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County Staff Seeks Contract Approval with Pennsylvania Economy League for Five‑Year Strategic and Financial Plan
Summary
Luzerne County staff asked council to authorize a contract with the Pennsylvania Economy League (PEL) to prepare a strategic plan and five‑year financial plan funded in part by a DCED grant; councilmembers asked about scope, prison infrastructure, and public involvement.
County management asked Luzerne County Council to authorize the county manager to execute a contract with the Pennsylvania Economy League (PEL) to prepare a county strategic plan and five‑year financial plan. County staff said the county completed an RFP process, interviewed respondents, selected PEL, and secured a Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) grant to cover half the cost; the county would match the remaining funds.
Vinnie, a representative from PEL, described the three-pronged approach: (1) financial review and projections using historical revenues and expenses; (2) best-practice comparisons and interviews with department heads and stakeholders; and (3) a collective-bargaining and labor review carried out by a labor attorney. Vinnie said the project would be collaborative, public, and would not surprise council with recommendations.
Councilmembers asked several substantive questions. Councilmember Thornton urged the study to include the county correctional facility, describing the prison as an aging structure with safety and design shortcomings and asking that the plan consider replacement or major repairs. Manager Ramilda Crocomo and PEL representatives said the prison could be included among topic-specific follow-up studies and noted a second phase of funding could support targeted analyses.
Councilmember Lescavage and others asked about the procurement process: staff described a February 2024 RFP with five respondents and three interviews; PEL was selected and the contract scope was the basis for the DCED application. Staff noted a kickoff meeting would gather priorities from council and departments and that the final plan would be public.
Ending: Council discussion was generally supportive and focused on scope and follow-up. Council did not take a recorded vote during the work session; staff said the contract had been fully executed by DCED and they were seeking council authorization to proceed with PEL's engagement and to coordinate kickoff meetings with departments and stakeholders.
