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By DONNA THOMAS and JOLYN RESNICK donnat@leader.net
 Wednesday, January 10, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





WILKES-BARRE - City Solicitor Marisue Elias reportedly has been named the
first head of the Great Valley Technology Alliance, the regional effort to
develop a technology-based economy in Northeastern Pennsylvania. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Friday is her last day on the job. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Officials of the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre area chambers of commerce will
announce the Great Valley Alliance director at noon tomorrow. They would not
confirm Elias' selection for the post. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We are not letting out any information about our press conference until
Thursday at noon,'' said Catherine Shafer, president of CDS Creative, the firm
hired to handle marketing and publicity for the Great Valley Technology
Alliance. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Other officials of the Great Valley Technology Alliance, including
Co-Chairman William W. Scranton III, would not comment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In February, officials of the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre chambers announced
the Great Valley plan to create a technology-based economy along the
Interstate 81 corridor from Scranton to Hazleton. The plan's goals include
creation of a technology institute involving a dozen colleges and universities
in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Elias, 37, on Tuesday would say only that she is seeking a job in the
private sector. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 She submitted her resignation Monday, but because Mayor Tom McGroarty was
out of town, he did not find out until Tuesday morning. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McGroarty said he wishes Elias well, but wished she would have given him
more time to find a replacement. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He said Elias recently became eligible for a city pension, because she was
with the city for 10 years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``That's pretty good timing,'' McGroarty said of her departure. ``She just
became eligible in the past two months.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He said he hopes to name a replacement, although possibly temporary, by the
time Elias leaves. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 She said she will start her new job in early February and that it does not
involve the law. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Elias is the latest in a long line of city managers to leave. Since March
1999, six other managers have left: Assistant Solicitor Edmund Zigmund,
Department of Health Director Michael Elias, Director of Planning John Varaly,
chief mechanic Richard Stevens, police Chief William Barrett and William
McGlynn, who for years was director of public safety. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Elias has been with the city for 10 years and was named city solicitor in
1997. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In addition to serving McGroarty, she also is City Council solicitor. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I feel sad leaving council. They've been so good, so kind to me. It
wasn't an easy decision. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``It was a great opportunity,'' she said of her new job. ``I'm a single
mom. It's better for me in terms of opportunity and flexibility. I did what
was best for me and my family.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Council Vice Chairman Thomas Leighton said he was sad to hear about Elias.
``It's a shame. We're losing so many people.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``The base of the city is disintegrating,'' Councilwoman Shirley Vitanovec
said. Vitanovec blamed McGroarty and ``the way he micromanages the city'' as
the reason so many managers have either retired or resigned. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Donna Thomas, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7222. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

W-b Solicitor Leaving Post For New Job 
Marisue Elias Reportedly Will Head The Great Valley Alliance, Whose Task Is To
Develop A Technology-based Economy.

W-b Solicitor Leaving Post For New Job Marisue Elias Reportedly Will Head The Great Valley Alliance, Whose Task Is To Develop A Technology-based Economy.