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The Times Leader timesleader.com

WILKES-BARRE, PA

SPORTS SHOWCASE

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2012

$122.25M plan avoids The jobless age a tax hike Older unemployed workers having tougher time finding full-time jobs these days than younger counterparts

Plan delivered late would lay off 33 workers, eliminate 41 vacant positions and is $383,490 smaller than this year’s budget.

LIONS PIERCE THE HAWKEYES

By JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES jandes@timesleader.com

The crowd was at its loudest. The atmosphere was at its most intimidating.

The defense was as strong as they had seen.

The Nittany Lions went full speed into it, playing a game of chicken with the Hawkeyes. Iowa flinched.

Playing predominately in their self-titled “NASCAR” no-huddle offense, the Lions torched nemesis Iowa 38-14 on Saturday night at Kinnick Stadium, racking up 504 yards of total offense.

PAGE 1C AHL

SOUNDTIGERS 3 PENGUINS 2 NCAA FOOTBALL

ALABAMA 44 TENNESSEE 13 FLORIDA 44 S. CAROLINA 11 KANSAS ST. 55 W. VIRGINIA 14 NOTRE DAME 17 BYU 14 OHIO ST. 29 PURDUE 22

INSIDE A NEWS: Obituaries 2A, 7A Local 3A Nation & World 5A B PEOPLE: 1B Birthdays 8B C SPORTS: 1C Outdoors 12C D BUSINESS: 1D Stocks 3D E. VIEWS: 1E Editorials 3E F ETC.: 1F Crossword/Horoscope 2F Books 5F G CLASSIFIED: 1G

WEATHER Partly cloudy.

High 63. Low 42.

Details, Page 14C

CLARK VAN ORDEN/THE TIMES LEADER

Susan Morris, 56, has been unable to find a job since she was laid off from an area school district in August 2011. That’s 14 months, 56 job applications and 18 state civil service tests ago.

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By TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER tmorgan@timesleader.com

usan Morris was saddened and shocked when she learned her position at an area high school had been eliminated, ending her 15-year teaching career.

The 56-year-old Shavertown woman loved her job, but she remained upbeat, confident that her experience teaching business classes would quickly land her a new job in the private sector.

“I thought, ‘I’ll find a job in an office,’ ” she said. “I can type 62 words per minute. I’ve taught customer service, marketing, management, business law, office procedure …”

Then the letters started to

arrive.

“We would like to thank you for your interest,” one letter began. “We regret to inform you, you are not in consideration for this position.”

“After reviewing numerous applications,” began another, “you were not selected as one of our candidates to interview.”

Fourteen months, 56 job applications and 18 state civil service tests later, Morris has not found

a full-time position.

She’s beginning to wonder if she ever will.

She has become a “statistic,” one of 12.1 million Americans who are unemployed as of September. Of that number, 1.9 million, or 16 percent, are “older” workers, age 55 or over.

High unemployment rates have plagued all age groups since the start of the recession in 2007, but older workers have been particularly hard hit when it comes to finding a new job, say experts in the issues affecting the elderly.

In September, the average duration of unemployment was 55.7 weeks for older workers, compared to 37.2 weeks for See OLDER, Page 14A

Citizens getting involved with county gov’t Participation blossoms with historic conversion

By JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES jandes@timesleader.com

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Kingston resident Brian Shiner attends every Luzerne County Council and committee meeting. He keeps meticulous notes and even has visited countyowned facilities at his own expense to determine if something is amiss.

Mike Giamber, Fairmount Township, said he spends hours every day researching and discussing county gov-

ernment matters.

Jackson Township resident Ed Chesnovitch devotes much of his free time attending meetings and calling people to share views and debate the state of the county.

This hyper level of citizen See CITIZEN , Page 14A

PETE G. WILCOX/THE TIMES LEADER

Kingston’s Brian Shiner talks with Luzerne County Council members during last week’s strategic initiatives committee meeting while citizen Ed Gustitus looks on.

After working straight through the night, Luzerne County Manager Robert Lawton emailed a no-tax-hike proposed 2013 budget to county council at 6:40 a.m. Saturday.

The $122.25 million proposal is $383,490 less than this year’s general fund operating budget.

The plan, originally to be delivered B U D G E T on Monday and H I G H L I G H T S then pushed back until Friday, calls Major 2013 expenses for 33 layoffs and •Wages and benefits: $64 million the elimination of •Supplies: $2.4 million 41 vacant funded •Services: $8.9 million positions, Lawton •Fees: $4.1 million told council.

