By Bill Vidonic

Published: Friday, November 9, 2012, 12:01 a.m.
Updated: Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Two Butler County commissioners on Thursday appointed an executive assistant as the county's chief clerk.

Amy Wilson, the assistant for Commissioner A. Dale Pinkerton, assumed the duties of Bill O'Donnell, who retired after 20 years as chief clerk and director of administration. He could earn up to $18,750 for 375 hours of work as a consultant to help finish budgetary and other matters.

Pinkerton and Commission Chairman Bill McCarrier appointed Wilson, even though minority Commissioner James Eckstein said the county should have posted the job and searched outside of Butler government for someone with an accounting degree.

“For morale and to do the right thing, this should not be a political appointment,” Eckstein said.

Pinkerton and McCarrier said they think Wilson is qualified.

The salary board, composed of the commissioners and Controller Jack McMillin, set Wilson's salary at $81,515. O'Donnell earned just over $101,000.

McMillin provided paperwork showing Wilson will earn $85,183, beginning in January, and is scheduled to receive pay raises in November 2013 and November 2014 that would bring her salary to $93,551.

Eckstein voted against the entire package.

An employee of the District Attorney's Office, Linda Cranmer, resigned on Nov. 2, the county personnel office confirmed. District Attorney Richard Goldinger last month suspended Cranmer without pay, blaming her for missing a deadline that cost the county a $400,000 federal grant for domestic violence programs.

Cranmer, 52, has said Goldinger knew she had trouble submitting an electronic application for the money, and that the Justice Department extended the deadline and told her it had received the application.

Bill Vidonic is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-380-5621 or bvidonic@tribweb.com.

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