Lytle hired as facilities manager for new county jail

The opening for a manager at the jail was not advertised.
MERCER, Pa. -- Michael Lytle was hired as facilities manager of the new Mercer County Jail and his salary set at $34,366 annually when county commissioners met Thursday.
Lytle, of Sheakleyville, was already employed as part of the transition team handling the move from the old to the new jail. Bill Boyle, director of administrative services, said that Lytle, originally hired as a part-time corrections officer, is certified in several areas of construction and has been employed by the county about two years. Boyle said the position was not advertised because the county policy has been to hire from within when possible.
Resignation
Commissioners also accepted with regret the resignation of Beverly Burrows, director of Children & amp; Youth Services for the past 10 years. She resigned to take another position. Commissioners said they have placed ads seeking a replacement.
In other action:
* Commissioners heard more criticism from fired Chief Clerk Kenneth Ammann who claimed commissioners are violating open records laws by failing to make available on request tape recordings of commissioners' meetings. He said he had to make such a request twice before being told an exception would be made to allow him to listen to the tapes. However, Atty. Bill McConnell Jr., Commissioners' litigation solicitor, told him an appellate court has ruled that tapes of meetings do not have to be provided. Commissioner Olivia Lazor said state historical preservation officials told her once the written minutes have been approved, they, not the tapes, are the official record of the meeting.
* Darin Flower, Sharon, was named to the Mercer County Solid Waste Authority, replacing Joseph Baldwin, the term to end Aug. 2, 2006.
* Commissioners signed a contract to pay Atty. Stephen Delpero, New Wilmington, $11,375 to represent juveniles in dependency actions brought by Mercer County Children and Youth Services.
* They added $11,600 to an agreement with Atty. Jarrett Whalen and $6,000 to one with Atty. Randall Hetrick for compensation for taking 29 and 15 additional legal cases respectively. The two represent some clients for the public defenders office and the caseload has been higher than expected.
* Staley Communications Inc. was awarded the contract to provide the new internal communications system for the new jail for $58,590.