Commissioner Skrepenak: Luzerne County Charlie Brown Christmas Trees are okay

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Commissioner Skrepenak: Luzerne County Charlie Brown Christmas Trees are okay

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Kathy Dobash

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http://www.stnadardspeaker.com/news/skrepenaks_foots_499_bill_for_courthouse_christmas_tree

Skrepenak foots $499 bill for courthouse Christmas tree
Published: November 25, 2009
WILKES-BARRE - A towering, real tree is back in the Luzerne County Courthouse rotunda this year for Christmas time.

County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak spent $499..........................

It is my opinion Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak purchased a holiday tree for the Luzerne County Courthouse as a public relations scam. This holiday hoax to fool Luzerne County will not change my opinion. I think you should save your money for future lawyer bills.

I saw the Luzerne County Courthouse Christmas tree last year. It was fine. It added to the holiday spirit in spite of the Charlie Brown Christmas tree description. Many citizens of this county are tired of the waste with tax dollars. I believe in the giving and love spread throughout the land during this season. I think it should go on all year! Many families are having difficult times. We all struggle to pay bills and stock the kitchen shelves with food.

Please do not insult tax payers and use this as an opportunity to distract the citizens from the real issue. When you read this you might call me a Scrooge or another colorful word.

Gifts are wonderful. Let's question the intention. Sometimes a gift is just a gift. I know that!

It is ridiculous to focus on the grand gift of this year's holiday tree as a great gesture. Why even have a news article about the donation? This is just a public relation attempt to draw attention away from the abuse of power and corruption that has tainted Luzerne County Commissioner's Greg Skrepenak reign at the courthouse.
Please think of your actions and take responsibility. Have concern for the destruction of our county government and the taxpayers who paid the price.

Read this opinion published in the Hazleton Standard Speaker:

http://www.standardspeaker.com/opinion/skrepenek_wonders_if_bell_will_toll_for_him

Full disclosure?!

I think he is more focused on dancing and taking the side step away from the issues you have mentioned here in today's opinion.

Posted 9 months ago #
Kathy Dobash

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Posts: 931
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Betty Roccograndi did a great job with this editorial. I like her questions.

I VOTE FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT TRADE VOTES FOR BRIBES!

I VOTE FOR THE FOLKS WHO CAN ANSWER THE TOUGH QUESTIONS!The Questions raised in this opinion are very good!

WHO WAS BEHIND THIS SCAM?
CHECKS?
TRADING VOTES FOR CONTRACTS?

NO BID CONTRACTS?
WHO SIGNED IT?

READ ON FOLKS!

This opinion was published in the Times Leader.
Here's the link:

http://www.timesleader.com/opinion/_lsquo_Countygate_rsquo__expands_with_a_New_York_connection_COMMENTARY_Betty_Roccograndi_11-25-2009.html

November 25

‘Countygate’ expands with a New York connection COMMENTARY Betty Roccograndi

" WITH EACH new development of this thing we can call Countygate, there are questions to be asked.

And, as usual, we need to follow the money................

Luzerne County officials were making several trips to New York City’s Manhattan Club, which offers luxury suites “in one of New York City’s most desirable locations.” Apparently it’s only the best for these county travelers.

And in another bizarre coincidence, a second two-page contract has surfaced. County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak signed this one, a $55,000 deal with........."

THIS IS GREAT!
IT IS OKAY TO ASK QUESTIONS.

Here is my little question.

Will the Christmas tree gift help him out of this jam?

http://www.standardspeaker.com/news/skrepenaks_foots_499_bill_for_courthouse_christmas_tree

Posted 9 months ago #
Kathy Dobash

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Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 931
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I have some errors with the links in this commentary.
SO sorry about my typos!

Let's try this again!

http://www.standardspeaker.com/opinion/skrepenak_wonders_if_bell_will_toll_for_him

http://www.standardspeaker.com/news/skrepenak_foots_499_bill_for_courthouse_christmas_tree

OKAY! THAT IS BETTER! You may access the stories now with these links.

Posted 9 months ago #
Kathy Dobash

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Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 931
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This opinion was published in the Citizens Voice on November 24, 2009:
http://www.citizensvoice.com/opinion/our_voice_commissioner_s_comments_unsettling

Our Voice: Commissioner's comments unsettling
Published: November 24, 2009

Even given the stunning level of corruption that has been exposed in Luzerne County, county Commissioner Greg Skrepenak's comments................

"UNSETTLING" is a great word for us all here in Luzerne County! THIS OPINION REQUESTS FULL DISCLOSURE.

IT IS MY OPINION THAT YOU WILL NEVER HAVE THE SATISFACTION OF FULL DISCLOSURE FROM THIS MAN. WHY WOULD YOU GET THAT FROM HIM? I SEE NO HONORABLE QUALITITES PRESENT IN THIS INDIVIDUAL BASED ON THE ACTIONS AND ATTEMPTS TO DRAW ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE FACTS. I HAVE BEEN AT EVENTS WHERE THERE IS A LACK OF RESPECT WHEN THIS MAN TALKS TO GROUPS. SOME PEOPLE JUST CONTINUE WITH THEIR CONVERSATIONS AS IF HE WERE NOT IN THE ROOM. HE HAS LOST ALL CREDITIBILITY. PLEASE GAIN YOUR RESPECT AND TELL THE TRUTH. DO NOT TRY TO BUY YOUR RESPECT. THAT MAKES IT WORST. FIRST ADMIT YOUR GUILT. FACE THE PUNISHMENT AND SHOW TRUE REMORSE FOR YOUR ACTIONS.

