By Liz Zemba

Published: Thursday, January 10, 2013, 12:01 a.m.
Updated: Thursday, January 10, 2013

The Fayette County Salary Board approved raises for various employees on Wednesday, including a 3 percent pay increase for nonunion employees and row officers.

The board voted 4-1 to grant the 3 percent raises, with Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink casting the dissenting vote. Nonunion court employees and those in the commissioners office are included, but Zimmerlink said she will keep with past practice and not take the raise.

The board voted unanimously to increase the pay of Public Defender Jeffrey Whiteko from $75,835 to $81,568. Commissioner Vincent Zapotosky said Whiteko's duties have expanded to include mental health court and child-related cases.

Zimmerlink said the board created two grant-funded positions in the district's attorney's office: an assistant county detective at $25,487 annually and an assistant district attorney at $29,252. The positions are to expire in three years, when the grants end, Zimmerlink said.

Zapotosky said the two new positions will be used to prosecute domestic violence and sex-offense cases.

Under the commissioners' office, the board created a secretary/receptionist position at an annual salary of $20,436, with Zimmerlink dissenting. In addition, the board voted unanimously to create a grant-funded Supervisor Visitation/Safe Exchange Program project manager for Children and Youth Services at a salary to range between $30,000 and $40,000.

The board voted unanimously to increase the hourly pay of tax claim director Sarah Minnick from $16.18 to $20.31. Zimmerlink and Zapotosky said the increase puts Minnick at the same pay grade as directors of other courthouse offices.

In the sheriff's office, the board voted unanimously to increase the pay of Chief Deputy Mike Helms from $16.76 per hour to $17.26 hourly.

In the controller's office, the board voted 4-1, with Zimmerlink dissenting, to change chief deputy Jeanine Wrona's pay grade from 11 to 15. When combined with the 3 percent pay raise, Wrona's salary will increase from $45,000 to $48,000, said Dominick Carnicella, human resources director.

Other positions the board created were an accounts clerk for the clerk of courts at $11.40 per hour and a department clerk for the election bureau at $10.35 per hour.

Zapotosky said three nonunion lieutenant positions were created at the county jail at annual salaries of $43,846.

Carnicella said the positions likely will be filled through promotions. He said having the lieutenants in place will save money because it will eliminate the need to pay union employees at a higher rate when they fill in for supervisors.

Liz Zemba is a reporter for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-601-2166 or lzemba@tribweb.com.

1. Uniontown teacher makes the grade
2. SHOWING THEIR SMARTS
3. Trust’s Golden Reunion rolls out welcome mat
4. Geibel names 2013’s top students
5. Historic ferry could become idled
6. DeWitt claims politics played into charges against him
7. City’s financial status under debate
8. Upper Tyrone family helps pet overcome paralysis
9. Several Fayette boroughs have contested races
10. Plans being finalized for the Golden Reunion at Connellsville’s East Park
11. Community invited to Feast of All Nations in Connellsville

Subscribe today! Click here for our subscription offers.