Chris Chermak

Lackawanna County commissioners Thom Welby and Chris Chermak return former County of Lackawanna Transit System Board Chairman Larry Wynne to the COLTS board over the objections of Commissioner Bill Gaughan, who wants the county to seek other candidates.

A routine reorganization meeting held a surprise and sharp words for the Lackawanna County commissioners on Monday. And Harrisburg Democrats held a ceremony Tuesday to denounce the violence at the U.S. Capitol five years ago.

Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan ripped fellow Democratic Commissioner Thom Welby and Republican Commissioner Chris Chermak as Welby and Chermak teamed up against Gaughan.

During Commissioner Thom Welby's first public meeting, the Lackawanna County commissioners voted Wednesday to table a final vote on the 2026 budget until the county gets a clearer idea of electricity costs next year. The final vote is scheduled for Dec. 17 at 10 a.m.

Former state Rep. Thom Welby took the oath of office Tuesday as Lackawanna County commissioner. He replaces Brenda Sacco, who served only 34 days after her appointment to the seat ended a long legal battle over who should replace former Commissioner Matt McGloin. Welby won the seat in a Nov. 4 special election.

Former state Rep. Thom Welby won a special election for Lackawanna County commissioner on Nov. 4 and will take the oath of office Tuesday.

The Lackawanna County commissioners agreed to use the county's position as a major investor in Paul Sorvino's film, "The Trouble with Cali," by letting filmmaker John Mikulak use clips from it for his documentary on its making.

For the first time, Lackawanna County will contribute to the cost of having local police patrol the airport. Previously, Luzerne County split the cost with the airport after federal funding to pay the officers expired.

Lackawanna County commissioners Brenda Sacco and Chris Chermak authorized hiring Scranton School Director Jenna Strzelecki — who also is Pittston city's business administrator — as the county's new human resources director, even though Commissioner-elect Thom Welby will soon replace Sacco in office. Welby called Strzelecki 'fabulous.' Commissioner Bill Gaughan said the hiring was an example of 'backroom politics.'

Lackawanna County went to court Friday to delay by a year the implementation of new property values developed during reassessment the last three years, but county President Judge James Gibbons quickly denied the request in a one-sentence order without further comment.