Luzerne County Courthouse
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Sixteen Luzerne County government employees were hired last month, including seven prison correctional officers, according to the newly released September personnel report.
County Correctional Services Division Head Mark Rockovich said the officer hirings were necessary to fill some of the vacancies that have accrued.
Hired at $15.81 per hour, the new correctional officers are: Victoria Benning, Russell Davis, David Hornlein, Joseph Klemunes, Tammy Ann McDonough, Fredric Mizell and Shane O’Donnell.
The other new workers, along with their positions and hourly pay: Cynthia Dorzinsky, sheriff clerk, $14.91; Tammy Heid Malloy, Drug and Alcohol case management specialist, $20.66; Michael Kocher, road/bridge equipment operator, $14.42; Abbey Lewis and Daniel J. Mulhern, assistant district attorneys, $27.51; Maria Linso, Aging Agency part-time senior center operator, $14.26; Michael Murphy, district attorney clerk/typist, $14.32; Nicole Tanana, court law clerk, $38.68; and Katrina Woods, prison nurse, $25.96.
Departures
Six employees retired in September, the report says: Mental Health/Developmental Services caseworker Mary Boylan, deputy sheriff Bryan Feddock, treasurer clerk Donna Hays, human resources generalist Mary Louise Majikes, Children and Youth social services aide Lana Messmer, and prison desk sergeant Paul Riley.
Other workers who left county employment include: prison corrections officer Corey Michael Helfrich; public defender clerk/stenographer Deana Battista; Mental Health/Developmental Services caseworker Jhasmily Castro; prothonotary clerk Pearl Cwalina; deputy sheriffs Michael Figmic and David Hutchens; 911 telecommunicators Judith Isbel, Ryan Thomas Kane, Brittany Mae Machey and Nathan Redmond; Aging Agency senior center operator Joan Luska; district justice clerk/typist Natalie Miliano; Children and Youth caseworkers Antonia Stinson and James Wallace; and Aging Care Manager Jaime Herring.
Transfers
Eight workers changed positions through internal merit hirings.
The workers and their new positions and hourly pay: Neva Colella, human resources generalist, $21.54; Danielle Cunningham, budget/finance senior analyst, $24.87; Thomas Czyzycki, prison corrections officer, $29.59; Joanne Kelly, election bureau administrative assistant, $21.81; John Nilles, 911 executive administrative assistant, $20.51; Dino Ninotti, election bureau deputy director, $21.54; Jeffrey Weems, Mental Health/Developmental Services caseworker, $18.27; and John Weiss, district attorney narcotics agent, $23.08.
Tax sale
Bidders acquired 141 parcels, or 29% of the 485 listed in the Sept. 24 county tax sale, according to a report from county tax-claim operator Elite Revenue Solutions LLC.
That percentage was higher than expected because it was a less popular first-stage “upset” sale, which means buyers must pay all back real estate taxes and accept responsibility for any outstanding mortgages and liens, said Elite representative Sean Shamany.
With transfer tax included, bidders collectively paid a total $1.829 million for the properties, the report said.
More than 3,800 parcels initially headed to the auction when the upset sale cycle started in June, Shamany said.
The list was reduced as property owners paid or obtained removal through court orders, installment repayment plans or bankruptcy filings, the company said.
The 344 properties that did not sell will advance to a free-and-clear auction next year,
The auction was held at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township to accommodate social distancing in the coronavirus pandemic.
Properties that don’t sell at the September auction will advance to a free-and-clear/judicial sale in 2021, when all liens and delinquent taxes are forgiven unless bidding competition drives up the purchase price to cover some or all of that debt.
The next auction, a combined upset/judicial one, will be held at 10 a.m. Nov. 12, also at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Information on the auctions is available at luzernecountytaxclaim.com.
Meetings
The county Election Board will hold a virtual meeting at 4:30 p.m. Monday. Directions on attending are posted under the authorities/boards/commissions online meeting link at luzernecounty.org.
Council’s Code Review Committee will meet, also virtually, at 4 p.m. Thursday. Attendance instructions are posted in council’s “public meetings online” section at luzernecounty.org.
Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.