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LUZERNE &#8212; Borough Council members used Tuesday&#8217;s rescheduled regular monthly meeting to express their sorrow over the passing of fellow council member Bill Turcan.&#8220;You learned something from Bill every time you talked to him,&#8221; Councilman Jason Tarreto said.Tarreto praised Turcan for his professionalism and demeanor, which he said was constant whether during council meetings or in general conversation.Turcan, who died on April 5 at the age of 73, was a lifelong resident of Luzerne. He served on the Borough Council as well as the borough&#8217;s sewer authority for the past six years since his retirement from the automotive industry.Each Luzerne official present at Tuesday&#8217;s meeting, which was rescheduled from last Wednesday so that Turcan&#8217;s wake could be attended, agreed that his replacement will have &#8220;big shoes to fill.&#8221;&#8220;He was an amazing public servant,&#8221; Solicitor Jonathan Spohrer said, noting that Turcan would not hesitate to call him for extensive details or argue with him when Turcan felt it was appropriate.&#8220;I&#8217;m really going to miss having him seated next to me,&#8221; he added.Turcan&#8217;s extensive knowledge of borough history and general finance made him an asset to the borough. This was evident when council President Mike Jancuska, out of habit, looked to Turcan&#8217;s empty seat when presenting the borough&#8217;s annual audit for review.In other matters, Mayor James Keller announced that 40 American flags will decorate telephone polls on Main and Bennett streets as of April 28, ahead of Memorial Day services planned for May 9.The Luzerne Borough Merchants Association donated $1000 of the approximate $1900 in costs for the flags. The individual council members contributed the remaining balance, so that no costs would be passed on to the public.The council will meet next at 7 p.m. on May 13.

Luzerne Council members remember Bill Turcan