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First Posted: 2/19/2014 Four Luzerne County managers will keep their jobs because they were all selected a second time after a new search prompted by a job advertisement glitch.
County Manager Robert Lawton had downgraded the four managers to temporary status in January and re-advertised the positions because the published advertisement wrongly left the impression bachelor&#8217;s degrees were required.
The impacted employees are Sheriff Brian Szumski, Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts Director James Haddock, Coroner William Lisman and Wills/Deeds Director Mary Dysleski.
The four were restored to permanent status Friday, said Judicial Services and Records Division Head Joan Hoggarth, who oversees these offices.
Hoggarth said the positions were filled through the county&#8217;s home rule merit-based hiring process.
Human resources screened new applications and forwarded those meeting minimum qualifications to Hoggarth, with all identifying information redacted.
Hoggarth said she ranked new and prior applicants to obtain the top three in each position to be interviewed.
No additional candidates were interviewed for the coroner or wills/deeds positions because the rankings did not change, she said.
An additional applicant was interviewed for both the sheriff and prothonotary/clerk of courts positions, and Hoggarth said she determined Szumski and Haddock should be selected.
Due to a human resources &#8220;proof-reading error,&#8221; the initial advertisement said the positions required a minimum of five to seven years of directly related work experience and a bachelor&#8217;s degree. However, the job descriptions said any equivalent combination of education, training and experience could be considered.
Szumski and Haddock do not have bachelor&#8217;s degrees.
Szumski has an associate&#8217;s degree in criminal justice and police and sheriff state certifications and has worked as a deputy sheriff and assistant unit coordinator in the sheriff&#8217;s office since December 2006 until his promotion to sheriff lieutenant in April and to interim sheriff in September. He will receive $45,000 as sheriff.
Haddock, who is paid $47,500, graduated from the Pennsylvania Bankers Association&#8217;s Advanced School of Banking and completed numerous college-level courses. He most recently worked as a Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission fare collector, has nine years of management experience with the State Workers&#8217; Insurance Fund and 24 years of experience at several local and regional banks, including work as assistant vice president overseeing several branches simultaneously.
Lisman&#8217;s salary is $45,000, and Dysleski will be paid $50,000.