SUNBURY – Northumberland County Commissioner Kymberley Best has pulled a lawsuit against her fellow commissioners. In a statement, Best says she discontinued a lawsuit which accused Commissioners Rich Shoch and Sam Schiccatano of violating the Sunshine Act and for a lack of transparency in county government.
At the forefront of the suit was the county’s petition to declare Northumberland County Drive at the county’s south campus a public road. Best alleges Shoch and Schiccatano violated the Sunshine Act by making the road public without taking a vote. She also accused them of voting without taking minutes at work sessions and staff meetings.
But at the commissioner’s last public meeting in October, Shoch and Schiccatano did properly put the public road issue on the agenda. The issue was then up for public comment, debate, and there was a public vote. After the 2-1 vote in favor of the road, county Solicitor Frank Garrigan re-filed the road name papers. Best says the county did as she requested, and her court filings “have largely served their purpose.”
But the issue of Best requesting minutes be taken at all public meetings, work sessions, staff meetings still remains. Best says she’s decided it’s more efficient to allow voters to make a final ruling. See her full statement below.
Schiccatano says he and Shoch have always been transparent, including on the road issue in a spring public meeting. Schiccatano says they only re-voted on it recently because they didn’t want the lawsuit to holdup the finalizing of the road in court and approved at a later date. In regards to the Sunshine Act, Schiccatano says people would’ve seen who was telling the truth all along in court, saying, “When you’re on stand, must tell the truth on fear of perjury.”
Shoch echoed Schiccatano’s comments, saying Bests suit was politically motivated.
Best full statement:
“I discontinued the Sunshine Act lawsuit I filed against Commissioners Richard Shoch and Samuel Schiccatano. I filed the lawsuit for the sole purpose of making county government more transparent. I asked the court to block certain actions, taken in private, with respect to Northumberland County Drive and to require that the commissioners take minutes at all meetings where county business is discussed.
At the last public meeting, the majority commissioners properly placed the Northumberland County Drive issue on the agenda, gave an opportunity for public comment, had debate and took a vote as I requested. Additionally, following the 2-1 vote the County Solicitor has re-filed the declaration of a public road. The Court filings have largely served their purpose.
As to the remaining issue of requesting minutes be taken at all public meetings, and work sessions, I have decided it is more efficient to allow the voters make a final ruling. I am confident that our citizens support my efforts to safeguard and promote government transparency.”
