A discussion about mail ballot drop boxes is back on Tuesday’s Luzerne County work session agenda for discussion.
While a majority removed the matter from the Aug. 11 session due to the number of other issues that had to be discussed, council Chairman Jimmy Sabatino said he believes a majority of his colleagues support addressing the topic.
The proposed resolution would ask the county election board to explore potential additional locations for mail ballot drop boxes for the Nov. 3 general election.
Sabatino said he initiated the proposed resolution because he believes more than two drop box sites are warranted. He acknowledged the volunteer, five-citizen election board has the final say and was hopeful enough time remains for the board to consider options before general election mail ballots are issued.
The election board is not scheduled to meet again until Sept. 16. The deadline to issue general election mail ballots is Oct. 20, although county Election Director Emily Cook has been getting them out before the deadline, when possible, to ensure voters have ample time to receive and return them by regular mail.
Election Board Chairwoman Christine Boyle said she cannot speculate on the matter at this time.
“If council has something it is going to put officially before the board, the board will then consider if and how to address it,” Boyle said.
Tuesday’s work session follows a 6 p.m. voting meeting in the county courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre. Instructions for the remote attendance option will be posted in the council’s online meeting section at luzernecounty.org.
Prison medical provider
WellPath LLC, the county prison system’s inmate medical provider, is also scheduled to present a report during Tuesday’s work session, the agenda said.
Council voted earlier this month to continue WellPath’s contract for one year. The extension for 2027 totals $5.4 million and includes costs for a medication-assisted treatment program for inmates with substance use disorder.
A copy of WellPath’s presentation is posted with the work session agenda at luzernecounty.org.
Opioid fund
The county’s Commission on Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the courthouse.
This panel makes earmark recommendations to the council, which has the final say on awards from the county’s share of the state’s settlement against opioid manufacturers and wholesale distributors. Allocations must comply with settlement fund eligibility protocols.
Wednesday’s agenda includes consideration of a tabled request to provide $130,000 to the Dallas Township Police Department for a community narcotics detection K-9 program.
The earmark would help fund the acquisition and training of the canine, the training of a handler, and the purchase of a specially equipped K-9 police vehicle, the submission said.
County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce, a member of the opioid commission, has said he wants to get a better handle on K-9 units throughout the county — including which law enforcement agencies have them and which geographic areas they serve — to ensure there is no excessive overlap.
Five new applications are also up for discussion, the agenda said:
• Restorative Roots — $605,500 to expand its state-licensed transitional housing beds for those with opioid use disorder.
• Berwick Area Transitional Services — $40,000 to provide coordinated housing assistance, transportation support, employment stabilization services and other help to those seeking or in treatment and their immediate families.
• Dress for Success Luzerne County — $126,112 for the Strategies for Success program that helps women in recovery rebuild their lives.
• XT Enterprises/RecoverU — $147,121 to support an existing licensed male recovery house and add another building, with property acquisition privately financed.
• Guardian Angel — $160,000 to expand access to safe, licensed recovery housing and Certified Recovery Specialist services for women in the county.
The link for remote attendance is in the council’s online meetings section.
Operational committee
Council’s Operational Services Committee is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. Thursday in the courthouse to discuss infrastructure projects and needs.
Remote attendance instructions can be found at luzernecounty.org.