Guesto loses his court post

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.comLuzerne County Reporter

Sam Guesto was laid off Thursday from his controversial job as Luzerne County specialty courts director as part of the quest to cut $2.1 million in salaries from court branches, according to an announcement from county judges.

Taxpayers had expressed outrage when the former county chief clerk/manager was hired a year ago for the $81,165 specialty courts position, in large part due to his involvement in questionable county debit card spending. Many believed the court job was created with Guesto in mind.

Guesto said Thursday that he is proud of his work in the court job, most recently overseeing property assessment mediation challenges. He was in surprisingly good spirits.

“One door closes – which it did today on my government employment – and another one will open. I have faith in that,” he said. “I plan on taking some time and then will get back into the work force, either in the private sector or starting my own business.”

Guesto said he does not harbor resentment for new President Judge Chester Muroski or the judges who decided to eliminate him. However, he expressed outrage over media photographs and videos of other county officials smiling at the signing of a settlement agreement to cut court positions and end the court’s lawsuit challenging the county budget.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s very troubling seeing the jubilant atmosphere in the room when the document was signed intending to cut jobs. People were hugging and smiling when people are going to lose their jobs and livelihood.”

Minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban said nobody likes layoffs, but county taxpayers can’t continue funding a “top-heavy” court payroll.

“I don’t believe the specialty courts position ever should have been created,” said Urban, who was the only county Salary Board member to vote against the job creation.

“I guess the new judges see things differently, and I’m glad the new president judge is taking the steps that he’s taking to reduce the size of the staff and help commissioners balance the budget,” Urban said.

The pay for chief court stenographer Angela Sallemi has also been reduced $10,850, bringing her new salary to $67,150. Former President Judge Mark Ciavarella’s recent decision to give Sallemi a $21,000 raise had angered county officials.

Judges announced the Guesto and Sallemi personnel actions Thursday by title, not name.

The layoffs in court branches are now up to 27, according to the release.

In addition to 13 probation layoffs previously announced, the release said the cuts include the following positions in other court branches: an executive secretary, an assistant solicitor, an executive secretary, an Orphan’s Court conflict counsel, a legal researcher and three law clerks.

Also, 14 vacant positions won’t be filled, including four in probation and eight in court administration and magisterial court.

The layoffs took effect at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Names were expected to be released today.

Impacted employees will be paid through Feb. 27 based on the personnel policy, the release said. They will also be paid for unused sick, vacation and personal days.

Judges made the cuts to honor the county’s strapped 2009 budget, which called for $1.99 million in court salary reductions.

Thursday’s announcement said these cuts and others planned in the future will reduce court payroll by about $2.1 million.

“In order to meet that goal, we will further evaluate all court departments in an effort to further reduce court personnel and operating expenses,” the release said.

The release says “every effort” has been made to make sure the cuts don’t jeopardize service delivery.

The layoff of 11 probation officers, probation services director Larry Saba and fiscal director Peter Namowicz had been announced on Wednesday. Saba and Namowicz were furloughed because it had been determined that their “continued employment is not in the best interest of the court system,” according to a press release issued by Muroski.

Neither Saba nor Namowicz returned calls for comment.

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