An ousted county official says the commissioners are making fish of one and fowl of the other.
The Schuylkill County salary board on Wednesday made official the appointment of Mario Basile, Wayne Township, to the reinstated position of county auditor.
However, a familiar voice was heard at the meeting. After welcoming aboard the newly elected and appointed officials and wishing them success, former Controller Melinda Kantner addressed the salary board's decision to reinstate a position that was eliminated during her term despite her opposition.
Paul Buber was removed from the county auditor position in 2009 to work under the commissioners as a financial analyst. Kantner followed with a lawsuit in January 2009 to have the position restored, but a settlement was reached and an accounts examiner position was created instead at a starting salary of $32,302.
Basile will receive a salary of $34,435 in the reinstated position.
"For two years, the controller's office was left shorthanded without the position. All three commissioners at that time were adamant that an auditing position would not be restored to the controller's office," Kantner said Wednesday. "I find it interesting that Commissioner (Chairman Frank J.) Staudenmeier, who along with the two Democrat majority commissioners at that time, held me essentially hostage for two years in not returning the position to the controller's office. I have to respectfully assume that Commissioner Staudenmeier had an epiphany and has now decided it is important for auditing to be done by the controller's office."
Kantner was elected in 2007 as a Democrat, but was defeated by current Controller Christy Joy when she ran for re-election as an independent in November.
"Unlike what I faced during my four-year term as county controller, it appears (Controller Joy) has a cooperative board and I trust that he will continue to build upon and expand the past successes and policies of the controller's office to improve the conditions for the taxpayers of Schuylkill County," Kantner said.
Along with the appointment of a county auditor, the board fired Sara McDonough, Orwigsburg, as accounts examiner and eliminated the position.
"The communication with the controller's office this past month has been outstanding, not only with the commissioner's office but with every single department in the county," Staudenmeier said. "It has improved dramatically."
Prior to the salary board meeting, the Schuylkill County commissioners authorized the endorsement of several candidates as executive board members of the Schuylkill County Fire Chiefs Association. They are Frank Zangari, Girardville; Jason Witmier, Pottsville; Scott Krater, Port Carbon; Dave Sattizahn, Pine Grove; Gary Witmier, Pottsville; and John Matz, Deer Lake-East Brunswick Township. Also being endorsed as members of the Schuylkill County Fire Chiefs Association Advisory Board are Jack Messner, Pottsville; Art Connelly Jr., Tamaqua; Glenn Sattizahn, Schuylkill Haven; John Kellman Jr., Pottsville; James Krammes, Cressona; and Joseph Kufrovich, Barnesville.
The commissioners also approved the appointments of Debbie Herb, of the National Children's Study, Pottsville; Sharon Pagnotti, Mahanoy City; and Mary Ann Devlin, of Child Development, Minersville, to serve three-year terms on the Children and Youth Advisory Board.
On behalf of the Schuylkill Transportation System, the commissioners approved to entertain bids for installation of a 10,000-gallon underground storage tank. All bids are due March 5 and a tentative award date is scheduled for March 9.
In other news, the commissioners approved the purchase of a work pickup truck on behalf of the Public Works office. The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado will be purchased from Fairway Motors, Hazleton, for $26,334.81.