Luzerne County Government

April 1, 2010

Phone listing has sheriff, administrator

But neither John Gilligan nor Joseph Musto has been appointed.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
Jennifer Learn-Andes on Facebook   |   @TLJenLearnAndes on Twitter

Luzerne County employees are puzzled by a new employee phone directory because John Gilligan is listed as sheriff and Joseph Musto is listed as court administrator.

Neither man has been appointed.

The listing was sent to employees on March 17. County Chief Clerk/Manager Doug Pape said someone “jumped the gun” while preparing the annual phone list, and he has instructed staff to remove the two names until official appointments are made.

County judges recommended Musto for the vacant court administrator position in January, choosing him from 41 applications for the $76,377-a-year position.

The state’s court administrator and chief justice must approve the appointment because the position is funded by the state. They have not made a decision, said Art Heinz, spokesman for the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.

“There’s nothing new to report,” Heinz said.

Musto, 65, had been appointed to fill the unexpired term of former Judge Michael Conahan when Conahan was charged in the ongoing federal corruption probe. Musto left that seat the end of 2009.

Musto recently submitted an application for a vacant, lifetime-appointed seat as federal judge in the U.S. Middle District of Pennsylvania.

The county court administrator position has been vacant since William Sharkey was terminated on Feb. 24, 2009, days after he pleaded guilty to stealing $70,000 in seized illegal gambling proceeds.

Court deputy administrators Jack Mulroy and Peter J. Adonizio have been covering Sharkey’s duties. The court administrator oversees the management of cases, personnel and budgets for several court branches.

Gov. Ed Rendell nominated Gilligan, a former Wyoming police chief, for the sheriff seat on Feb. 9.

A simple majority vote by the state Senate is required to confirm the nomination.

Erik Arneson, spokesman for state Senate Republicans, said Wednesday that the Senate must make a decision on the nomination by early June. A vote should occur around the end of May if the Senate follows typical timetables, he said.

If confirmed, Gilligan would replace acting Sheriff Charles Guarnieri, who went from chief deputy sheriff to acting sheriff when Michael Savokinas unexpectedly resigned on Sept. 1.

Tweet	Follow @TLnews

Send Question or Remark to the Publisher