SUNBURY - Northumberland County Commissioner Vinny Clausi plans to conduct a news conference at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the county administration center to respond to allegations and criticism leveled against him by Commissioner Richard Shoch.
On Friday, Shoch blamed Clausi for ignoring the repayment of a portion of a $365,000 grant the county received from the state Department of Community and Economic Development and federally-mandated upgrades to the county's 911 communications system. Shoch also chastised Clausi for costing the county thousands of dollars in a defamation lawsuit filed by fired deputy sheriffs Joseph Jones and Michael Boris.
Clausi, who is recuperating at home from recent serious surgery, said Friday that he would respond to Shoch's accusations in a couple weeks. But he notified The News-Item Saturday morning that he changed his mind and would hold a news conference Wednesday to address the issues.