Carbon County officials debated whether or not an action being taken by the salary board was going against the county code.

Last week, President Judge Roger Nanovic approached the salary board during its monthly meeting to request salary changes, and also questioned why the rate of one position in the district justice's office, which is currently vacant, was being lowered back to its starting rate, because he had never requested the change.Nanovic said he was under the impression that per the county code, a position's salary could not be changed without a request by the head of the department.The board took the position that it has been standard practice to move all vacated positions back to the starting salary before the position is filled so there wouldn't be confusion about what the person would be paid once they were hired.Robert Crampsie, county controller and member of the salary board, said he believed that because it wasn't a filled position, it wasn't a problem making the action.He said once the position is filled, the person's qualifications would be taken into consideration when determining if they should receive a higher pay grade an action that would again be taken by the salary board if necessary.The board then voted to approve the change for the district justice secretary I position from $11.94 per hour to $11.26 per hour, effective June 4.In related matters, Nanovic also requested a salary increase of 50 cents per hour to $10.51 per hour for a department clerk in the court system, which would be paid out of the supervision fee funds. The request died for lack of a second to the motion.Officials told Nanovic it would be addressed at a later time.In other matters, the salary board voted on the following changes:• Establish the position of one clerical specialist in the clerk of courts office at $10.21 per hour, effective June 4.• Change the rate of one part-time legal secretary in the district attorney's office from $10.51 per hour to $10.83 per hour, effective June 9.• Establish the position of one part-time maintenance person in the buildings and grounds department at $9.26 per hour, effective June 4. The position is excluded from the retirement plan as it is not anticipated to work 1,000 hours.• Change the rate of one secretary III in the children and youth services from $11.81 per hour, to $12.16 per hour, effective June 23.• Change the rate of one county caseworker II in children and youth services from $15.07 per hour to $15.52 per hour, effective June 24.• Change the rate of one seasonal park ranger I at Mauch Chunk Lake Park from $12.67 per hour to $13.05 per hour, effective June 20.