`connected Mathematics Project' Introduced

2nd Murder Figure To Be Retried 
Ruling Means That Both 
Men Convicted Of Murder 
In Death Of Andrew Danko 
Will Get Opportunity To 
Have The Verdict Overturned

By DAVID J. RALIS; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Thursday, January 08, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE- It's rare for a department head to question the Luzerne
County commissioners at their public meeting. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But Prothonotary Carolee Medico did just that Wednesday after being told it
was the only way she could find out how much to pay her new deputy and why her
department's budget was cut by 12 percent this year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She left with answers, but said afterward she felt "stonewalled" and set up
by the commissioners and Chief Clerk/Administrator Gene Klein. They disputed
her allegations. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Ms. Medico, I'm doing my best to make you happy on these and your other
demands," Klein told her. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But Medico said two letters Klein sent her last month prevented her from
interviewing candidates to replace longtime Deputy Prothonotary Tom Merrel,
and therefore she couldn't order new stationery for her office. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In one of the letters, Klein wrote that Merrel's 1998 salary after 26 years
on the job was to be $34,937. If Medico wanted to replace Merrel, "you will be
required to meet with members of the SALARY BOARD to determine the
compensation of a new Deputy Director ...," the letter says. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Salary Board includes the three commissioners, Treasurer Mike Morreale
and the department head seeking a salary for a new employee. It meets
immediately after the commissioners adjourn their regular meeting. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Board of Commissioners Chairman Tom Makowski said he "presumed" that Medico
knew the letter meant she could pay a new deputy up to $34,937. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Medico, a political newcomer, said she was told by Klein that the Salary
Board had to set the salary. She said she tried to call Makowski on Dec. 12 to
check, but he refused to come to the phone. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We can't meet with you (in private) because there's a law that says we
must talk in public," said Makowski, referring to the state's Sunshine Act.
However, the board occasionally holds private meetings with department heads
to discuss personnel matters, which are exempt from the law. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Commissioner Frank Crossin said he hoped Medico would see the letter as a
chance to save taxpayers' money, by paying a new deputy less than what Merrel
would have received. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 As for the prothonotary's $508,110 budget, which was cut by $69,736 from
last year, Makowski told Medico its spending plan was approved last month and
the money cannot be restored now. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We trimmed and pared everywhere we could" in the county's $158 million
budget for 1998, Makowski said."You can only move (money) from line items
within your own budget." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That means Medico must furnish her office out of the $30,000 in materials
and supplies her department will get this year or do without something else. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Her predecessor, Eugene Duffy, took most of the office's furniture with him
when he left. Last year, his office was budgeted $35,000 for materials and
supplies and spent $38,021. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In an unrelated matter Wednesday, Duffy received unanimous permission to
increase his personal county pension contribution by $4,921.46. That's money
he would have

Prothonotary, County Commissioners Clash Over Cash