•Debt: $25.1 million Staffing cuts were •Allocations to other necessary because county agencies: $17.2 the 2013 budget million Primary 2013 revenue must absorb multi- sources million-dollar in- •Property taxes: $98.5 creases for union million raises, debt repay- •Licenses/permits/ ment, health insur- fees: $8.7 million ance and expenses •State grants: $2.6 million insufficiently fund- •Carryover balance: ed this year, he said. $4.3 million While 74 posi- •Reimbursements: $4.1 tions will be cut, the million net reduction is 61 because 13 new jobs were added -- six division heads mandated by the home rule charter, three budget and finance analysts and four court clerical positions, he said.

Lawton said he didn’t budget additional funds for two remaining home rule division heads because the county already has equivalent positions overseeing human services divisions and the prison system.

The 33 layoffs include eight correctional officer furloughs recently announced at the county prison.

Lawton said Saturday afternoon that managers of departments affected by layoffs already See BUDGET, Page 11A

Obama, Romney in virtual deadlock

Presidential contenders have one debate and one jobs report to go before election.

By CHARLES BABINGTON and THOMAS BEAUMONT Associated Press

NORFOLK, Va. — With one debate and one jobs report to go, President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney are hurtling towards Election Day in a virtual deadlock, each convinced that victory is within reach if his 2 0 1 2 ELECTION campaign sticks with its plan.

In16 days, voters will prove one of them wrong.

When that happens, the losing team will have years to ponder whether one final tweak in tactics or message might have turned a fiercely fought, sometimes joyless election that seems likely to rank among the nation’s closest.

Having steadied himself after a damaging first debate, Obama is banking on his renowned getout-the-vote ground operation to steer millions of supporters to the polls. Many have already voted, under early balloting scenarios that favor campaigns with the most volunteers to flush out potential supporters.

See DEADLOCK, Page 11A

User: rsheposh Time: 10-20-2012 22:37 Product: Times_Leader PubDate: 10-21-2012 Zone: Main Edition: Main_Run PageName: news_08 PageNo: 14 A

PAGE 14A SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2012

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THE TIMES LEADER

Memorial for R.I. nightclub fire unveiled

JOB SEARCH TIPS FOR OLDER WORKERS

Finding a job is difficult for many people, but it can be parContinued from Page 1A ticularly troublesome for workyounger jobseekers, according to ers age 50 and over, experts a report issued by Sara Rix, a se- say. Here are a few tips to help older jobseekers find work:

nior strategic adviser for the American Association of Retired • Résumés: Tailor your résumés to the specific position for Persons.

Tough times for some And while the overall unemployment rate for all workers has dropped, from 9.1 percent in September 2011 to 7.8 percent last month, the decrease was less significant for older workers, from 6.7 percent to 5.9 percent.

“The picture has been a lot less rosy for those older workers who are in declining industries or for other reasons lost their job,” Rix said. “They have had a really tough time, as duration of unemployment figures indicate. … The longer a worker is unemployed, the less likely it is that he/she will find work.”

The most common reasons employers cite for not hiring older workers include concerns that they are more expensive, and fear the employer will not have time to recoup their hiring and training costs before the employee retires, according to a 2011 report by Urban Institute, a national research group that provides information about social and economic issues.

Morris is convinced her age is the primary reason she’s struggling to find work.

She was laid off from a $55,000a-year position with the Lackawanna Trail School District in August 2011 after the district eliminated the business program she taught for five years.

She had planned to work in the district another 10 years.

Coupled with a 10-year stint at a school in Gettysburg, she would have had 25 years in and qualified for a state pension.

Now that’s all gone.

Today she spends hours on the computer each day searching for job openings. The biggest problem, she said, is she can’t get an interview for most of the positions she seeks.

“They see a student just out of Bloomsburg University who is 22 years old and will start at a lower salary. Why would they look at me?” she said.

To combat that, Morris said she’s deleted jobs she held more than 15 years ago from her résumé as that can tip off a potential employer to her age. If she can get past the initial resume review and get an interview, she has a better shot, she believes.

“If I could get an interview, I could sell myself,” she said.

Even if she does find full-time

CITIZEN Continued from Page 1A

involvement in county government hasn’t existed in recent memory and blossomed with the county’s conversion to home rule in January.

“We have a group of citizens who are really interested and taking a lot of time in their day to get involved in county government, and it’s refreshing,” said county Controller Walter Griffith, who has noticed 15 to 20 actively involved citizens.