PERHAPS THIS MAN TRULY BELEIVES HE IS HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING WRONG.
IT APPEARS TO ME THAT HE IS STILL TRYING TO SAVE HIMSELF AND POINT THE FINGER AT OTHERS.

GOOD LUCK WITH THAT GAME PLAN. THIS APPEARS TO BE SO VERY VERY SAD.

Posted 9 months ago #
Kathy Dobash

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Joined: Jul '09
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Recent related article in local Luzerne County newspapers:

http://www.citizensvoice.com/news/skrepenak-defends-nyc-trips-with-ties-to-probe-1.451389

Skrepenak defends NYC trips with ties to probe
By Michael P. Buffer (Staff Writer)
Published: November 29, 2009

Luzerne County expenses from New York City trips
Two years after the disclosure that Luzerne County officials spent thousands of dollars on overnight trips to New York City, Commissioner Greg Skrepenak.......... still defends the trips................

WE WILL NEVER HAVE FULL DISCLOSURE. IS THIS THE CASE WHERE THE PERSON REALLY BELIEVES HIS OWN FABRICATED STORY?
What BACKGROUND CHECKS?

OUR LUZERNE COUNTY COMMISSIONER DID NOT NOTICE ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH THIS NEW YORK COMPANY? He just signed the agreement. Why not? It's not his money he was spending. He also denies making endorsements for his buddies. WOW! Please take back your Christmas gift to Luzerne County.
I prefer a CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS TREE!

GOOD JOB WITH YOUR REPORT MICHAEL BUFFER. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

I WAS TOTALLY WONDERING FROM THE VERY VERY BEGINNING: WHEN THE HUMAN RESOURCE PERSON WOULD BE FIRED? All this investigation with favoritism should start in the Human Resource department. Bribes, kickbacks, "scratch my back and I will scratch your back" has been the practice for so long. THE PUBLIC ACCEPTS THIS BEHAVIOR AS LEGAL AND NORMAL FOR LUZERNE COUNTY. We are not just talking about hiring people for jobs. This NewsTalk is about planned co-operation to have a great time with tax dollars. Let's not even get into the "KIDS OFR CASH" scandal. This is too much to digest.

GIFTS OF TAILORED SUITS AND DEBIT CARDS FOR EVERYONE TO ABUSE ARE OKAY FOR THIS LUZERNE COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

Posted 9 months ago #
Kathy Dobash

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Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 931
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Fired county human resources director had no resume on file
http://www.citizensvoice.com/news/fired-county-human-resources-director-had-no-resume-on-file-1.441624

Former Luzerne County Commissioner Todd Vonderheid and Commissioner Greg Skrepenak voted to hire this guy.
AGAIN I SAY: WE DO NOT REQUIRE YOUR HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS TREE PRESENT!

http://www.citizensvoice.com/news/e-mails-tie-richards-others-to-agreement-1.445604

E-mails tie Richards, others to agreement
By Michael R. Sisak (Staff Writer)
Published: November 26, 2009

Posted 9 months ago #
Kathy Dobash

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Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 931
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When you read these two news items you will understand why I think "Charlie Brown" Christmas trees are okay for our courthouse. This gift does not change the fact that Commissioner Greg Skrepenak voted with Todd Vonderheid in November 2004 to sign a $58 million, 20-year lease with Pennsylvania Child Care LLC. Luzerne County Commissioner Steve Urban voted against it.

Read these articles:
http://www.citizensvoice.com/skrepenak-s-brother-to-appear-before-kids-for-cash-panel-1.467518

Skrepenak's brother to appear before kids-for-cash panel
BY DAVE JANOSKI, PROJECTS EDITOR
Published: December 7, 2009
The Citizens' Voice Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak's father, Greg Skrepenak Sr., 67, testified for about two hours Tuesday before a federal grand jury. Skrepenak Sr. owns a sports bar in Wilkes-Barre.
The brother of Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak is scheduled to testify today before the state.......

http://www.citizensvoice.com/news/urban-petrilla-to-testify-at-juvenile-hearing-1.463158

Urban, Petrilla to testify at juvenile hearing
By Michael R. Sisak (Staff Writer)
Published: December 5, 2009

Michael R. Sisak / The Citizens' Voice Commission Chairman John M. Cleland and members of the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice listen to testimony Nov. 10.

.......... least two of the three Luzerne County commissioners plan to testify next week before a state panel investigating the county's kids-for-cash corruption scandal, county officials.....

Posted 8 months ago #
Kathy Dobash

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Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 931
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http://www.timesleader.com/news/SKREP_SIDELINED_12-18-2009.html

SKREP SIDELINED
Source: Ex- hero signs plea
By Terrie Morgan-Besecker tmorgan@timesleader.com

WILKES-BARRE – Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak resigned from .....

Posted 8 months ago #