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Citing problems with financial oversight and other issues, Lycoming County commissioners voted to transfer four personnel from the controller's office to the budget and finance department.
The action did not sit well with Controller Krista Rogers, who claimed the move taken by the county salary board was in violation of the county code.
Each of the three commissioners along with Rogers sit on the salary board.
Commissioners Rick Mirabito, Tony Mussare and Scott Metzger voted in favor. Rogers voted no.
"My employees will not be moving," she told commissioners. "My employees still work for me. I do not acknowledge the steps you took today."
The positions the commissioners voted to move from the Controller's officer are: second deputy/general accountant, general accountant and two financial technicians.
Commissioner Tony Mussare said there is a need to improve fiscal affairs.
"We need to have a corrective plan here," he said.
The personnel will receive better training for carrying out their responsibilities in the budget and finance department, according to Mussare and Commissioner Rick Mirabito.
"We hope the mistakes being made are eliminated," Mussare said.
He noted also the high amount of personnel turnover in the controller's office the past two to three years.
Metzger noted that changes previously made in the controller's office failed to remedy the problems.
"This isn't about a power grab," he said. "We are responsible for the finances of this county."
Added Mussare: "It's something that must be done."
"What you are doing is illegal in the county code," Rogers said.
Mussare said it is his hope that the issue does not lead to litigation.
Rogers later issued a release stating that the commissioners' move risks the payment of bills, including payroll, and filing a financial report.
"They are eliminating the controller's office as the lawful check-and-balance of county expenditures. They are doing this while Lycoming County has $19 million of COVID relief expenditures awaiting review and final verification, for state and federal grant purposes. Where is the transparency?"
Such actions, she noted, eliminate "a critically important separation of powers that the Pennsylvania legislature wrote into the law outlining the authority and responsibilities of Pennsylvania County Controllers."
Rogers later stated in an email to the Sun-Gazette: "My office is not the problem. I cannot be stripped of my powers and be expected to fix problems. The commissioners keep bringing up two years, during that time fiscal services was in chaos, without leadership, and the commissioners did not give them direction. Rather than taking the time to understand and give their own employees direction and bring that chaos under control, two years ago, they are trying to rebuild their power base while jeopardizing the county's financial well-being, i.e. the annual financial report, accounts payable, and payroll."
"Also, in 2020, my office put out a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report during COVID, while being blocked in communication, training and information gathering by the commissioners' fiscal services director, who has since retired."