Action taken Thursday by the Carbon County Salary Board effectively changed the structure of the county public defender’s office, with the addition of a fourth public defender.

The salaries of current public defenders Stephen Vlossak, Robert Yurchak and Gregory Mousseau were changed to make room for the new positions.

Vlossak was named chief public defender, Yurchak, first assistant, and Mousseau to be one of two assistants.

In addition, the moves eliminate the need for the county to enter personal service contacts with attorneys to help reduce the backlog in the office. Paul J. Levy and the firm of Dydra & Schaffer had been doing that work for fees of $25 per hour.