Page 2 hensive piece of legislation for guidance in reorganizing and restructuring themselves. On Feb. 8, the Senate ap- proved two bills by a vote of 44- 0. Senate Bills 751 and 752, of course, are not yet law. They ‘have to be considered by the House where they may be amended, changed, or set aside completely. S.B. 751 deals with optional plans of government. Under this bill, counties could select one of three optional forms of govern- ment. Plan One specifies the election of three county com- missioners and permits each voter to vote for only two. Plan Two calls for a county council of three, five, seven or nine members, with the chief administrative officer called the County Executive, an elective post. Plan Three is the Council- Manager Plan, with the council comprised of three, five, seven or nine members. This plan is similar to the city manager form of government supposedly in operation in Wilkes-Barre. Municipal voters could select from Plans Two and Three only. There is no provision for a “commission’’ form of govern- ment on the municipal level. Under S.B. 752, the general population will have the op- portunity to adopt a home rule charter, to remain as is, or to study the optional plans as listed under S.B. 751. If the electors decide to study the optional plans, they will name a study commission, which will have 90 days to make its recommendations known. The commission could re- commend the continuation of the present government or recommend the adoption of one of the optional plans, as listed above, or some other alterna- tive. The question would then appear on the ballot. The Senate and House must decide on a bill (such as H.B. 1444) or bills (such as S.B. 751 and 752) to set the ground rules for home rule in the munici- palities. Because the’ legislature so often gets-hung up on questions affecting local government, advocates of home rule say its adoption will not only save time and money, it will also cut down percent. Incidentally, the state con- stitution for the first time classifies the county as a “municipality’—with the same status enjoyed -by cities, boroughs, towns and townships. The Home Rule Charter provisions of the new Pennsyl- vania State Constitution have been claimed by many as the most significant change to come out of the Constitutional Con- vention. It is noted that the 1968 Constitutional - Convention’s intent was to provide maximum flexibility for local govern- ments, which are responsive to the citizens they serve. One hundred sixty-three delegates to the convention made seven proposals, and the local government proposal was singled out as one of the most progressive reforms to come out of the convention. This action was said to be both an expression of widespread public concern for the improvement of local government and a mandate for the General Assembly to provide citizens with a series of tools for creating a new local government system in the state. Former Gov. Raymond Shafer said at the time, ‘It will give Pennsylvania the potential for the finest legislation in the nation.’ Gov. Milton Shapp also is backing the home rule proposal. Home Rule To understand the concept of home rule, one must first un- derstand the traditional legal relationship between the state and local governments. To the present time, local govern- ments existed at the pleasure of state legislature and exercised no powers except those specifi- cally granted by the legislature or the state constitution. Home rule is the antithesis of the above. Instead of having to look for a specific grant of power or authority, a home rule municipality is free to exercise any power or authority except that which may be expressly denied it. A home rule munici- pality is limited only by what the state legislature says it can NOT do. It is able to exercise those governmental powers it deems appropriate and to mold its governmental structure according to local circum- stances and conditions. Instead of a home rule community looking to a code to see what it can do, it would then be looking for legislation spelling out what it cannot do. In other words, instead of HELEN ELSTON Helen VanLoon Elston, 80, of 20 West Center St., Shavertown, died Feb. 26 in Mercy Hospital. Born in Plymouth April 30, 1891, she was a member of the Church. Surviving are a sister, Ethel Adams, Orange, Calif. ; brothers, Harry VanLoony Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Eugene, at home; and John, Fernbrook. The funeral was held Tuesday from the Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home, Shavertown. Officiating was the Rev. Robert DeWitt Yost, pastor of Shavertown United Methodist Church. Interment was in Warden Cemetery, Dallas. JOSEPH BLAZES Joseph Blazes 3rd, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Blazes Jr., 23 Harris