Lackawanna County Commissioners

Michael Mullins died from ALS in 2022. Motivated by the loss of his father, state Rep. Kyle Mullins helped secure $5 million in the state budget to study diseases like ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

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.

Thom Welby, Lackawanna County’s newest commissioner, is sworn in and on the job. And The Woodlands, a hotel and resort in Luzerne County, is shut down by code enforcement.

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.

The Lackawanna County commissioners formally introduced Wednesday the almost $180.7 million budget they unveiled last month. The budget keeps revenues the same, but new assessed values will determine if new tax rates raise or lower taxes on a property.

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.

The Lackawanna County Democratic Party and Commissioner Brenda Sacco plan to withdraw lawsuits that sought to declare illegal a special election meant to choose someone to serve out the remainder of former Commissioner Matt McGloin's term. Former state Rep. Thom Welby, a Democrat, won that election Tuesday, according to unofficial results.