BY STACI WILSON

The county is bringing its Information Technology in-house. For years, the county has utilized a sub-contractor to handle the IT work at an annual cost of about $190,000, County Commissioner Alan Hall said.

The salary board created a full-time, non-union Director of Information Technology position with a starting salary of $50,000. First Deputy Treasurer Ruth Harden sounded the only vote against the move.

The board also created a 60-day Geographic Information Specialist (GIS) position, effective Aug. 26, at a salary of $35,000.

According to the commissioners, the current GIS employee will be resigning. The 6-day overlap will provide for the continuation of the ongoing GIS work.

Some salary board measures carried over to the commissioners’ meeting.

Jeanne Conklin was hired as the Human Resources Administrative Coordinator, effective Aug. 18, at an annual salary of $30,000.

Conklin had been hired at the Aug. 12 meeting in the Human Resources Clerk position at $11 per hour. At the Aug. 26 meeting, the salary board officially set the pay for that position at $11 per hour.

A change was also made to the Jury Manager position. The hiring of Amy Bishop was acknowledged by the commissioners at the Aug. 12 meeting, but the position – as well as the salary – were again changed at the Aug. 26 meeting.

Bishop’s title was expanded by the salary board to Jury Manager/Clerical Assistant, effective Aug. 18, at $15 per hour.

The position of jury manager has been vacant since Charles Bullock resigned the post earlier this year to seek election to a county commissioner seat.
Sandy Henry takes on the position of 1st Deputy Clerk of Courts, moving from the 2nd Deputy position, effective, Aug. 17; and Christine Tingley joins the Prothonotary’s office as the 2nd Deputy Prothonotary, effective Aug. 24.

The hiring a Shawn Brothwell in the position of Judicial Law Clerk was approved at a salary of $37,900.

Nancy Stoddard and Matthew Ochse transferred from part-time to full-time corrections officer positions at the county jail.

Commissioner Alan Hall reported that Lee’s Furniture of Montrose, and the Forest City Nursing Home were recognized at the annual Economic Development breakfast held Tuesday, Aug. 25.

Hall said the commissioners are still in the process of gathering information about the Lyme Disease Task Force, created earlier this summer. He said information regarding the committee should be available within the next few weeks.

The commissioners also proclaimed Sept. 6-12, as Suicide Prevention Week in Susquehanna County.

In addition to the commissioner and salary board meetings, the county retirement board also convened.

It was reported that as of Dec. 31, 2014 the county’s pension fund was 95 percent funded. Thomas Wilson, of Brinker Capital, said that the national average is about 72 percent.

Hall noted that with contributions made since that date, the fund is now fully funded.