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Lackawanna County commissioners install Tom Welby as chair, name vice chair amid partisan dispute
Summary
At a reorganizational meeting, commissioners appointed Tom Welby as chair and named a vice chair identified as "Chris." One commissioner sharply criticized the appointments as overturning voters' will, while public commenters and a former commissioner urged cooperation and attention to the county budget.
Lackawanna County commissioners appointed Tom Welby as board chair and named a vice chair identified as "Chris" during a reorganizational meeting that included pointed partisan criticism from a commissioner opposed to the leadership choices.
The meeting opened with attendees thanking Lieutenant Colonel Joan Hodowanitz for leading the Pledge of Allegiance. After routine business, a motion was made and seconded to appoint Tom Welby as chair; the presiding commissioner called for the vote and the motion passed by voice vote, with at least one speaker saying "Abstain." Later, the board also moved to appoint a vice chair and to adopt Robert's Rules of Order and a regular meeting schedule.
The most contentious portion of the meeting came during debate over leadership. An unidentified commissioner opposing the appointments said voters had delivered a Democratic majority in November and criticized elevating a Republican to a leadership post, saying it amounted to “abdication” of the majority’s mandate. The commissioner said the elevated official's politics were "firmly rooted in a MAGA movement" and alleged past failures including a county budget shortfall and problems at the Office of Youth and Family Services. "You didn't build unity today. You built a bridge for MAGA to walk into leadership," the speaker said, and added they would vote no.
The presiding commissioner responded by urging colleagues to work across party lines "for the county and for everybody that is part of this county," citing pandemic-era efforts such as testing and vaccination sites. A newly seated commissioner who said they ran as an "independent Democrat" urged colleagues to "leave the party and leave the politics at the door," saying they intended to work "for the people, not the party."
In public comment, former commissioner Lorraine Cummings congratulated Welby on his election and urged the board to revisit reassessment and the budget, suggesting the board consider lowering taxes. Lt. Col. Joan Hodowanitz later asked commissioners to rise above "childish behavior" and focus on constructive solutions for residents.
The meeting concluded with routine motions to adopt meeting procedures and set the board's regular meeting days. The board welcomed new general counsel Chris Caputo, recognized reporter Jeff Horvath's birthday and adjourned.
What happens next: the board will follow its stated meeting schedule; several speakers said budget and reassessment work will be topics for upcoming meetings.
