Erie County Council set to vote on new purchasing job

Aug. 25--Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper's administration has pitched a new $60,000-a-year job to manage the purchasing of county equipment and services.

County Council is expected to weigh in on that request Tuesday night.

Luigi Pasquale, county government's manager of procurement and facilities, currently handles those duties. An ordinance on council's Tuesday meeting agenda, if approved, would take the purchasing duties away from Pasquale, who would continue to oversee the maintenance and management of county buildings.

Gary Lee, the county's director of administration, said the move is aimed at making the county's purchasing process more efficient. He also said he believes it will save the county money in the long run.

Lee said several counties in Pennsylvania, including Dauphin, Cumberland, Lehigh and Northampton, have separate purchasing directors, and said the structure would likely help the county negotiate better prices for equipment and services.

The county also wants to become active with the state's Costars program, which lets local governments purchase goods and services through a preapproved/prenegotiated contracting process.

Pasquale, who has said he is OK with the reorganization, oversees and manages more than 30 county-owned or leased buildings, is responsible for the county's 95-vehicle fleet, and handles all insurance claims that involve the county.

County Council Chairman Kyle Foust said he supports the proposal. Council has final say on the position's yearly salary, however, and there is a possibility that the salary Dahlkemper requested will be reduced.

"I think we're going to be able to find a salary which is acceptable to the majority of members of council, which is in line with being able to attract a good enough person to the job," Foust said.

County Council meets Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Northwestern High School, 200 Harthan Way, Albion.

KEVIN FLOWERS can be reached at 870-1693 or by e-mail. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNflowers.

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