WELLSBORO - The Tioga County commissioners approved the transition from state Civil Service Merit Hire to County Merit Hire for the county's Department of Human Services personnel transactions during their meeting Tuesday.
Hopefully by October the transition will go into effect, but changes will be minimal, said Sara McDonough, human relations assistant.
Those who already work for the Department of Human Services will be unaffected. What will change is the hiring process.
"We're cutting out the middle man," McDonough said.
Previously, it could take up to two months to fill a position. By the time positions are filled, new positions have opened up, making it difficult to have a full staff, she said.
Once the changes occur, the county will be able to administer a test if the position requires it, interview the candidates and pick the person best suited for the job.
"With a full roster, we can help the community more," McDonough said.
Current case workers have to work more to fill the gap left by empty positions.
Money will be saved because better candidates can be found who will stay longer, which means less retraining new employees, commissioner Mark L. Hamilton said.
The majority of the department, about 100 people, have been contacted about the transition.
Hamilton and Commissioner Roger C. Bunn approved the transition. Commissioner Erick J. Coolidge was absent.
The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. July 24 in the Union Township office.
