Leadership vacuum persists at Washington County CYS
Mike Jones/Observer-Reporter
A leadership vacuum is persisting within Washington County Children & Youth Services after the recent hire for the department’s top position backed out a day before she was set to begin.
Jessica Sphar was scheduled to begin her new role as CYS administrator on Tuesday after being hired two weeks earlier, but sent a letter to county officials Monday notifying them that she was rescinding her acceptance of the job due to “personal reasons.”
That means the CYS has been without a full-time leader for more than three months after former administrator Anne Schlegel left the post in mid-June. Adam Garrity, who was serving as deputy director at the time, was promoted to interim director while county officials searched for Schlegel’s replacement, but he left the department at the end of August.
It’s not known when the leadership position will be filled in a full-time capacity with Sphar’s decision not to take the position. For the time being, county Human Services Director John Tamiggi is now overseeing CYS since that agency is under the umbrella of his department. He did not return a phone call Wednesday seeking comment on the leadership situation involving CYS.
Commission Chairman Nick Sherman said Sphar notified them Monday of “personal reasons” that would not allow her to take the role as expected Tuesday. He added that it has been difficult to find qualified people because of the competitive job market with higher-paying government salaries in neighboring Allegheny County.
“The problem we’re having (is) you see the exorbitant amount of money Allegheny County is paying for positions,” Sherman said.
The county is now working with a third-party firm to find a “qualified candidate” to take the CYS position, although it’s not known how long that process would take.
Commissioner Larry Maggi said the recent changes in CYS leadership are concerning because of the importance of the department in protecting children and assisting troubled families.
“I’m not sure what the issue or problems are,” Maggi said of recent leadership changes at CYS. “It seems like we have a revolving door and we cannot keep a director long term. It’s a tough and demanding job, but I don’t know what the problem is.”
Maggi said Sphar appeared to be the ideal candidate when she was selected, although no information about her hiring was made public until it was revealed she had decided not to take the position. No agenda items involving CYS were on the agenda for the Sept. 19 salary board meeting.
“I wasn’t in the interviews, but I took the word from the staff that it was a good hire,” Maggi said. “It’s a pretty important position.”
Maggi was unaware of Sphar’s decision Monday to rescind accepting the CYS position until he was contacted by a reporter Wednesday inquiring about the situation.