Luzerne County Council introduces plan to create Infrastructure, Community and Economic Development division amid legal and budget questions

Luzerne County Council voted to introduce an ordinance to create a Division of Infrastructure, Community and Economic Development, a move proponents say will centralize economic-development functions and make the county more proactive in recruiting investments. The introduction passed at the council’s Jan. 13 voting session by a reported 7–4 roll call; because this was an introduction, full debate and ordinance text will be considered at a future work session.

County Manager Crocamo said the division would bring planning and zoning, grant-writing, community development, tourist promotion and related responsibilities under one division head and that an organizational chart would be provided within a week to council members. “We have to be more proactive and dictate what’s coming here,” Crocamo said, arguing the county must prepare for large projects such as data centers and related infrastructure demands.

Opponents pressed for more detail. Council members raised questions about timing and cost, noting the county recently approved a tax increase and an operating plan that may not yet account for a new division head and future staff. One council member said the division as currently proposed would add a $200,000‑range division-head salary in the short term and could expand over time, eroding council control over economic policy. “This should have really been packaged last year going into the budget,” an opponent said, calling for a full cost analysis and an organizational chart before any final action.

Public commenters also challenged the approach. Several residents argued that substantial structural changes to the Home Rule Charter should be placed before voters or studied by a government study commission, and some cited court rulings they said require more formal public review. A Zoom commenter cited Pilchesky v. Lackawanna County Commissioners and other cases in urging a ballot referendum or study process.

Manager Crocamo and backers said the division is intended to coordinate county efforts, improve grant competitiveness and standardize review of complex proposals. Crocamo said the airport partnership, data-center interest and other recent developments made centralization timely and that more detailed financial analysis and a strategic-plan presentation from the Pennsylvania Economy League would follow.

What’s next: the ordinance was formally introduced and will appear on a work-session agenda for more detailed review, including the organizational chart and any cost analyses requested by council members.