Luzerne County Government

July 7, 2010

Vehicles, forms won’t have sheriff’s name

John Gilligan says keeping name off of preprinted documents will save the county money.

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

Luzerne County Sheriff John Gilligan said he won’t be putting his name on sheriff’s vehicles or pre-printed forms and documents.

Forms for civil court filings, warrants and gun permits are now printed with a generic Luzerne County sheriff label with no names of any individuals in the office, said Gilligan, who took over as sheriff on June 10.

Elimination of names will allow the county to keep using forms that are left after he leaves, he said.

“It’s better that nobody will have to change any forms when I’m no longer sheriff. It saves the county money,” Gilligan said.

Gilligan said he sees no reason why the sheriff’s name should appear on the office vehicle fleet along with the name of the department. The name of former Sheriff Michael Savokinas has been steamed off county sheriff vehicles, he said.

Savokinas unexpectedly resigned in September, and Gov. Ed Rendell nominated Gilligan for the seat, which expires the end of 2011. Gilligan said he will run for the seat if a proposed switch to home rule fails and the sheriff and other row offices are preserved.

When Savokinas resigned, the office was left with forms bearing his name, prompting county Prothonotary Carolee Medico Olenginski to question the legality of using these documents in official court filings. The sheriff’s office started crossing out his name, she said.

Medico Olenginski said she supports Gilligan’s approach.

“I try to keep my name off standard documents where I can,” Medico Olenginski said.

County Controller Walter Griffith said he does not believe the names of employees or elected officials are required on any pre-printed documents or forms. The governing officials or managers are identified if the paperwork must be signed and/or stamped, he said.

“It’s not important to have names on all this stuff. All that’s needed is the county seal,” Griffith said. “Anything can happen to any one of us. We’re only here for a temporary time.”

Jennifer Learn-Andes, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7333.

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