Schuylkill hires human services director

Schuylkill County has a new leader for its human services departments. During a meeting Wednesday, the Schuylkill County Commissioners hired Elaine Gilbert of Sinking Springs to head the county’s Mental Health, Department of Human Services, and Drug and Alcohol agencies.

Commissioners’ Chairman George Halcovage praised the team which interviewed four applicants for the post.

County Administrator Gary Bender, Human Resources Director Debra Twigg, Children & Youth Director Lisa Stevens and Paul Straka, director of Service Access and Management were the interview team.

Bender explained that before anyone was interviewed, their resumes were submitted to the state’s Civil Service board to be screened for qualifications.

That process took a few weeks and eliminated one of the candidates. Gilbert takes the position left vacant due to the retirement of former Human Services Administrator Dan McGrory. Gilbert’s start date is Feb. 19, and she’ll be paid $82,213 yearly.

“There were good candidates and it was very close,” Halcovage said. “She (Gilbert) is energetic, focused — it’s a very important job in the county.

Halcovage said that Gilbert will be introduced at a future commissioners’ meeting.

In addition to Gilbert’s appointment, the commissioners approved the following personnel changes and salaries:

In the sheriff’s office, Patrick Haughney of Pottsville and Courtney Miller of New Ringgold were hired as per diem security guards. Haughney will be paid $15 per hour and Miller $12 per hour.

Debra Reiner, Tower City, resigned as temporary clerk in the Clerk of Courts office; Luann Boudreaux, Orwigsburg, was hired as a temporary clerk. Boudreaux will be paid $11.88 per hour. The post is temporary because the position will be eliminated upon the return of an employee who is on a leave of absence.

Two employees are retiring, David Unger of Wayne Township as a field appraiser in the tax assessment office, and Sherry McCready of Pine Grove as a judicial secretary in court administration. Unger’s retirement is effective Feb. 15 and McCready’s retirement will be effective March 15.

Tamaqua Borough Hall will be undergoing renovations to its bathrooms according to ADA standards. The commissioners approved a motion by Bender to advertise for bids for the work, which will be paid for with Community Development Block Grant funds.

Bids will be due in the controller’s office by March 11 by 3 p.m. and opened at 9 a.m. March 13, for a tentative award date of March 20.