Hill Road, Trucksville, died in Nesbitt Memorial Hospital Feb. 24 shortly after birth. His mother is the former Mary Alice Frederick of Pitt- ston. Also surviving are his maternal grandfather, Henry Frederick; Pittston; and paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Blazes Sr., RD 3, Wyoming. The funeral was held from a Luzerne funeral home, with in- terment in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Carverton. DUANE JENKINS A Noxen resident, Duane Jen- kins, died Feb. 27 in Wilkes- Barre General Hospital. + Born in Tunkhannock June 19, 1909, he was a retired farmer and laborer. Survivors include a son, Arnold, Nanticoke, and daugh- ter, Harriet, Warren, Ohio. funeral was held Wednesday from a Tunkhannock funeral home, with the Rev. James Lehman of Zion United Church of Christ officiating. Burial was in Sunnyside Cemetery. FLORENCE STAUB Florence Staub of 198 Carver- ton Road, Trucksville, died Feb. 23 at her home. Born in Trucksville, she was employed by the Dresden Catering Company of Wilkes- Barre for 20 years. She was a communicant of St. Therese’s Church, Shavertown. She is survived by a sister, Mrs John V. Crossin, Luzerne. The funeral was held Satur- day morning from the Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home, Shavertown, with a Requiem Mass in St. Therese’s Church. Interment was in St. Nicholas Cemetery, Shavertown. RUSSELL G. SCOTT JR. A Harveys Lake native, Rus- sell George Scott Jr., 44, Loyal- ville, died Feb. 25 in Wilkes- Barre General Hospital, where he had been a patient for two weeks, A son of Russell and Malvina Hufford Scott, Mr. Scott was a member of the Loyalville United Methodist Church and was employed at the Mt. Green- wood Cemetery. Besides his parents, he is sur- vived by his wife, the former Katherine Schultz, Fernbrook; sons, PFC Robert Scott, Mec- Cord Air Base, Seattle, Wash.; Ralph, Hunlock Creek; daugh- ter, Bonnie Gearhart, at home; sisters, Betty Kemmerer, Parlin, N.J.: Shirley Krinecek, Wilkes-Barre. Funeral was held Feb. 29 from Bronson Funeral Home, Sweet Valley, with the Rev. Daniel Davis of Loyalville United Methodist Church offici- ating. Interment was in Maple Grove Cemetery at Pikes Creek. #2 Catalog 20 TARETS, Prices JEFFE J. BOICE Jeffe J. Boice, 77, Idetown, died in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital Feb. 27. Born in Lake Township, he re- sided in Idetown the last 55 years. He had been employed by Harveys Lake Steamboat Company and R.B. Shaver Well Drillers. He J'as a member of Idetown United Methodist ‘Church. Mr. Boice was a trustee of Harveys Lake Rod and Gun Club. Surviving are his widow, the former Edith Baer, Loyalville; daughters, Margaret Moyer, Outlet; Helen Hoover, Idetown; sons, Harold, Harrisburg; Donald, Rochester, N.Y.; eight grandchildren; seven great- grandchildren; brothers, Elmer, Noxen; William, Endi- cott, N.Y.; Howard, Idetwon; Harry, Vestal, N.Y.; Solomon, Tunkhannock; sisters, Ann Patton, Noxen; Mary Kester and Ruth Zinger, both of Tunk- hannock. Funeral was held March 1 at Bronson Funeral Home, Sweet Valley, with the Rev. Earl Booth, Lightstreet, officiating. Burial was in Chapel Lawn Cemetery. saying local government has only the powers delegated terit, the constitution says local government can have all the powers not denied it. Under a home rule charter, local governments , including county, city, borough, township, have freedom in the selection of the type of government it wants—as mandated by the people. Home rule is concerned with both the powers exercised by a municipality and the way in which the municipality is or- ganized. : Optional plans are concerned local government wish only to change its structure, it can do so by adopting an optional plan. There is no mandate that a municipality must change its form of government. The only mandate is the opportunity to adopt home rule charters or optional forms, if desired. Naturally, there is a need for detailed study, examination and appraisal of a community before a home rule charter could become a fact. The community should set up a Charter Study Commission to persue the existing government and survey the range of options available for change. Based on its study, the commission can then recommend to the com- munity either a home rule charter, an optional plan, or continuation of the present government. If the local charter commission drafted a proposed home rule charter for the municipality, the proposed charter would then be voted upon by the electorate. If ap- proved in referendum, the charter would become the con- stitution for that municipality. Local government in Penn- sylvania is, for the most part, little government. With the exception of a few cities and counties, a large number of Pennsylvania’s 2,000-plus local governments are under 