Veteran county works keep leaving

April 28--Another veteran worker is leaving Luzerne County employment -- Road and Bridge Supervisor John Pickering.

Pickering, who started working for the county in 1984, has obtained another position, colleagues say. He could not be reached for comment.

Several seasoned workers have retired or resigned in recent months, raising concerns about a loss of institutional knowledge. County Manager Robert Lawton has attributed many departures to opportunities for higher pay outside county government and increased workloads due to county layoffs.

Pickering's retirement, which takes effect Friday, also leaves the county without an interim operational services division head because Pickering has been filling that role since March for no additional pay. The prior interim division head, John Robshaw, resigned as 911 executive director to take a private-sector position.

Lawton is reviewing engineer applicants to permanently fill the division head post.

--The administration has increased the advertised salary for a new information technology executive director in an attempt to attract more applicants for the position, which has been vacant since Steve Englot retired in October.

The position originally was advertised at $55,000 to $70,000 but is now listed at $65,000 to $80,000, according to a posting on the county's website, www.luzernecounty.org. The initial review of applicants will be May 16.

--County employees must attend a wellness initiative session this week as part of the county's effort to improve their health and reduce health insurance costs, said county Administrative Services Division Head Dave Parsnik.

While the initial meeting is mandatory, employee participation is optional in initiative programs to help them quit smoking, lose weight and better manage medical conditions such as diabetes, he said.

--Council made several appointments to outside boards and authorities last week, including the naming of Tom Woods to the authority overseeing the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township and former county employee Albina Fonzo to the county Housing Authority.

Brian Gill and Joseph Van Jura were appointed to the Luzerne County Community College Board of Trustees. Richard Kramer and James Lavelle will serve on the county Planning Commission.

The other board appointments: Aging, Stephen Broskoske (reappointment), Debbie Switzer, Deborah Walsh and Joseph Yozviak; Children and Youth, Mary Delaney, Barry Finn and Ray Whalen; Drug and Alcohol, Darcy Brodmerkel (reappointment), Cara Devine-Homza and Bonnie Lou Dodson; Mental Health, Joseph Crowley and Raelene Daring; and Workforce Investment, Mary Malone.

--Council Chairman Rick Morelli distributed a questionnaire to council last week as part of Lawton's two-year performance review. Council members will hold a closed-door executive session before the May 20 public work session without Lawton present to discuss the evaluation, and another executive session may be scheduled with Lawton to talk about the results, he said.

Councilwoman Kathy Dobash emailed a reply, saying she will not fill out the evaluation form or participate in an executive session concerning Lawton. Dobash said a deficit in the 2012 audit revealed his administration was "untruthful about the financial condition of the county," and she requested his resignation.

A majority of council voted against seeking Lawton's resignation last week.

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