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HAZLETON — The failure of Hazleton City Council members and the city’s mayor to agree on the meaning of “advice and consent” is keeping the city in a deadlock.

Following a meeting Tuesday night at which Solicitor Shawn Logsdon advised the council to table nine resolutions which referred to the “advice and approval of council” pending consultation with labor attorneys, several council members voiced concern that, in delaying the appointment of department heads and other administrative positions, the work of the city has again been put on hold.

After the inauguration of Mayor Jeff Cusat in January, the council members anticipated the mayor’s selections for positions of police chief, city administrator and street department head would come before them for a vote.

Councilwoman Jean Mope said when the resolutions for those appointments were pulled at the city’s inaugural meeting, she believed the delay in the council’s vote on those positions was temporary.

When the vote did not happen, Mope became concerned.

“There is no such thing as members of a previous administration being grandfathered in,” she said. “According to the (third class city) code, department heads serve during the tenure of the mayor.”

Mope also pointed out acting city administrator Tom Pribula had never been approved by the council, operating in that position as an “acting” administrator.

She cited the third class city code, section 1204, which directs the city administrator to live within the city limits, absent the approval of the council.

“We never voted him in to begin with,” she said, “let alone approving his continued residency outside of the city.”

Mope has also questioned the legality of appointments, including that of police city Jerry Speziale, who resides outside the state.

“We need to do all things legally,” she said. “We can’t cherry pick the law.”

Councilwoman Grace Cuozzo is also concerned with the timely provision of documentation.

Cuozzo, who has alleged the mayor previously responded to a request by saying, “when and if documentation will be provided,” said the timely provision of information allows the council to do its job.

“Part of our job is investigative,” Mope said.

Mayor Jeff Cusat said the conflict would not stand in his way of moving forward.

He said Tuesday’s resolution read that the appointments needed “advice and approval” which, he said, is much different than the “advice and consent” language of department heads.

In the meantime, the language of the law has been submitted to labor attorneys for interpretation and Cusat is waiting to hear from them to determine his next step.

The next meeting of the Hazleton City Council is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 5.

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Cusat
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Cuozzo
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By Geri Gibbons

[email protected]