Why did the mayor back out of HCA paving deal? – Standard Speaker

HAZLETON Some Hazleton City Authority officials are questioning why Mayor Jeff Cusat backed out of a proposal to have city streets department workers restore streets in Hazleton that were disturbed by distribution system upgrades.

The project, which has been discussed since last February, wouldve given the authority the ability to contract with the city and have its streets department crews make nearly $100,000 worth of street repairs, authority officials said Thursday.

HCA Deputy Director Richard Ammon, who has been in talks with Director of Public Works Frank Vito about paving upgrades, said he was in a state of disbelief after learning that Cusat turned down the authoritys offer to contract with the city for street repairs.

The arrangement would ensure work is available for city streets workers who faced the threat of layoffs earlier in the year, Ammon said.

This started in February, board member John Nilles said. Now, were at the end of July and were being told, Sorry, we dont want to take your money and do it.

Ammon and board member Robert Stefanovich said the timing puts the authority in a bind because it will have to scramble to develop bids for repairing a number of streets in Hazleton and surrounding communities.

Authority board member Dave Sosar,who also serves on council, said the authority is not to blame for the paving arrangement failing to materialize and publicly called on the mayor to present his decision in writing

I dont want someone pointing fingers at this body, Sosar said.

Board Chairman Phil Andras, however, said the authority cannot compel the mayor to present any decision in writing and said that the authority has no choice but to solicit bids.

We tried to help the city, Andras said. Customers are out there hitting (potholes). I dont think they say, This is an authority hole or This is a city hole. Dick is telling us the city is not interested. Lets go out and get a bid.

Cusat said later Thursday that his decision boils down to limited manpower and a fairness issue to taxpayers.

The amount of work they want us to do is substantial, Cusat said. Its more than we can handle.

If the city workforce was tied up on authority paving projects, it would have no time to complete work that city taxpayers have paid for, the mayor said.

If we had more manpower and more equipment, then it would be something that may benefit both parties, Cusat said. ... it would be unfair to the taxpayers not to get our streets repaired while patching holes and road cuts for the authority.

Cusat said hes not about to give the authority any written notice of his decision and said city crews were willing to pave HCAs driveway last year had the authority not backed out of that project.

Streets crews can devote a few days this year to pave the driveway leading to HCAs office and filtration plant, but Cusat said it simply lacks the manpower and equipment for addressing road cuts.

It would bring in a significant amount of money, but it comes at a cost to the taxpayers who deserve to have their streets paved as soon as possible, Cusat said.

Contact the writer: sgalski@standardspeaker.com;

570-501-3586

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Why did the mayor back out of HCA paving deal? - Standard Speaker