W-B also pondering change

A growing sense of dissatisfaction among Wilkes-Barre City Council members over their relationship with Mayor Tom McGroarty has led to open discussion about forming a charter study commission, which could ultimately lead to a change in the way the city is run.

Wilkes-Barre has operated under a strong-mayor form of government for the last 25 years. In 1968, the city opted for a city manager form of government at the urging of then-Mayor Frank Slattery.

By 1974, dissatisfaction with Mr. Slattery once again led to the formation of a charter study commission. Since residents wanted someone more directly accountable, the charter commission recommended a switch to a home rule charter.

The city then adopted the strong mayor system, which remains in place today.

The second-term mayor believes council has started talking about studying the charter because they dislike him. Many municipal experts say that may be the worst reason to institute any kind of radical change.

But council members believe it's more than that. Councilwoman Shirley Vitanovec, whose first term began in January, says Mr. McGroarty's claim that council dislikes him is nothing more than an excuse.

"He will always say everything is political," she said. "Nothing is political. We're all here in the best interests of the city."

But whenever the issue arises of whether the city might need a change of governance, Mr. McGroarty says he first mentioned the idea when he suggested the city have fewer council members.

"I think maybe I brought up something that made people think," he said.

He also thinks all the talk is flattering.

"They can say all they want," the mayor said. "I think they should be on 'Spin City.' I bring up an issue and they take it as their own. They couldn't beat me at the ballot box, so they want to change the law."

The issue of whether the city should form a charter study commission first came up in February. Ms. Vitanovec and Councilwoman Kathy Kane were in the beginning of their terms and had been finding it hard to get answers from the mayor.

"I think that after 25 years or so, maybe it's time to take a look at the way things are done around here," Ms. Kane said. "I thought maybe we could get some input from the citizens, pick a committee and look at it.

"Maybe the strong-mayor system isn't what we need," she added. "We need to take a look at all our options."

Council Chairman Mike McGinley acknowledges he would go along with a majority of council on the matter.

"Do I think it's necessary?" he asked. "It's worked for 25 years the way it is now. Even though there are some differences of opinion, they always seem to get resolved. The problem is basically because the mayor hasn't answered us on a lot of things."

Most council members would favor a charter study since the city would not be bound by the results to institute any changes. Veteran Councilman Phil Latinski falls into that camp.

"I guess it comes down to what the people want," Mr. Latinski said. "It's in the hands of the people. We serve at the whim of the people. But you have to remember, a lot of things are done for political reasons."

Councilman Jim McCarthy believes a change might be needed because he feels council is handcuffed by the charter in terms of what powers it wields.

"There's basically little we can do," he said. "We pass the budget and pass some laws. The rest of the time we have to beg the mayor and hope he does what we ask.

"It frustrates the hell out of me, too," he said of council's limited powers. "But that's the way the process works. It's laborious, it's cumbersome, but you can't get there yesterday."

The newest member of City Council is Tony Thomas Jr., who took over the term of the late Al Boris, who died in June. Mr. Thomas walked into the middle of the storm in July.

"There's a lot of infighting there," he said of the current situation. "I don't really want to get into the middle of it."

He acknowledged that while there are problems, the system has worked well for several years.

"And you have a guy who knows how to work the system," he said of the mayor. "I would like more accountability from the mayor, but we can't do that unless there are changes made to the charter."

Ultimately, Mr. Thomas said, he would be in favor of a charter study. "The wrong person with that much power in the future could be very detrimental to the city," he commented.

But Mr. McGroarty believes the people would be on his side. Since any decision to change the charter would have to go to a public referendum, the mayor doesn't think any changes will be made.

"There are a lot of politicians who don't believe in the will of the people," he said. "The public is happy with the way the city is run. The people like me. I'm for the city residents.

"I think they should get down to the business of today," he said. "Why are we still in the garbage business when every progressive community in the country has gotten out?

"They want to be involved in the hiring," he added. "I've cut employees, not hired more and that's bothering people."

Mr. McGroarty painted himself as a "maverick" who does what's best for the city.

"Is the city better off now than it was five years ago?" he asked. "These people (council) forget, but the public knows. I've brought residents more with less taxes and less personnel."

TUESDAY: An in-depth look at the government of Reading.

Subscribe to The Times-Tribune