997, it will be able to bring the force to 88 officers. It is not known when
the city will receive the grant. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In public works, the Namey cut three garbage workers by reducing five truck
routes to four. Namey says the plan will have no effect on service. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Next year's budget also includes a change for the fire department. The city
planned to take one of two ladder trucks out of service and reduce the minimum
per-shift manning level from 18 to 17 in an effort to save $40,000 in overtime
expense. Because one of the city's two ladder trucks failed an inspection last
week, the move has already been made. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In other business, council approved the purchase of three downtown
properties near the old Percy Brown's lot to "promote the economic vitality of
the central business district," said City Clerk Bill Brace. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Properties bought include: 14-16 E. Northampton St. for $100,000 from Sim
Realty Corp., 56-58 S. Main St. for $90,000 from Robert A. and Esther E.
Kaufer and 60-64 S. Main St. for $130,000 from Ja-Va Inc. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Councilman Tom Leighton said the purchases were the "first step in many
steps" to revitalize the downtown. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We have to start looking forward into the future," he said. "Obtaining
ownership will help future development." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In a related matter, Richard Adams of Human Services Consultants in
Kingston asked council to study the feasibility of enacting a ~state tax
credit program that would allow developers, such as Adams, to pay a reduced
tax rate for a fixed number of years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Adams proposes building a five-story combination office, retail and
apartment building at 37-45 W. Market St., between Lowe's restaurant and the
Sterling Hotel. Adams would first raze the buildings that occupy the parcel.
The project will cost about $2 mi

City Oks Job-cut Budget Wilkes-barre Will Be Down Eight Police Officers Since Last Year, But Five Will Be Restored Through A Federal Program