DiBileo says he won't alter recovery plan

BY LYNNE SLACK SHEDLOCK
11/03/2005










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Mayoral candidate Gary Di-Bileo says he won’t alter the distressed city’s voter-approved recovery plan, but he still favors a public safety impact study.












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Initiating a new study, which is contrary to the plan, would investigate changes in staffing before restructuring the fire department to decrease the city’s $4 million annual deficit.

Mr. DiBileo, who voted against the plan as a councilman, raised the possibility of tweaking it at last week’s debate with Mayor Chris Doherty, saying revisions might be required by the state. The state, however, says there’s no need to change the plan, although the city can amend it “if the circumstances arise.”

Scranton has had the distressed label since 1992 because it has been unable to balance budgets without one-time fixes. The current recovery plan, approved by voters in 2002, hinges on new language in

police and firefighter union contracts for wage freezes, a health care cap and management rights.

The contracts are tied up in arbitration. Mr. Doherty wants to use the plan to restructure the Fire Department, saving an estimated $2.4 million. He’s given no specifics on the possible changes.

Mr. Doherty, who is against another study, said studies are just a negotiation tactic used by unions to delay changes. His administration already knows the statistics, he said, which show structure fires are down 40 percent since 2001.

“You’ve been studied to death,” Mr. Doherty said.

Mr. DiBileo said this week that he’s not looking to change the plan voters approved, but he still wants the study done before making any changes to the Fire Department or Police Department under the plan because the mayor is not a public safety professional, he said.

Neither candidate is proposing personnel cuts in the Police Department.

“I’ll ask the state if they would allow for that (study). I’ll let them make that decision,” he said.

Kevin Ortiz, spokesman for the state Department of Community and Economic Development, which oversees the distressed city program, said plan changes would involve cooperation with the Pennsylvania Economy League, the city’s recovery plan coordinator, and review by the state.

State law says the coordinator, the mayor or council may initiate plan amendments, which must be adopted by ordinance.

Like Mr. DiBileo, city union leaders also back a study.

Firefighters union spokesman David Gervasi argues administration officials do not have the expertise to make decisions that impact public safety without a study by knowledgeable professionals.

The original recovery plan written in the early 1990s and a subsequent firefighters’ labor contract called for a study before restructuring the fire department. The replacement recovery plan eliminates the requirement for a study.