The government change created an opportunity for a fresh start, and more citizens want to prevent county leaders from slipping back into past practices, Griffith said.

“I think these people who come to meetings are genuinely interested in making government better and not in personal attacks,” he said. “Express yourself in government. If you never say anything, you have no dog in the fight.”

While citizens often offer a unique perspective and expose problems, they can’t expect immediate response to everything they present because government “works slowly,” he said.

“I was an activist for many years, and from the outside you think something should happen now, but when you’re on the inside you see it’s not so simple because you have to talk to people and try to make things work and comply with procedures,” Griffith said.

Watchdog at work Shiner is essentially working an unpaid part-time job as a county watchdog but said he views it

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which you are applying. Emphasize experience within the last 10 to 15 years and keep the information to the point. Focus on your accomplishments and skills.

100 died when pyrotechnics for a band ignited flammable foam on club’s walls in 2003.

• Interview tips: Anticipate questions and prepare answers for each one. Review your accomplishments and express your willingness to learn new skills. Take your time responding to questions, but don’t dwell on topics unrelated to the job.

By MICHELLE R. SMITH Associated Press

Become Web-savvy: Learn how to post résumés online and to use online job search sites.

• Update your skills: Technology skills are particularly important, including the use of spreadsheets, word processing and calendaring applications.

• Network: Get involved in professional associations, volunteer programs and networking groups to expand your contacts and learn about new opportunities.

Sources: Eldercare.gov and About.com

work, research shows chances are slim workers in her age group will earn the same. From 2007 to 2009, median hourly earnings are 21 percent lower for older worker in their new jobs than before they were laid off, according to the Urban Institute report.

Morris said she realizes it’s unlikely she’ll match her prelayoff income.

While she continues to look for full-time employment, she recently took a part-time position, with no benefits, teaching at a local business school.

Ironically, the decision has cost her $75 a week because the income from the job reduced her unemployment compensation benefits.

“I’m making less than I would if I did not work and just collected unemployment,” she said.

“You can’t get ahead.”

So why did she take the job?

“I can’t sit home and not be productive,” she said. “It gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning.”

TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER/THE TIMES LEADER

Susan Morris, 56, reviews the dozens of rejection letters she has received from employers in the past 14 months. Morris believes her age has played a role in her inability to find a job.

nate that, so far, the layoff has not caused significant financial problems. Between her husband’s job as a carpenter and unemployment benefits she receives, they’re making ends meet.

But she sees major issues on the horizon once her unemployment runs out in six months.

She’s not sure if she has another extension to tap.

She’s also in the perilous position of having no health insurance.

Still paying the bills Her husband’s job does not offer Morris said she feels fortu- coverage for spouses, and they as his “duty.”

“Even though we have a representative form of government, it doesn’t excuse us from staying involved and keeping an eye on what our representatives do,” he said.

The alternative is scary, said Shiner, who retired and moved back to the area to care for his parents in their elder years.

“If we don’t stay involved, I’m afraid our new government will fall back into what we’ve had for the past decades,” he said.

Attending government meetings was once as much a routine as weekly worship for many citizens, he said. Today’s busy family schedules and priorities have prompted most to rely on the “government running itself,” he said.

Understanding all the intricacies of complicated county government has become consuming for him.

“If I can use my time to keep track and relay back to people who are busy, that’s fine with me,” he said.

Ed Gustitus, also of Kingston, often brings a stack of newspaper clippings to council meetings so he can present his take on recent county news. He sporadically attended past county commissioner meetings over the past decade but has become a fixture at meetings under home rule.

“I come to remind them of the problems they have. Somebody’s got to remind them,” he said as he headed into a council strategic initiatives committee meeting last week.

Gustitus, an attorney, loaded his legal pad with observations at the committee meeting and presented so many during public comment, council members questioned whether they need to

can’t afford the $500 a month price tag of the cheapest private insurance plan she could find.

It’s not the fate she expected as she approaches retirement after having worked her entire adult life.

“I’ve worked since I was 16,” she said. “I’ve never had to deal with the unemployment system.”

Despite the disappointments, Morris said she’s not bitter or angry with the school for laying her off. The district suffered a significant cut in state funding

and had to cut somewhere, she said.

“Why waste that energy being bitter and resentful. You have to use that energy to be positive and look for a job” she said.

Morris tries to remains upbeat, but admits it can be a struggle at times.

“I am a bit disillusioned,” she said. “Why I can’t get an interview is absolutely beyond me.

That’s the worst part, the frustration of trying, and trying and trying and nothing happens.”

