People continue to criticize Leighton, Glodzik over towing

WILKES-BARRE- Residents made it clear on Thursday they want the city to resolve the LAG Towing controversy.

Thursday council meeting marked the 11th week since the body recommended the termination LAG Towing contract. Mayor Tom Leighton, who has the sole authority to do that, said city officials are still thoroughly investigating more than 30 complaints they've received since council’s advice. Last week, he said he doesn't know how much longer the investigation will take.

Customers have accused LAG Towing owner Leo Glodzik III of price gouging and charging them to recover their stolen cars, a breach of his contract. In January, a Citizen Voice review of LAG Towing records from September 2011 and March 2012 found 10 instances where a client was billed when the company documented the car was stolen. Glodzik has said it's likely he may have improperly charged customers by mistake.

During Thursday’s council meeting, several people criticized Leighton for his handling of the situation.The inaction of this administration speaks volumes, said resident James Gallagher. It's really sad. 

We demand action be taken because I don't want to go home and see this story about LAG in the news.

Mark Robbins, who was cited for illegally parking his car last week as he photographed Glodzik pickup truck that a city police officer drives, blasted police Chief Gerard Dessoye for allowing officers to borrow cars from Glodzik. Dessoye was not at the meeting.

George, who led council's recommendation to finish LAG Towing's contract, attempted to pass another symbolic measure in suspending the renewal of the Towing companies contract. However, he wrongly thought the contract would be automatically renewed in May, when the contract is actually in effect until 2015.

Leighton did not say much about LAG Towing, but he did accuse City Wide Towing owner Bob Kadluboski, who towed cars for the city prior to Glodzik hiring, of illegally towing cars from a private lot. Leighton, who said he established the complaint last week, confronted Kadluboski during the towing operator's profanity-laced speech to council, during which he alleged the city rudely fired him and that Glodzik rudely charged his friend retrieve a stolen car. George cut off the two men as they argued, and it was Leighton who got the last word.

I know all your secrets, Leighton said as Kadluboski stormed out of the room. All one of your secrets. All your secrets, Leighton said.

Business owner eyes downtown

Sugarloaf Township resident Mike Shaud told council he was interested in opening a restaurant at 61 S. Main St. Shaud wanted consent to inspect the property so he could create a plan for his business, which he said would be open 24 hours a day and serve hamburgers and hot dogs. Council said they would consider Shaud's request.

In other business: 

George said Solomon Industries, 495 Stanton St. will allow city residents to dispose of their electronic devices at the business and shred paper for the city free of charge. George did not say when the company would begin compliant the devices.

Resident Karen Ceppa-Hirko, who is running for Luzerne County controller, asked the city to help her clean the Hollenbeck graveyard. City spokesman Drew McLaughlin said the city could provide bags and gloves thanks to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for other cleaning projects.

Resident T.J. Evanko levied complaints against the police section for the second straight meeting. At the last meeting, Evanko said police did not show up last fall when burglars looted metal from his service garage. Council told him he would hear back from police after the meeting, but Evanko said that never happened. Evanko also provide council with pictures of a police car parked in a handicap spot outside Magisterial District Judge Rick Cronauer's office, 100 N. Hazle St. Leighton said he would address the issue with police.