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Wednesday, January 21, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





Cost of coaches background checks eyed &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mayor Tom McGroarty says the city should pay for the checks but some
council members have different ideasWILKES-BARRE- Mayor Tom McGroarty at a
City Council work session Tuesday night introduced a plan that would use city
money to pay for background checks of Little League managers, coaches and
assistants. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Although some council members expressed reservations, McGroarty said he was
confident they would approve the measure at their meeting Thursday night. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'm not a proponent of spending money but the idea of the city reimbursing
our Little Leagues for money spent on background checks of coaches would be
tax money well spent," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In a letter to McGroarty, Fred DeSanto, assistant district administrator of
Little League's District 16, asked the mayor to "personally oversee compliance
among the five leagues based in the City of Wilkes-Barre." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The district, which encompasses most of Luzerne County, voted in November
to mandate background checks for all member leagues. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Background checks cost $20 per coach. McGroarty estimated the total cost to
the city would be at least $6,000. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Several council members said that although they supported the sentiment
behind the mayor's idea, they were concerned that the proposal could set a
precedent and force the city to subsidize youth soccer and other sports
leagues. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 As an alternative plan, Councilman Phil Latinski suggested the city pay $10
per check instead of $20. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Councilmen Al Boris an

Cost Of Coaches Background Checks Eyed Mayor Tom Mcgroarty Says The City Should Pay For The Checks But Some Council Members Have Different Ideas.