PETE G. WILCOX/THE TIMES LEADER

Citizens (at right) Ed Gustitus, left, Brian Shiner and Ed Chesnovitch attend a meeting held by county council members, from left, Rick Williams, Jim Bobeck, Linda McClosky Houck and Ed Brominski.

implement a time limit.

Chesnovitch broke his femur when he was hit by a car while putting up a sign supporting home rule before it was adopted by voters. Jokingly, he says he wants the new government to succeed because he was almost killed promoting it.

The retiree said he has joined other citizens forming a new stillunnamed group to make sure home rule charter mandates are followed.

“We’ll be looking out for the people of this county. We want to make sure the charter does what it was designed to do,” he said.

An organized group may get more attention, said Chesnovitch, who believes the views of citizens are often shrugged off.

“It angers me when they ignore you,” he said.

Giamber, who formed the Friends of Home Rule political action committee pushing for home rule, said he helped convince voters to change governments and has “an obligation to see it through.”

He said he’s frustrated key components of the new charter are not in place or being ignored, including a comprehensive purchasing policy and a hiring procedure guaranteeing merit selection.

“I don’t think they have any idea of the intent and spirit behind the charter,” said the retired federal government manager.

“It’s much harder to undo things than to do them the right way the first time,” he said.

citizens often provide constructive feedback and criticism, particularly when speakers come with open minds and no personal agendas.

“I really value some of their perspectives,” he said.

He’s aware some people are “upset about the pace” of changes, but said council and the administration can’t “come in with guns blazing.”

Council members also must represent those who don’t attend meetings, he said.

“The people have chosen 11 on council to run Luzerne County and set the vision for Luzerne County,” Haas said.

Councilwoman Linda McClosky Houck agreed, saying voters have an opportunity to decide Constructive feedback which council members should Councilman Harry Haas said be elected every two years.

WARWICK, R.I. — Relatives of the 100 people who died in a 2003 Rhode Island nightclub fire cried and held each other Saturday during the unveiling of a socalled satellite memorial to their loved ones, capping a month in which a years-long effort to secure the West Warwick site of the fire for another memorial finally came to fruition.

The Warwick memorial places a special focus on the 10 city residents who died in the Feb. 20, 2003, fire at The Station nightclub, which happened when pyrotechnics for the rock band Great White ignited flammable foam that lined the club’s walls.

“It is my hope that this memorial serves as a stepping stone to the memorial in West Warwick,” said Jody King, the driving force behind the Warwick memorial.

His brother, Tracy, was a bouncer at The Station nightclub and died there that night.

Plans for the Warwick memorial were announced just over one month ago and initially bothered some family members. At the time, the site of the fire was still in private hands. Efforts to get the owners to donate the site had gone nowhere for years, and dozens of letters and phone calls to the owners asking what could be done to secure the land for a memorial had gone unanswered.

Some family members worried that a memorial in Warwick would take the focus off securing the site of the fire. Dave Kane, whose 18-year-old son, Nicholas O’Neill, died in the fire, said it was time for the state to seize the land by eminent domain. Gov. Lincoln Chafee said his office would look into it, and House Speaker Gordon Fox also said he was interested.

Gina Russo, a fire survivor working with the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, reached out again to the property owners.

On Sept. 28, they transferred the deed to the foundation. Plans are now moving forward for the memorial at the fire site, and a groundbreaking is scheduled for the spring, Russo has said.

“We need to be careful to listen to what all people say, not just those able to make it to our meetings,” she said.

Councilman Jim Bobeck believes more people are watching county government, which he describes as a “wonderful thing,” because the corruption and $436 million in debt show a “complete lack of oversight in the past.”

“Citizen involvement is always good, though it’s always important to be offering solutions instead of just being a professional critic,” Bobeck said.

Bobeck said he didn’t realize the extent of the county’s financial problems and ingrained “bad past practices” until he got in office.

Council members and the manager see needed corrections but must abide by union contracts and legal limitations, he said.

“We also must remember there are 320,000 other citizens of the county we don’t hear from, and it’s important to keep an open mind and not be skewed by 10 or so people we hear from at every meeting,” he said.

Encouraging participation Council Chairman Tim McGinley said he encourages citizen participation, especially recommendations and solutions.

He noted Kingston resident Therman Guamp offered helpful insight on audits and finance because of his background in that field, prompting council to appoint him to a council audit committee drafting a proposal to seek the next county auditor.

“If citizens have some thoughts they want to share with us, I’m more than happy to listen,” McGinley said.