W-b Diamonds Shine In Debut Against Slamm

4 Players Hit Double Figures As Altoona Downs Hazleton

By P. DOUGLAS FILAROSKI; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Sunday, January 11, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





WILKES-BARRE- Remember the response officials gave after learning dozens of
Luzerne County employees used government cell phones for personal calls? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 They promised a new phone policy, and that an administrative arm would
reach out and touch employees' wallets for John Q. Taxpayer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That was a month ago. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But only 13 of the 59 county workers with phones have paid, and the new
policy for personal calls isn't finished yet. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Disappointing. That's what it is," Sharon Lemmons, president of Coalition
of Luzerne County Taxpayers, said when told of the non-developments. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Lemmons had joined angry taxpayers Dec. 10 at a commissioners meeting to
complain about reports employees used taxpayer-funded phones to call pizza
shops, a massage parlor, home and elsewhere. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 One employee made calls during vacations to Atlantic City; another phoned
home 81 times; and a third used a phone while being driven around. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Faced with the apparent abuse, County Clerk/Administrator Gene Klein told
taxpayers during the meeting he would draft a policy restricting personal
calls and outlining payback procedures. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Klein said he hoped to have the new policy ready by Jan. 1. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Board of Commissioners Chairman Tom Makowski said workers also would be
required to review phone bills, and make sure they pay back taxpayers for
personal calls. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 As of Friday, Klein said he hadn't completed the policy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It is indeed being worked on. It isn't finished, but it is close." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And about four-fifths of workers with phones haven't paid any money back. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Taxpayer advocate John Gibbons said commissioners broke their promise. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Now, it's obvious that county commissioners have no interest in being
watchdogs for the taxpayers," Gibbons said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Electrician Carl Zukosky, who earlier said he did nothing wrong by calling
home 81 times, paid back $52.39. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Asked why Friday, Zukosky walked away, declining comment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Other employees who made reimbursements between Dec. 8, 1997, and Jan. 9,
1998, are District Attorney Peter Paul Olszewski Jr., Chief County Detective
Michael Dessoye, Planning Commission Director Adrian Merolli, Zoning
Coordinator Ray Nagy, Recreation Department worker John Randazzo, Chief of
Administrative Support Services Frank DeSanto, Engineer Jim Brozena and Deputy
Coroner Joe Shaver. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A check of records in the county treasurer's office shows Olszewski,
Dessoye, Brozena, DeSanto and Road and Bridge employee John Glushefski
consistently made reimbursements. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Several other employees who earlier acknowledged using the phones to make
personal calls did not reimburse taxpayers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sheriff Carl Zawatski, who admitted calling friends and family on the
phones, said Friday he hasn't had a chance to review his bills and make
reimbursements. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I definitely made personal calls, and I'm going to square them away,"
Zawatski said. "But we're busy. We're trying to get everything set for the new
year in this office. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Zawatski said he will follow an administration directive to review bills
for the past 12 months. "I want to do it right. And that's going to take some
time." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Security guard David Wehrer, whose phone bill showed calls to a
veterinarian, a car dealer, and his home, could not be reached. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Commissioner Joseph "Red" Jones, who also called friends and family, did
not return messages left at his office. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Lemmons, who opposes cell phones and county cars- especially since a 25
percent tax hike in 1997- hoped commissioners were serious about cutting costs
this time. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "They seemed as though they were sincere about this, but maybe not." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Visited at his office, Makowski declined to comment on the issue. He
referred questions to county spokesman Jim Torbik. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Torbik said the county was looking at cell phone use "as a total package."
Commissioners are reviewing the way employees use the phones and who needs
them. They are also seeking bids for service and equipment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "To make one specific policy is pretty difficult," Torbik said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Gibbons thought commissioners would be pressured into responding because
the issue received so much public attention. &nbsp;&amp;n

Phone Reimbursements On Hold 
Only 13 Of 59 Luzerne County Employees Have Repaid The Costs Of Their Cell 
Phone Use Despite County Officials' Promise Last Month

Phone Reimbursements On Hold Only 13 Of 59 Luzerne County Employees Have Repaid The Costs Of Their Cell Phone Use Despite County Officials' Promise Last Month