5,000 population. In fact, 80 percent of them. However, local govern- ments in Pennsylvania (over 2,600—more than any other state except Illinois) spend about $2,000,000,000 annually in supplying local government services to citizens. Therefore, it is one of the biggest businesses in the state. The overlapping nature of cities, boroughs and townships with counties and the inter- lacing with single and multipurpose authorities demands that area govern- ments must have clear lines of responsibility—in short, ac- countability to the electorate. An area government—elected in all cases by the people—could perform one .or more of the following functions: sewage disposal, water supply and distribution, mass trans- portation systems, refuse disposal, park, recreation and (continued PAGE THIRTEEN) Rose Named to Harold J. Rose Jr., Dallas, president of Wyoming National Bank of Wilkes-Barre, has accepted an appointment as chairman of the building and construction division of the Wyoming Valley United Fund, according to an announcement by Robert J. Leonardi, general campaign chairman. Mr. Rose is a graduate of Wilkes College. He is a director of the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital; President’s Council, King’s College; and advisory member of Penn State University. A member of the board of directors of the Wyoming Valley United Fund, he is also a DAMA Seeks New Easement Declaration of taking to acquire a right-of-way easement over property in Dallas Township of Mildred M. McHenry, administratrix of the estate of Lloyd A. McHenry, was filed last week by Dallas Area Municipal Authority, through its solicitor Merton E. Jones. According to the authority, right-of-way is needed for in- stallation of a sewer connecting with the authority’s sewage plant and with other lines being constructed in Dallas Borough, Kingston Township and Dallas Township. Easement sought is 125 feet long, having a construction width of 30 feet and permanent width of 29 feet across the premises. during our recent loss. Lace & More Lace Double Knits Native Bathrobes Shifts Tunics and Your BQO mee OR wm Se PANTY HOSE STORE Mon., Tues., Wed., & Sat. 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. PHONE HOURS: Thurs. and Fri. 10A.M. to 9 P.M. - 615-2238 I A Greenstreet News Co. Publication Red Cross Offers First Aid Course Anthony Broody, chairman for first aid, Wyoming Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, announces the scheduling of a standard first aid course to be held at the Mary G. Stegmaier Memorial Chapter HouseMi156 South Franklin St, Wilkes-Barre, starting March 7. Ann Rowlands, R.N., will instruct the course which will run for - five consecutive evenings from 7.to 10 p.m. Registration for the free first aid classes can be made by tele- PATI] LL HTT TIT TH Er A NUD oH Pd > services at the chapter house before March 7. Meeting Cancelled Inclement wédther and illnesses moved the Back Mountain Organ Society to cancel their February meeting. A date has not been set for the regular March meeting which will be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Dungey, Lake Street, Dallas. Capt. Ronald A. Woolery, right, provost marshal at Tobyhanna Army Depot, presents trophies to Sgt. Joseph G. Janosov of Wilkes-Barre, left, and Security Guard Stanley Tomchak Jr., Dallas, for copping honors in the annual qualification with a cal. 38 pistol of depot security police. Tomchak scored 245 points out of a possible 250 to finish first, while Janosov came in second, reversing their positions of last year when Janosov was first and Tomchak, second. U.F. Position Shop Monday thru Saturday oh ‘til 9 -~ member of its executive committee and the administra- tion and finance committee. Mr. Rose is married to the former Barbara E. Williams. They have four children, Harold III, Kevin L., Mary E., and Robert E., and reside on Laurel Lane Road, Shrine Acres, Dallas. The building and construction division, which includes mines, raised more than $94,000 last year with approximately 100 volunteers assisting in the solicitation. COME TO OUR USEWARE: SALE TYPICAL VALUES: PRESTO 4 GT. PRESSURE COOKER reg. 17.50 11.77 8 PC. SET CORONADO COOKWARE covered dutch oven, 6’ and 10” skillets, 1% and 3 qt. cov. sauce pans open stock price, $51 «4 99 % 8 ; — QQ — en oo a Housewares, lower level, ext 822 DIAL 823-4141 : (A 7 valk. Week Ask for Personal Shopper Fer, Dick Walker WILKES-BARRE Dignified funerals that everyone ; 24 Hours a Day can afford. HAROLD C. SNOWDON HAROLD C. SNOWDON, JR. RICHARD W. SNOWDON " ACME TICERATOR EXTRACTS PURE PULP-FREE JUICES More Information and Demonstration at LESLIE'S HEALTH FOOD CENTER on route 92 between Nicholson and Tunkhannock : PHONE 836-3202 # — Arps pret CE MS RS
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers