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KINGSTON — The Luzerne County Transportation Authority board received plenty of criticism for its choice of an auditing firm last month.
The board heard from members of the public and Luzerne County Council after an executive session at a special meeting Tuesday.
Brian Shiner, of Kingston, had only one question for the board.
“Are some of you people out of your mind?” he asked.
A team of authority employees had evaluated and ranked proposals from seven prospective auditing companies, but a divided board voted to hire the one ranked last.
“For you to put in firm with the lowest rank is unacceptable,” Shriner said. “I haven’t been to an LCTA meeting before this, but I’m coming back to every meeting, and I’m bringing people with me.”
Authority Chairman Art Bobbouine, treasurer Charles Sciandra and board members Patrick Conway, Lynette Villano and Gary Polakoski voted in favor of Joseph R. Alciene & Co. of Pittston to review authority finances. The firm was ranked last of the seven.
Board members Sean Robbins, John Koch, Valerie Kepner and Sid Halsor supported Reinsel Kuntz Lesher LLP, one of two companies tied atop the rankings. The company was also less expensive than Alciene.
Luzerne County Councilman Harry Haas said he was “extremely disappointed” with the decision of the board and asked if they would reconsider the decision.
He requested more data to better understand why the decision was made.
“From my understanding this firm was the least ranked and the most expensive,” Haas said. “This happened while this board is still trying to get over the ghost rider scandal.”
Haas wasn’t the only councilman to complain.
“In 2010 this county decided in favor of a home rule charter because we wanted to introduce good practices and transparency,” County Councilman Rick Williams said. “This decision goes against those concepts.”
Williams said he hoped a member of the board would offer a motion for reconsideration of the matter to provide for additional public discussion.
“I want to avoid the appearance we are back in the patterns of the past,” he said. “When it was not unusual to award contracts to friends and family in gentlemen’s agreements.”
Authority member Charles Sciandra emphasized the auditor selected would oversee management, and not the board.
“Auditors would be reporting to the board,” said Sciandra. “The purpose of the audit would be to find out if the administration is doing its job.”
Shiner questioned the reason for Tuesday’s special meeting, held in executive session.
“I know the sunshine laws,” he said. “You have to provide a reason.”
Solicitor Joseph Blazosek said the meeting was held for discussion of personnel, litigation and ongoing matters with PennDOT.
The board encouraged residents to attend its regular meeting on June 28.