SUNBURY - Six Northumberland County row officers will retain their current salaries and benefits, while future county commissioners will only receive a $36,000 salary.
During a special meeting Tuesday night, Northumberland County Commissioners Stephen Bridy and Vinny Clausi rescinded resolutions made Oct. 1, 2013, that called for row officers' salaries to be cut up to 48 percent while also significantly increasing their health care contributions. Commissioner Richard Shoch did not attend.
Clausi, who participated in the meeting by telephone from Florida, and Bridy then agreed to maintain the current salaries of the controller, coroner, treasurer, prothonotary, register recorder and sheriff for the years 2016 through 2019.
The two commissioners adopted resolutions that reduces their own salaries from $61,000 to $36,000, effective 2016, and eliminates health and welfare benefits for newly elected officials. Some current elected officials who have at least eight years of service will receive health and welfare benefits of $100 for every year of employment with the county upon their retirement.
Bridy initially made a motion to cut the commissioners' salaries to $37,500, which is the median household income for the county residents before agreeing to Clausi's recommendation to reduce them to $36,000.
Previous attempts
Clausi said he attempted to reduce the commissioners' salaries in 2009 and 2011, but failed to receive support from his fellow commissioners.
Last year's resolutions, which were approved by Clausi and Bridy but opposed by Shoch, called for Coroner James Kelley's salary to drop from $53,834 to $30,500. The salaries of Prothonotary Justin Dunkelberger and Register and Recorder Mary Zimmerman would be reduced from $57,396 to $31,000, while the salaries of Sheriff Robert Wolfe and Treasurer Kevin Gilroy would decrease from $53,834 to $31,000. Coroner, prothonotary and register and recorder salaries were to change Jan. 1, 2014, since elections for those positions were held in November 2013. The others would change Jan. 1, 2016, following the next election for those offices.
Bridy and Clausi did not reduce the salary of then Controller Tony Phillips, whom Grayson defeated in the November 2013 election.
In addition to the proposed salary reductions, the plan also called for changes in health care contributions that involved increasing monthly rates paid by the officeholder from $108 to $348 for single coverage; $175 to $694 for two-party, and $241 to $873 for family.
Public comment
The row officers, who sat in front of the meeting room, were pleased that their salaries weren't reduced, but reserved comment because of a pending lawsuit filed against the commissioners for wanting to reduce the salaries and increase their health care contributions.
A preliminary injunction imposed by Centre County Senior Judge David E. Grine on Nov. 8, 2013, froze the salary cuts, but the county appealed the decision before later choosing not to pursue it due to time restraints.
But with the actions taken Tuesday to maintain the salaries, Bridy said the lawsuit has no basis.
Prior to the votes on the salaries, four county residents voiced their concerns.
Attorney George Wagner, of Riverside, cited the need for the county to have experienced and qualified officeholders, and believes the number of candidates would diminish if the salaries are drastically cut.
Rodger Babnew, of Sunbury, who serves as chairman of the Northumberland County Democratic Committee, questioned the legality of the special meeting with only one commissioner physically present.
After being told by Solicitor Frank Garrigan that the meeting was legal, Babnew said he opposed the salary cuts, especially since the county has the lowest income and employment rates in the region.
"We need to lift everyone to a higher level, not a lower level," he said.
Stephanie Sterner, of Sunbury, said it's important for officeholders to work full time and receive more than adequate pay because of the vital responsibilities of their jobs.
Tom Aber, of Milton, who ran for commissioner in 2011, asked why Clausi didn't want to reduce the commissioners' salaries in 2008. Clausi said he attempted to do just that in 2009 and 2011, but failed to receive support from his fellow commissioners.
Aber accused Clausi of having a personal vendetta against people who are currently in office and those seeking office.
After the meeting, Clausi and Bridy both denied having a vendetta against anyone.
Bridy and Shoch plan to seek re-election, while Clausi said he is not seeking a third, four-year term.
Minds changed
Clausi said he changed his mind about reducing row officers' salaries because they have been working full time for the taxpayers and earning their salaries. He said, "They deserve it. Hopefully, all future row officers will continue with this full-time work for the taxpayers."
Bridy said, "We want to make sure we have public servants rather than career politicians in county office. It's hypocritical for us as commissioners to eliminate positions and affect lives to save tax dollars, while we (commissioners) still sit at the trough."
The commissioner, reading from a prepared statement at the meeting, said, "I previously not only supported but made the motion to reduce the salaries of all the row officers. Since that time, I have personally witnessed a change in attitude and a change in the work ethic of the majority of the row officers. Some of this, no doubt, is due to the fact there are new people in some of these offices. However, some of this, I believe, is due to certain row officers being shocked out of their complacency."
Bridy specifically praised the efforts of Dunkelberger and Wolfe for working together with the court to collect fines and costs owed to the county for many years.
Bridy said he believes the commissioners could use a pay cut.
"While a commissioner could conceivably be at the administration building 40 hours per week, the simple fact is that we are not," he said. "The job of a commissioner is not to micromanage every facet of county government. The job is to be the overseer and executive of the county. This is a very important job, but not one that deserves the salary that is currently being paid. I believe this is good for the taxpayers and good for the office."