Carbon County officials have established the position of an acting warden.

During the monthly salary board meeting on Thursday, which was recessed last week, the board approved the position of an acting warden at an annual salary of $51,043, effective yesterday.The position has been filled by Deputy Warden Timothy Fritz, who has been in charge at the prison since former Warden Joseph Gross was terminated by the county prison board last week.Fritz has been employed at the Carbon County Correctional Facility since December 1994. He has served as a corrections officer, sergeant and most recently, deputy warden.Commissioner Wayne Nothstein, chairman, said that the commissioners will not comment on why the board chose to terminate Gross, again saying that it was a "personnel matter."Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard said that the commissioners believe that Fritz, who has been in charge of the prison in the past when the warden was on medical leave, will do a good job."We think he's perfectly capable of doing a good job for us," he said.As for when the board will begin looking to fill the warden position, Gerhard said that they are in no hurry.According to the annual salary board meeting agenda in January, Gross was paid $55,764.80 a year. He was hired in 2010.The Carbon County Correctional Facility in Nesquehoning, averages 200 inmates daily.In other matters, the board approved:• A grant agreement with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency in the amount of $57,354 for the 2015-2016 Victim/Witness program.• A time extension with Fabcor Inc. for the replacement of Carbon County Bridge 16, located on Koch Road in Towamensing Township.The new completion date is May 12, 2015. The reason for the extension is because work on the bridge is weather and temperature dependent and winter has shut down operations.• The employment separation of Elizabeth J. Esrang of Nesquehoning as aging care manager II in the Area Agency on Aging, effective Nov. 7.• The resignation of Ryan P. Kennedy of Coaldale as a deputy sheriff in the Sheriff's office, effective Nov. 17.