Vinsko's Mess- River Road or Railroad

Today's Times Leader features this article by veteran reporter Jennifer Learn-Andes reporting that Wilkes Barre (aka Tom Leighton's Cook County Version) was rescinding its controversial deal with Leo Glodizk III to sell him the former Old River Road Bakery.

The city is expected to appear before the Wilkes-Barre Area School Board today seeking forgiveness of more than $445,000 in back taxes on the property so it won’t be listed in a September back-tax auction.

School board members said no to the request once, in part due to public complaints about the handling of the sale to Glodzik.

The city did not publicly advertise the property to ensure it obtained the highest offer from prospective buyers. Glodzik, owner of LAG Towing, the city’s towing contractor, has donated $10,400 to city Mayor Tom Leighton’s campaign committee since 2005.

Leighton has said in the past that political donations have no bearing on city business. The mayor also said other buyers had expressed interest in the property, but none were willing to pay close to the $38,000 offered by Glodzik.

Take a look at that picture and convince yourself that the building and property aren't worth more than $38,000.00. It was assessed at $478,300.00.

Sources close to SOP tell us that Attorney Vinsko failed to file papers on time in this matter leading to the current situation.

Leo Glodzik III of L.A.G Transport Inc, a staunch Leighton political supporter, wanted to use the property as storage for his towing business.

A federal lawsuit was filed in Scranton back in 2009 over this property as described in this Times Leader article by Terri Morgan-Besecker.

Tyler and Antonia Hammond claim Leighton and Vinsko took steps to deprive them and other persons of the right to purchase the property at 250 Old River Road so that it could be sold to a person who was a private client of Leighton’s real estate business and Vinsko’s law firm.

The suit, filed Tuesday in federal court in Scranton by attorney Cynthia Pollick, does not identify the person to whom the property was sold. But details contained in the suit indicate it revolves around the sale of the defunct bakery to Leo Glodzik III of L.A.G Transport Inc.

Glodzik recently purchased the property for $38,000 to house a storage facility for his towing business. Luzerne County had assessed the 1.14-acre property at $478,300.

Wilkes Barre City is asking for the Wilkes Barre Area School Board to forgive $445, 000.00 in back taxes owed on the property. Or is the translation Leighton is asking the school board to forgive $445, 000.00 in back taxes so he can get Vinsko off the hook and sell the property to his political buddy, Leo Glodzik, III.

It should be worth noting that the City of Wilkes Barre enforced liens it had on the Hotel Sterling project against CityVest according to this TL article by Jennifer Learn-Andes back on June 21. Ask Wilkes Barre Area to do what the Wilkes Barre City wouldn't. Hmmmmm

Tammany Hall..lets see...

Fed Charge Woman In Elaborate Title Scheme

The U.S. Secret Service charged Elizabeth Sichler with various crimes including embezzelment of $2 million dollars from clients in an elaborate scheme where she misappropriated money from her escrow accounts for personal gain and replaced the money with funds deposited by new customers.

Jennifer Learn-Andes writes in her Times Leader article that Sichler, 58, was also charged with bank fraud and making false statements to law enforcement authorities for allegedly forging her daughter’s signature to obtain $3,650 and lying about her writing of 61 bad checks.

People who have experienced problems with Sichler or Priority Search and have not yet reported their case to authorities are asked to contact the Secret Service Scranton branch at 346-5781.

Northeastern Pennsylvania Hotbed of News

In an effort to bring as much information as possible here is a rapid fire presentation of the Hotbed News in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Pat Patte's lawyer blasts statements made by U.S. Attorney Amy Phillips concerning the origin of $80,000 to $90,000 seized by the feds in this story filed by Terrie Morgan-Besecker of the Times Leader.

Mike Butera acknowledged agents searched Patte’s Sports Bar and Patte’s home when he was charged in February, but he said Friday that nothing was recovered during the searches.

