LAWRENCE CO. Judge approves job contract for official's friend

The judge lauded the state representative for taking action for the taxpayers.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A temporary injunction stopping painting and lawn care work at the Lawrence County Housing Authority has been lifted.
Judge Michael J. Wherry, a visiting Common Pleas Court judge from Mercer County, dismissed a complaint against the authority filed by state Rep. Frank LaGrotta of Ellwood City, D-10th. LaGrotta had been granted a preliminary injunction Friday, and work at the housing authority stopped until Wednesday's hearing.
The state legislator contended that the bidding process for the work was not done properly, and he wanted a contract with A. General Maintenance of New Wilmington terminated and the work bid again.
LaGrotta questioned A. General Maintenance's experience and the fact that the only other bidder, Wecare Lawn Care of Youngstown, was not registered as a business with the state of Ohio and did not submit a bid bond with its specifications -- taking it out of the running for the contract.
A. General Maintenance was ultimately the low bidder, getting a $236,133.33 contract for painting and a $93,330 contract for lawn care over a two-year period. Wecare's bid was about $200,000 higher.
Wherry lauded LaGrotta for taking action on behalf of the taxpayers but said the law must be followed.
"The contract is not perfect. We all wish we had eight bidders and all posted performance bonds and nobody would be related to anybody, but we know it just simply isn't perfect," Wherry said.
Comment
LaGrotta said after the full-day hearing that he tried his best.
"I don't know if they are right, but they are smart. We will continue to monitor every contract, every action and every hiring at the housing authority. The best thing to come out of today is to let the housing authority know they really must do business in the public," LaGrotta said.
LaGrotta first started questioning actions at the housing authority earlier this year when he asked the state civil service commission to look into hiring practices.
LaGrotta then questioned the qualifications and bid of A. General Maintenance, a company owned by Steve Catale, a friend of housing authority board member and county Treasurer Gary Felasco.
The state lawmaker has also questioned whether Felasco and Catale had any other business relationship.
Felasco came under fire in February when The Vindicator revealed he had not paid property taxes on his Cunningham Avenue home since 2000.
The property escaped the yearly tax sale because an improper "court stay" was placed on the property. Pennsylvania State Police are looking into the matter as well as Felasco's use of county cellular telephones.
Felasco said after Wednesday's hearing that he and Catale are friends but have no business relationship.
"He's my friend, but I've never even been to his house," Felasco said.
County election records show that Catale contributed $600 to Felasco in the 2003 election.
Lou Perotta, housing authority solicitor, said he was pleased with the judge's decision.
"For the last three weeks, we've been accused of hiding information. The only thing we hid behind today was the truth," he said.
cioffi@vindy.com