HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 1164 - 12-20-2022 - COMMISSIONER2097
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MINUTE
BOOK
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA
Minute No. 1164 December 20, 2022
A special meeting of the Washington County Board of Commissioners was held in the Public Meeting
Room, Courthouse Square, Washington, Pa., with the following members being present: Commissioners
Diana Irey Vaughan, Larry Maggi, and Nick Sherman. Also present are Solicitor Jana Grimm; Chief of Staff
Mike Namie; Finance Director Josh Hatfield; Voter Registration/Elections Director Melanie Ostrander;
Register of Wills James Roman; Controller April Sloane; Clerk of Courts Brenda Davis; Information
Technology representative Dylan Johnson; Executive Secretaries Marie Trossman and Patrick Geho; Chief
Clerk Cynthia B. Griffin and Mon Valley Independent representative Max Robinette.
Mrs. Vaughan called the meeting to order at approximately 6 p.m. and announced this meeting is
video and audio live -streamed via Facebook.
Mrs. Vaughan led the meeting with a prayer.
Mr. Maggi led the Pledge of Allegiance.
SOLICITOR
Solicitor Grimm read the resolution of the Board of Commissioners of Washington County,
Pennsylvania to fix salaries of county officers.
WHEREAS, the County of Washington ("County") is a county of the Fourth Class in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, 16 P.S. §11011-10.1, authorizes the Commissioners to fix salaries of County officers; and
WHEREAS, the County previously adopted a resolution fixing salaries of County officers with an
automatic 3% annual increase at a special meeting of the Board of Commissioners held on December 3, 2001,
Minute Number 685; and
WHEREAS, the County desires to fix salaries and cease the 3% annual increase for all County officers
beginning with the year 2024, as permitted under the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Commissioners of the County
of Washington, Pennsylvania, as follows:
Effective the first Monday of January 2026, the salaries of the Recorder of Deeds, Sheriff, and
Controller of Washington County shall be lowered and fixed at $98,837.62. In addition, the salaries of the
Recorder of Deeds, Sheriff, and Controller shall cease receiving a 3% annual increase effective the first
Monday of January 2026.
Effective the first Monday of January 2024, the salaries of the Commissioners of Washington County
shall be fixed at $105,735.18 and the salaries of all other County officers shall be fixed at $98,837.62. In
addition, the salaries of the Commissioners and all other County officers shall cease receiving a 3% annual
increase effective the first Monday of January 2024. The Register of Wills as the Clerk of Orphans' Court and
the Chair of the Board of Commissioners shall continue to receive their excess amounts pursuant to 16 P.S.
§§ 11011-11 and 11011-1.
Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of Washington County at a duly advertised Special Meeting
of the Board of Commissioners of Washington County on December 20, 2022.
Mrs. Vaughan explained when increases were implemented after the resolution was passed in 2021,
(the corrective date was December 3, 2001) there were offices that did not receive those increases because of
the election. The Board of Commissioners cannot pass a resolution setting the salaries in the year they are
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MINUTE
BOOK
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA
running for office, therefore there will be an allowance for the Recorder of Deeds, Sheriff, and Controller so
they can catch up and the 3% freeze will be later.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mrs. Vaughan stated that the views and opinions expressed by the speakers during public comment
are exclusively those of the speakers and do not reflect or represent those of the Washington County Board
of Commissioners and have not been verified.
The following Washington County resident addressed the Commissioners during public comment:
James Roman, Register of Wills, expressed his disapproval of the board's decision to fix the salaries of
the elected officials. He said the Commissioners denied his request to reduce his budget by $35,000 a year
while giving raises to the Director of Elections, the Solicitor, the Director of Finance, and the Chief of Staff.
He pointed out that the board spent $40,000 on carpeting for their office in a building they bought for $10
million. He said that the former Controller and two of the Commissioners received raises for 30 years, and
now the board is freezing these salaries to get back at the row officers. He said this action is being marketed
as a tax -saving measure when it only represents a savings of $27,000 a year.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONER'S RESPONSE
Commissioner Irey Vaughan clarified that all County elected officials, including the Board of
Commissioners, will receive the freeze.
Mrs. Vaughan entertained a motion to approve the resolution.
Moved by Mr. Sherman; seconded by Mr. Maggi, approving the resolution.
Roll call vote taken:
Mr. Sherman — Yes; Mr. Maggi — Yes; Mrs. Vaughan — Yes.
Motion carried unanimously.
There being no further business, Chairman Vaughan declared the meeting adjourned at approximately
6:09 p.m.
THE FOREGOING MINUTES WERE SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL:
ATTEST:
CHIEF
04'-a .2023
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