Personnel changes, chiefly in the district attorney's office, were reviewed at the work session of the Schuylkill County Commissioners Wednesday. Voting on the proposals will take place at next week's public meeting.

District Attorney Christine Holman presented for approval attorneys Maria Casey, Minersville, as first assistant; John Fegley, Ruscombmanor Township, Berks County, and Robert Lipkin, West Brunswick Township, as first assistant district attorneys; and Gary Marchalk, Ryan Township; William Burke, Port Carbon; James Flagella, Orwigsburg, and Debra Smith, New Philadelphia, as part-time assistant district attorneys.Dolores Malec, North Manheim Township, replaces Dennis Clark as chief county detective, while Clark remains as detective II, and Linda Dillman, Frackville, as executive secretary, replacing Jennifer Laughlin, East Brunswick Township.Holman also announced the resignation of attorney Thomas Pellish, Pottsville, and attorney Michael O'Pake, Norwegian Township, as part-time assistant district attorneys, and the termination of Laughlin as executive secretary, and attorney Rachel Cicowic, North Manheim Township, as part-time assistant district attorney.The solicitor's office announced attorney Christopher Hobbs, Pottsville, is being transferred from his position as public defender to part-time county solicitor to fill the position vacated by Holman.The Soil Conservation Department announced the resignation of Drew Kline, Hegins, as a per diem rental clerk.The 9-1-1 Communications Department announced the resignation of Bruce Johnson, Schuylkill Haven, and Kate McDemus, Cressona, as telecommunicators.Rest Haven Home announced the appointment of Jessica Troutman, Ashland, per diem licensed practical nurse; and Ashley Harman, Pottsville, as first assistant director of nursing; and the termination of Shannon Azbell, Pottsville, and Katie Castellano, Schuylkill Haven, as part-time nurse's aides; and Megan Davis, Muir, Porter Township, and Christine Bailey, Orwigsburg, as per diem nurse's aides; the transfer of Rose Marie Smallwood, Girardville, from part-time to full-time nurse's aide; and Silvia Starr, Pottsville, from full-time nurse's aide to per diem licensed practical nurse; and retirement of Mary Berryman, Oley, as full-time assistant director of nursing.Salary boardAt the work session of the salary board the proposed salaries for the district attorney's staff were questioned by Commissioner Gary Hess, because under the salary matrix, they were starting at level's of seven or eight and not at zero rate. Hess told Holman, who was in attendance, he has no problem with the people she was appointing, but feared not starting new employees in the matrix would set a precedent for other county employees and was voting no.Holman explained the salaries were based on the experience of the individuals. She also said she was saving the county money by abolishing one part-time assistant district attorney, whose salary was funded to represent battered women seeking protection from abuse order, as the grant will expire in March and she was informed by the state it would not be renewed. Hess complimented her for this action.The salaries proposed that the salary board will vote on Wednesday, following the commissioners' meeting are as follows:District Attorney's staff: Maria Casey, $64,900 annually; Gary Marchalk, William Burke, James Fegley, each $25,575; Debra Smith, $22,064.54; John Fegley, $44,356; Robert Lipkin, $47,057; Dolores Malec, $25.47 per hour; Dennis Clark, $26.1087 per hour; and Linda Dillman, $33,271 per year.Solicitor's staff: Christopher Hobbs, $30,536.95; Rest Haven Home, Jessica Troutman, $18 per hour; and Ashley Harman, $9 per hour.Open bidsThe commissioners opened five bids to demolish two dilapidated buildings in Tremont Borough.Bidding were, Madonna Enterprises Inc., Port Carbon, $37,439; Farhay Exchange, Halifax, $87,250; Northeast Industrial SVCS Corporation, Shamokin, $74,440; Robert Gusick, Shamokin, $68,812; and Empire Services, Reading, $71,531. The bids were turned over to Gary Bender, director of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for study and recommendation.Marty Brophy, Shenandoah Heights, West Mahanoy Township, and David A. Donlin, Pottsville, were reappointed to the Schuylkill County Industrial Development Authority to Dec. 31, 2018.