×

Commissioners create 2 new county positions

The Lycoming County commissioners unanimously approved the creation of two new positions Thursday morning: one public defender in the courts and one bail release officer in the prison.

The public defender position, to be assumed later this month by Nicole J. Spring, a county employee for more than 30 years and who will be able to handle murder cases, will be salaried at $98,305 per year, which equates to less than $50 per hour, Commissioner Rick Mirabito said.

Until then, the county holds a contract with William J. Miele, who plans to retire. The 2019 contract was approved for $105,000.

The bail release officer was approved with the belief that it will help the bail release program become more successful, commissioners said.

In addition to creating the two positions, the commissioners approved reclassifying a domestic relations officer position, which has gone unfilled for some time, to a domestic relations attorney.

Commissioners Jack McKernan and Mirabito agreed making the change would help the office become even more competitive in the efforts to receive federal funding based on success, as having a domestic relations attorney is a requirement.

Currently, the county contracts with attorneys for the department, said Matt McDermott, director of administration.

Commissioner Tony Mussare was the sole no vote on that action, stating he felt the office was running efficiently and successfully without spending more money to upgrade a position there.

The final position change is the reclassification of a clerk I position in the prothonotary’s office to a clerk III, signifying that person’s increase in responsibilities as a part-time clerk I position was eliminated, the commissioners said.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Renewed an agreement with Harris Local Government for software support and print services for the county’s tax collection software programs at a cost of $1,456 per month, which shows an increase of $128 per month over last year’s costs.

• Renewed an agreement between the county Central Collections Office and solicitor David Wilk for a monthly stipend of $1,000.

• Approved a sub-recipient monitoring agreement with STEP Inc. for $200,000 of 2018 state Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement funding for the Homes in Need program, which helps

weatherize or bring homes up to code for qualified applicants.

• Approved the following personnel actions: promoted Nicole J. Spring to public defender at $95,304.70 annually, effective Feb. 24; promoted Matthew Welickovitch to full-time replacement first assistant public defender at $60,685.96 annually, effective Feb. 24; promoted Joseph A. Kyle to full-time replacement maintenance III at $21.57 per hour, effective Feb. 10; and hired Tara R. Savage as a full-time replacement LPN in the prison at $23 per hour, effective Feb. 11.

The next meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Executive Plaza.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today