Volunteers Untie Knotweed 
View Of River Restored For Hikers And Bikers At 
Kirby And Nesbitt Parks

Adopt An Incentive Plan To Appeal To Only Highly Motivated Educators 
Recently The Public Employees Retirement Commission Released A Report Which 
Concluded That The Early Retirement Incentive Granted To Public School 
Employees Is Going To Cost The Taxpayers Of Pennsylvania $800 Million Over 20 
Years.

By MARK GUYDISH; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Sunday, July 07, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 2 





HAZLETON -- Smoke free or smoke screen? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Hazleton City Authority Board of Directors decided Monday to ban
smoking at board meetings. Board member Richard Ammon proposed the ban, saying
it would simply follow state law that bans smoking in public buildings. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mary Ann Marshall, the only board member who consistently smokes through
meetings, asked if the move was aimed at her. Marshall has become a strong
critic of board decisions regarding the controversial Northeastern Building,
resulting in several rancorous debates between her and Ammon. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'm looking at the health of everyone in the room," Ammon said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I just hope it helps clear your smoky vision on other more important
issues," Marshall said, adding she has been smoking at the meetings for the
past three years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Decisions, decisions &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The authority board members also voted to change their meeting time from 5
p.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays. Board Chairman Norbert O'Donnell said personal
commitments made it difficult for him to attend the earlier meetings. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The move didn't sit well with Hazleton Taxpayer Association officers Grace
Cuozzo and Demetria Deakos, who regularly attend and videotape the authority
meetings and City Council work sessions. Council's sessions are held twice a
month on Monday's at 7:00 p.m. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When Marshall pointed out the conflict, Ammon asked what relevance council
meetings had to the authority. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I just think the public shouldn't have to pick and choose" what meetings
they attend, Marshall said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Tops in voting &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We're Number 1. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hazleton won the "Easton Voting Award" June 20 at the annual Pennsylvania
League of Cities and Municipalities convention in Philadelphia. Since 1952 the
city of Easton has given the award to the Third Class City with the highest
voter turnout in the state. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hazleton, which is a third class city, had a voter turnout of 66.64 percent
in November. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Council Vice President James Ferry Sr. accepted the award, a large plaque,
on behalf of the city. Ferry said he plans to present the plaque to the city
at Wednesday's council meeting. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I think it shows the people really care in getting out and voting," Ferry
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 No word on whether the plaque will hang in City Hall. Two plaques hung
during former Mayor John Quigley's administration generated controversy when
they briefly ended up, without explanation, in the City Hall basement several
weeks ago. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Quigley's portrait was also recently stolen from a wall in City Hall. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Another high turnout &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Who was watching the store? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 There were more city employees at Friday's hearing in the ongoing feud
between the mayor and City Council than you could count on one hand. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At the Luzerne County Courthouse for the hearing were: Mayor Michael
Marsicano, Director of Public Works Maurice Christino, City Administrator
Mildred DeLorenzo, Marsicano's Secretary Louise Grzyb, police Sgt. Eugene
D'Angelo, and Engineering Office Secretary Rosemary Rentz. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The issue, whether the mayor overstepped his power in having Christino sell
city trucks without Council's approval, was not resolved. Only the lawyers
spoke for the two sides; no one was called to testify. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 DeLorenzo said all the employees were on the city clock, except D'Angelo.
Friday was a vacation day for him, city police said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Where There's Smoke, There's A Disagreement Decision To Ban Smoking At City Authority Meetings Sparks Comment