Schuylkill County Commissioner Gary Hess said he doesn’t support the changes of the county tax claim and tax assessment offices.

“It’s a demotion. It’s not a restructuring,” Hess said of the actions taken at Wednesday’s commissioners meeting to transfer Angela Toomey and Denise McGinley-Gerchak to different roles.

He voted no on the actions during the commissioners meeting and the affiliated ones on the salary board. Hess would not comment further on his vote.

Toomey had been the chief assessor in the assessment office and tax claim director and is now the tax claim director. McGinley-Gerchak was the assistant director tax assessment/claim office. She is now the deputy chief assessor.

Toomey was making $68,852 and is now making $53,732.36.

McGinley-Gerchak was making $47,057 and now is paid $39,727.18.

Commissioners Barron “Boots” Hetherington and George Halcovage Jr. voted for the transfers. The salary board voted 3-1 to eliminate their positions and create a tax claim director, assistant tax claim director, chief assessor and deputy chief assessor.

Schuylkill County Controller Sharon Yackenchick voted yes. The assistant tax claim director and chief assessor roles were not filled.

Heidi Zula, human resources director, said the motions are made “after a review by the human resources office and county administration and part of a plan to maximize the efficiency and operations of these offices.”

Yackenchick said she favored the reorganization of the offices.

“County human resources devoted a great deal of time and effort in bringing these recommendations to the salary board. I believe that the separation of job duties and responsibilities is in the best interest of the county. I also want to be clear that my votes this evening support the reorganization of those office functions and are not directed at any specific employees who are affected by the action,” Yackenchick said.