At the hearing, Phillips said agents recovered the cash and other evidence of a gambling operation after they served search warrants. Phillips did not identify the location that the warrants were served. Butera said he believes Phillips’ statements led people to assume the evidence was recovered from Patte’s bar or home. That’s a perception that has hurt Patte’s business.

Luzerne County Clerk of Courts Robert Reilley rejected a plea bargain agreement with the feds according to sources who spoke with Terrie Morgan-Besecker of the Times Leader.

Reilly’s attorney, Michael Butera of Pittston, said Friday he could not comment on whether a plea deal was offered to Reilly.

Butera said Reilly was not aware of any investigation relating to the Clerk of Courts office. Asked if there was any other investigation of Reilly outside of his court position, Butera declined to comment.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, could not say what charges prosecutors planned to file, but did confirm the case is separate from an investigation regarding payments made by a committee headed by Reilly to a records consulting firm.

The U.S. Secret Service on Wednesday confirmed it is investigating nearly $1 million in payments that were made to LRW Solutions Group of Wayne for work related to the organization and storage of county court records.

Related to that story Jennifer Learn-Andes wrote in this article that Luzerne County Prothonotary Carolee Medico Olenginski said Friday that she was the one who contacted the U.S. Secret Service to request an investigation of nearly $1 million spent on an outside records consultant.

Butera is a busy attorney these days.

The last item concerns a purported "sick out" by part-time van drivers working for Luzerne County written by Jennifer Learn-Andes of the Times Leader.

Only 18 of 50 Luzerne County van drivers showed up for work Friday due to disputes between the controller and administration regarding overtime pay, leaving many elderly and disabled persons without transportation.

The disagreement stemmed from Griffith’s refusal to release overtime for part-time van drivers without salary board authorization. Griffith said the overtime payments will push pay for the drivers above the amount approved by the board.

Although Griffith may lose this one based on federal and state wage laws something smells about part-time earning overtime. Luzerne County is a hotbed for shaddy practices whether it be legal or illegal. So far its leaders have failed to get a handle on the crisis. Every day is a new day for more corruption.

Luzerne "Dysfunctional" County

It has been said on the street that Walter Griffith is a nut, plain and simple. I found the man to be somewhat aloof but by no means a nut. The perpetrators of such a claim seem to have an agenda to distract the citizens of Luzerne County from the very shenanigans that seem are "acceptable" to people like Maryanne Petrilla. That claim is made because it is Walter Griffith digging and exposing the inept actions of employees and department heads in the county, not Maryanne, she only responds. Her lack of proactive efforts to straighten out Luzerne County exemplifies why we see the contiuning shameless actions in the press.

In today's edition of the Times Leader Jennifer Learn-Andres details how Griffith exposes a van driver who does not possess a valid driver's license.

Griffith said he sent the county administration an e-mail demanding that the employee be terminated immediately. The employee was removed from driving Friday afternoon, pending further disciplinary review.

“This is a serious issue. This could have put the county in jeopardy,” Griffith said.

The county’s transportation department, operated jointly with Wyoming County, runs vans that provide transportation for the elderly and people with physical and mental disabilities.

County officials declined to name the female employee.

County Chief Clerk/Manager Doug Pape verified that the employee drove a van without a license.

The county had checked the employee’s license in November, and it was clean. Her license was later suspended after she received a ticket, Pape said. He wasn’t sure of the reason for the suspension but said the suspension has since been lifted.

However, the worker’s license expired Feb. 5. She applied for a new license and received it as of 4:30 p.m. Friday, Pape said.

Evidently things in Harrisburg aren't much better. Who did the vetting for the Sheriff nominee in Luzerne County? Had due diligence been performed his property tax situation would have been discovered but then again we are talking about the Rendell administration.

Ace reporter Jennifer Learn-Andes writes another report about the Sheriff nominee and his tax embarassment.

Luzerne County sheriff nominee John Gilligan owed $2,614 in taxes on his Wyoming property from 2008 and 2009.

Gilligan paid the debt around 4 p.m. Friday, shortly after discussing the matter with a reporter.

