New Westmoreland County leaders take over commissioners', sheriff's offices

Westmoreland County’s new government will be unveiled Monday when Republicans Sean Kertes and Doug Chew take over the majority on the board of commissioners and Democrat James Albert assumes control of the sheriff’s office.

Monday marks the first official day on the job for the newly elected officials, and, as a result, changing agendas and leadership will be the theme at the courthouse.

The commissioners will meet at 10 a.m. to reorganize, when Kertes, the top vote-getter in the November election, is expected to be named chairman. That post that has been held for the past four years by Democrat Gina Cerilli, who was reelected.

All three commissioners indicated that county finances will be a focus of the new board. Kertes said Friday that his agenda also will feature a plan to revitalize the Mon Valley waterfront areas as part of a regional effort with Washington and Fayette counties.

“I believe there is funding available if we get all three counties involved to revitalize, remove blight and bring in businesses in areas such as Belle Vernon, Rostraver and Monessen. Everywhere else you see waterfront properties, you see development,” Kertes said.

He said specifics of his plan will be released later and he expects the effort to be part of the county’s economic development strategy.

Chew said his top focus will be the county’s $341 million budget for 2020, approved last month by the outgoing board. That spending plan includes a 2.4% property tax increase that Chew wants to rescind.

“I’ve had challenges in getting requested information in December from some groups, but I think Sean and I can work together to identify $2 million in savings, which would allow us to reverse the county’s tax hike,” Chew said. “Our county neighbors sent us a mandate on Nov. 5 by turning out in record numbers compared to 2015 to deliver a Republican majority, and we need to turn over every stone looking for savings before we ask our neighbors to make a choice between paying their property taxes or buying their prescription medicines to stay alive.”

Cerilli, who voted in favor of the budget, said her goals for the new term include caring for the elderly, fighting drug abuse, attracting new businesses while protecting established firms, and promoting workforce development.

Major changes are coming to the Sheriff’s Office, Albert said. The department has been the subject of criminal investigations, a defendant in a series of harassment lawsuits filed by staff and the target of ongoing disputes with county commissioners.

Albert, a former district judge in Greensburg who worked as a deputy sheriff in the 1980s, defeated two-term Republican Jonathan Held in November for the sheriff’s post.

The office, which is responsible for transporting prisoners, courtroom security, warrant service and the sale of foreclosed properties, will operate with a new management team. Albert said he will hire retired District Judge Roger Eckels to serve as his chief deputy. Jen Shipley, who once worked as a sergeant under Held, was rehired to serve as a captain, making her the third-highest ranking member of the department.

Albert said he will retain all but two of the department’s current staff, replacing only Held’s chief deputy and office manager.

“There will be bumps in the road, but it will take some time to bring respect back to the sheriff’s office,” Albert said.

He said he will ask commissioners to pay for a comprehensive inventory and audit of the evidence room, where confiscated weapons and drugs are stored, and to increase the base pay for some deputies.

Albert also said he will revise department hiring standards to require all deputies to have police or sheriff’s department training.