Pocono News Section

Taxpayers React to Bellas Getting Vacation Pay

Taxpayers React to Bellas Getting Vacation Pay - Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 6:14PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009 @ 06:14pm EDT

LUZERNE COUNTY -- Tuesday night, Allen Bellas resigned from his position as director of the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority. Taxpayers were in shock to hear Bellas would receive more than $15,000 for nearly 70 unused vacation days, after he agreed to plead guilty to accepting bribes.

"I think it would be really wrong to do that," said Bill O'Hara of Wyoming.

"I don't agree with it, but what can we do?" echoed Dave Bronsburg of Dallas.

The Redevelopment Authority solicitor says the board told him Bellas accrued 127 vacation days that weren't used. Board policy states Bellas can get paid for only 70 of them.

"I don't think anybody in an average job, if they were terminated, they probably wouldn't be able to collect those types of benefits," added O'Hara.

Bellas could face several years behind bars for taking bribes to help a contractor get financing for a project.