He acknowledged owing the debt when contacted, saying this was the first time he got behind in his taxes since he purchased the home in 1987.

Gilligan called back later, to say the taxes would be paid that afternoon.

He said he used to pay taxes through his mortgage and didn’t realize that the set-up had changed until he started receiving tax bills.

Gilligan said he appreciated the media inquiry because it prompted him to contact the tax claim office to see how much he owed.

According to tax claim records, Gilligan owed $997.69 from 2008 and $1,616.30 for 2009. Both bills include penalties, interest and costs.

Magic Carpet Ride

According to late breaking news this afternoon at the Times Leader Richard Emanski, president of the Swoyersville-based King Glass & Paint, has been charged in the ongoing corruption probe of Luzerne County government entities. Emanski, 65, allegedly provided and installed free carpeting in the home of an unnamed Wilkes-Barre Area School District board member as a reward for support of a contract for Emanski's business.

One of my favorite reporters, Jennifer Learn-Andes, (are you paying attention anonymous) reported on Mr. Emanski back in April, 2009.

King Glass has also done work in Wilkes-Barre Area School District and the Wilkes-Barre Area Vocational-Technical School – which are also being investigated by the FBI.


Wilkes-Barre Area School District paid the company $953,713 from August 2004 to the present, mostly for carpet installation, records show.

It appears that investigation has been concluded according to the published report in the Times Leader. Stay tuned.

The words to the song are "Well, you don't know what we can find." When the F.B.I. comes a knockin the words change to "Well, you don't know what we will,and believe me we will, find." "The magical mystery tour is waiting to take you away, Waiting to take you away- to a federal prison near, well not so near you."

Luzerne County Restructuring

Back in January, 2008 Jennifer Learn-Andes wrote an article about Row Officers wanting salary increases.

Board of Commissioners Chairperson Maryanne Petrilla said she agrees that local row officer salaries are “off base” compared to similarly sized counties and will recommend the commissioners vote to study row officer salaries in those counties.

The county should then hold several public hearings to present findings and gather public feedback, she said.

“It’s their government and they have to have a say,” Petrilla said.

Well, Maryann here's what I have to say. We have a government study commission examining the county structure. In looking at the request to increase salaries another issue has come to light lately, so much so that Attorney General Tom Corbett has agents working on the matter.

The Row Offices are independent of county government as the offices are elected at large by the voters. It basically states that in the Administrative Code of Luzerne County. Their departments are funded through county government but the elected officials are independent from answering to the Commissioners. And that's when the problem started. Who do they answer to? Only the voters at election time.

If the Commissioners want to look to increase the salaries of Row Officers who is negotiating the time spent "on the clock" to earn that salary? There have been questions raised about vacation time, sick time, and the like recently so it is about time these Row Officers enter into a "contract" with the voters to document their time spent on the job to justify their salary.

Reporting is required in the private sector';the public sector should learn a lesson. If its not documented it didn't happen.

Mericles Trying To Sell Home in Wilkes-Barre

An article that appears in today's Times Leader by Jennifer Learn-Andes discusses the sale of a residence owned by Robert Mericle and his wife, Kim. It appears they placed the Wilkes-Barre property on the market for $399,000 only months after he successfully argued the value was $235,200.


21st Century representative Tim Barr reviewed records Friday and said the value was reduced 38 percent, in large part, because Mericle argued at a September informal review that the house was built in 1974 and had no remodeling since.

Barr checked old assessor’s office property cards on Friday and said they indicate that Ciavarella built the home in 1981 and expanded it in 1991.

Mericle also maintained during the informal review that the basement was unfinished, Barr said. The property sales listing says the house has a 783-square-foot finished basement.

Barr reviewed the property sale listing at www.75marjorie.com on Friday and said photographs clearly show the basement is finished.

Six to seven bedrooms are also noted in the sales listing, but the property owner only acknowledged five, Barr said. The sale listing says the property has five baths, but the owner indicated that there were three.

Some interesting discrepancies. No one is alleging any wrongdoings at this point.