Two of the three employees who remained in the solid waste and recycling department were hired as general laborers in the maintenance department Wednesday at the commissioners meeting.

Gregory Laurusevage, Frackville, and Robert Delph, Pottsville, were hired for the positions effective Monday. Each will be paid $14.32 an hour as approved by the salary board.

The other employee, Eric Pothering, who was listed as furloughed, was offered a position but declined, County Administrator Gary Bender said.

“Our intent was not to take anyone’s job away,” Commissioners’ Chairman Barron “Boots” Hetherington said.

Three maintenance positions were created earlier this month at the salary board meeting. Heidi Zula, human resources director, said the county does not yet know what it will do with the vacant position.

The county is still advertising the position of solid waste and recycling coordinator after Joe Scribbick resigned.

The county ended its drop-off recycling program recently, opting to approve recycling changes that would require waste haulers to provide a curbside recycling in the price of municipal waste collection service.