Wrestling Dual Meet Titles On Line

Watching Weather A Full-time Job 
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Forecaster, Jon Nese 
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By STEVEN DU BOIS; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Friday, February 06, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





PITTSTON- City Council members Thursday said Wil Toole based his retirement
bonanza on a policy change never approved by them. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The council based its conclusion on several affidavits. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Though accounts payable clerk Aneila Onderko- the star witness- did not
appear in person as originally planned, her affidavit said Toole was
responsible for adding the policy change at issue. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Toole retired in November with a $36,000 benefit-buyout check. A large
portion of the money came from the new policy because it allowed Toole to
convert thousands of hours of overtime into 747 sick days. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Previously, Toole was able to convert his overtime to only 260 sick days.
After the policy change, sick days were unlimited. The $36,000 check boosted
Toole's annual pension by $18,000, to about $38,000 per year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Within a week the city will once again ask Toole to return the $36,000. If
he doesn't comply, civil action will be taken, said Rose Randazzo, special
counsel investigating the Toole controversy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Onderko said she typed the City Council agenda on June 10, and it did not
contain the sick-day policy change. Then, on June 18, a week after the council
meeting, Toole told her to add it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "On June 18, Mr. Toole directed me to make an addition to the
administrative policy that, to my knowledge, was never entertained or voted on
by Pittston City Council." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 According to the affidavit, Toole then told her to get then-Mayor Tom
Walsh's signature. Onderko said she asked Walsh if he was aware of the new
section. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "He advised me that he and Mr. Toole had discussed the addition," the
affidavit said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Walsh then signed the change. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Toole, who did not attend the meeting, has said a clerical error caused the
item to be left off the agenda. Moreover, he recently described Onderko as a
disgruntled employee with an axe to grind. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Besides Onderko, former council members John Argo and James Kolmansberger
and current council members Ken Scaz and Maria Capolarella submitted
statements. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 All four said they never voted on the policy change in question. Only
council is allowed to make changes in the policy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I put my trust in him," Capolarella said of Toole after the meeting. "It
was disappointing." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On Walsh's role, Capolarella said, "He always tried to do what he thought
was right." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The audience showed some surprise that Scaz- Toole's political ally and the
man solely responsible for approving the former clerk's overtime hours and 747
sick days- admitted not voting on the policy change. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'm surprised, but the facts are facts," Mayor Michael Lombardo said of
the affidavit after the meeting. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Scaz would not comment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Randazzo credited Scaz for his statement. "In light of his personal
relationship with Wil, he did choose to tell the truth." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Five minutes before the meeting, Lombardo

Council: Toole's Claim Unfounded City To Again Ask For Return Of Retirement Money, And Take Civil Action If Request Goes Ignored By Toole