Westmoreland commissioner defends rehiring of juvenile detention center director

Westmoreland Commissioner Doug Chew this week defended the decision to rehire the county’s former juvenile detention center director.

Commissioners announced Wednesday the county rehired Rich Gordon, who ran the Regional Youth Services Center in Hempfield between 2013 and 2015 before leaving for a job in Allegheny County and eventually serving as director of the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center in Pittsburgh.

“Our center leadership was doing well but burning out and seeking new opportunities,” Chew said. “Mr. Gordon is experienced in our facility and had a strong track record here. He left because Westmoreland County’s salaries aren’t competitive. With Shuman’s closure, he was a logical person to interview for our need.”

Gordon was paid about $119,000 as Shuman’s director. He is set to receive $90,812 in Westmoreland.

Gordon replaces Nicole Kamer as director. She was being paid $55,217. In February 2020, Kamer was appointed interim director of the facility and given the job on a permanent basis six months later. Officials said she will serve as deputy director of the detention center under Gordon.

Kamer declined to comment this week.

Commissioners did not say whether they had conducted a formal search for a new director or whether other candidates were interviewed.

“We looked around,” Commissioner Sean Kertes said Wednesday after a public meeting.

The Tribune-Review filed a Right-to-Know Law request, asking to review internal discussions related to efforts to hire a new juvenile detention center director and applications of candidates who sought the position.

Gordon had served as Shuman Center director since 2017. It was shuttered last summer after the state revoked its license over a series of inspections that found continuing problems characterized as “gross incompetence, negligence and misconduct.”

Gordon is expected to begin his new job April 25.