New Washington County president judge’s first official act is vote at salary board
As her first official act, new Washington County President Judge Katherine B. Emery on Monday took part in an annual ritual at the Courthouse Square office building known as the salary board meeting, where elected officials take action to retain employees at salaries set for 2015.
The office of president judge in Washington County is decided by seniority, and when the retirement of Debbie O’Dell Seneca became known in the waning days of December, Emery, elected in 1995 and retained for a 10-year term in 2005, was next in line.
O’Dell Seneca was relieved of her administrative duties Nov. 5, and the Pennsylvania courts appointed Allegheny County Senior Judge Joseph James as interim administrative judge of Washington County. James would have handled the salary board duties, but he is away, and in his stead, he appointed Emery to act in that capacity.
Emery expects to permanently assume administrative duties later this month.
Commission Chairman Larry Maggi, after wishing those assembled a happy new year, welcomed Emery and told her, “Congratulations on your first official acts today.”
Before returning to the courthouse on what was also the first day of the January trial term, Emery in an interview described the duties of the president judge. “The main duty is to assign the cases to allocate the judges to certain divisions – you know, civil and criminal – then there are some budgetary issues that the president judge deals with.
“Of course, I’m still not the administrative judge until the Supreme Court will rescind their order … You want to have some impact on policies and procedures with court-related offices.”
Emery, a former county solicitor, expects to finish her 20th year in office this year.
“If you stick around long enough, you get a promotion, I guess,” she said.
Emery said after the meeting she has filed to run for retention this year. Judge John DiSalle, elected in 2005, will also be running for retention.
At the salary board meeting, the board abolished Rawl Harris’ position of the Furlough Into Service program foreman which paid $29,315 per year and named him Lead FITS Foreman at $34,000 per year. FITS Foreman David Harton received a raise that ups his $27,242 salary to $31,000 per year, and Janice Bowman, who has the same job title as Harton, will be paid $30,500 per year, up from $26,225. Jennifer Connelly, FITS foreman, will be making $30,000 per year, up from $26,225.
Greg Thomas Sr. retired as director of Community Service/FITS program and interviews will be conducted soon to fill the vacant position, said Kathleen Bali, Washington County director of human resources.
In the Children and Youth Services agency, administrator Kimberly Rogers will be making $81,158, up from $79,567, and deputy administrator Delores Blosnich-Gooden received an increase of her $65,238 salary to $66,543.
Bali’s salary went from $70,000 to $74,000 and she will be getting an assistant director of human resources, Barbie Castrucci, who was formerly the occupational health and safety specialist at the county health center. Her salary, formerly $55,000, will be $60,000 and Castrucci’s former position was abolished.
One group of county employees, assistant district attorneys and assistant public defenders who are members of Teamsters Union Local 205, are working under the terms of their contract which expired at the close of 2014.
“We hope to be able to negotiate a contract,” said Scott Fergus, county director of administration. “We’re just trying to find a time to sit down and talk.”