A memorandum of understanding was approved by the Schuylkill County Commissioners at their work session held Wednesday at the courthouse which brings to an end the litigation filed by Controller Melinda Kantner against them for removing an auditor from her office. The suit was scheduled for trial in December but has been cancelled.

The settlement was also approved by Kantner and Senior Judge Joseph H. Kleinfelter, Daugphin County court, who was assigned to the case when all six county judges reclused themselves, approved the settlement.A statement released by County Solicitor Eric Mika and Solicitor Sud Patel, controller's office, states, "Per agreement, the parties will refrain from commenting on any of the specifics of the lawsuit or the settlment agreement going forward. The parties also feel that it is in best interest of the taxpayers, courthouse employees in general and the County of Schuylkill to resolve this litigation."At the work session of the salary board pertaining to the agreement, Kantner announced she was hiring Brett Clark, of Pottsville, to the position of accounts examiner after the salary board unanimously approved creating the new position in the controller's office.Mika said this was part of the memorandum of understanding agreeement. Clark is completing a four year degree in accounting. He was employed by L. Samuel Deegan's certified accounting firm and worked on preparing the independent single audit of county finances before leaving the firm this summer.Deegan and Kantner clashed over preparation of the budget which was late in being completed.