LMHA Board Suspensions Halt 86 Paychecks
Jessica Galasso
Nickel City News StaffMarch 30th, 2000: Suspension of six members of the board of commissioners for Lackawanna Municipal Housing Authority, including the chairperson and vice-chairperson, by Mayor John Kuryak, has prevented the distribution of paychecks to approximately 86 LMHA employees today.
The by-laws of LMHA state that two of four people must sign all checks according to a memo distributed to employees by LMHA. Either the executive director, Staniszewski, or the assistant executive director and either the chairperson, Chester Beres, or the vice-chairperson, Carolyn Pienta, of the Board of commissioners.
Being suspended, both chairpersons are unauthorized to sign the payroll checks, among other checks such as utility bills and rent deposit reimbursements. The employees, paid bi-weekly, left work this week without a paycheck.
According to LMHA laborers, they are contracted under Civil Service Employment Association where they cannot go on strike.
"We serve people, we can't neglect them whether we're getting paid or not," said one LMHA worker.
According to the memo posted early Thursday, March 29th, "Mr. Smuckler and Mr. Magavern, who represent the authority have requested that the Mayor lift the suspension of Mr. Beres to enable him to sign your payroll checks. To date, the Mayor has refused to do so."
LMHA provides housing for low-income tenants for approximately 475 families. All finances in LMHA are funded by HUD.
According to office personnel, the longer there is no chairperson or vice-chairperson, the more it may create a domino effect and more people will be affected. If bills are not paid, utilities could possibly be cut off. Also, if there are any maintenance emergencies, funds for immediate relief will not be available without the signatures. If these problem occur, the LMHA may have to call on HUD for help.
The six suspended members, Beres, chairperson of the board, Pienta, vice-chairperson, and Sylvia Mandy, Douglas M. Druzbik, Dorothy Glover and Andrew S. Russo, the other members of the board, filed a lawsuit to appeal the suspension but was sent back to city hall by State Supreme Court Justice, Joseph D. Mintz. There is a hearing set for April 6.
Kuryak suspended the members of the board, in part with allegations of an inappropriate appointment of Kathleen M. Staniszewski to the position of Executive Director. Staniszewski, former mayor of Lacawanna, was given a five-year contract this year by the LMHA board of directors, an act which may be deemed not in accordance with their authority as set in LMHA legal guidelines.
