$1 Million Tabbed For Veterans

Absences, Baggy Pants Draw District's Attention

By MIKE RUBINKAM; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Thursday, August 08, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE -- He lobbied for the position for years. On Wednesday, Ted
Napierkowski finally got his wish. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Luzerne County commissioners appointed the Kingston man to a four-year
term on the Luzerne County Transportation Authority. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I don't think there's a person in this community that knows this system as
well as Ted does," said Commissioner Frank Crossin. "He's been going to
meetings for years." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Napierkowski replaces Harold Pleiscott, whose term expired. The position is
unpaid. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In other business, the commissioners: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Accepted the resignation of Leo Benjamin, supervisor of the county's 480
voting machines. Benjamin was berated last year by the district attorney's
office after an investigation found widespread tampering with the machines in
the May 1995 primary election. The investigation prompted the county Election
Board to toss out the tally of one machine in Nanticoke and to recommend that
the county buy new electronic voting machines. The commissioners are not
replacing Benjamin. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Appointed four members to the newly created Luzerne County Tourist
Promotion Agency: Michael Cotter of West Pittston; Gene Klein, the county's
chief clerk/administrator; Merle Mackin of the county Human Resources
Department; and Diane Slusser of West Hazleton. Three members of the public
will be chosen to sit on the board at a later date. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Raised the salary of Paula DeJoseph, solicitor of the treasurer's office,
from $7,272 to $12,500 a year. The raise was awarded because DeJoseph is
developing the procedures and regulations the office needs to collect the new
motel/hotel tax. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Before the meeting, Luzerne County Children and Youth Services announced it
became the first public social service agency in the state -- and only the
18th in the nation -- to be accredited by the Council on Accreditation of
Services for Families and Children. Accreditation means Children and Youth
Services has met "nationally established requirements which help ensure
quality service," agency director Eugene Caprio said in a statement. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Children and Youth Services began the application process in 1992. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kingston Man Named To County Position For Transportation