In D.A. Salavantis’s press release she stated “Wilkes-Barre was first
contacted by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) in the summer of
2009. State inspectors uncovered that individuals were using personal vehicles
for City use and being reimbursed with tax-free fuel from the City pumps and
the City was assessed a fine of $5,316.92”
- In other words, the city was told in 2009 this was WRONG, but continued anyway….
“Following this incident, the City installed a new “stick key system”
at the City pumps, but never put it into service.”
“Certain employees stated they always documented fuel use; others
stated they arbitrarily or never documented fuel use and were never reviewed or
reprimanded for the various practices.”
Mayor Leighton issued his own Press Release where he stated: “My
administration and I were not aware of any problems with the former method of
monitoring usage. I take full
responsibility for the lack of proper record keeping during this time. As
soon as I was made aware of this poor practice, I immediately made arrangements
to upgrade the city’s fuel pumps with an up-to-date tracking system. We do not
anticipate any future problems concerning gasoline usage with the pump upgrades
currently in place. At no time did I
ever take gasoline without the knowledge of city employees.”
Leighton said “I take full responsibility for the lack of proper record
keeping during this time.”
- Let’s be clear the taxpayers were fined $25,919 because you took gas without documenting it, and you were warned in 2009 that this was wrong, so should you write a check for $25,919 to the general fund?
Leighton said “At no time did I ever take gasoline without the
knowledge of city employees.”
- Okay then why were you pilfering gas at 6 AM in your undershirt so early before the employees come in?
- If the mayor did nothing wrong, why did he stop taking the free gas?
Wake Up Wilkes Barre, and vote Vito DeLuca for D.A.
