LAWRENCE COUNTY Board mulls wider search for chief clerk

Commissioners had not advertised the position.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Lawrence County commissioners said the hunt for a new chief clerk/administrator is still on, and they may soon have to expand their search.
Last week, commissioners said they had intended to name someone to replace Charleen Micco, who is retiring, within the next few days. Her yearly salary is $48,837.
But earlier this week, the commissioners said they have spoken to at least a dozen qualified candidates, and came close to hiring one, but that person declined their offer.
"These individuals have said they are happy doing what they do now and don't want to make the change," said Commissioner Chairman Dan Vogler.
Vogler and Commissioner Steve Craig acknowledged they have been criticized for not advertising the position, but have said they felt they were acting responsibly by approaching individuals they already know.
All the candidates considered so far are employed by the county.
Craig and Vogler said they feel the job takes a lot of time and requires someone familiar with and living in the county to handle it effectively.
"But we may have to look outside," Craig said. "We may even have to enlist a 'headhunter' to help us with the search."
Plans to retire
Micco, 55, told commissioners in July she planned to retire this month. Although she has marked Monday as her date of retirement, and Friday as her last official day on the job, she indicated she likely will be around a little longer.
Micco has been with the county since February 1976, when she began working for the commissioners. She was promoted to chief clerk Aug. 1, 1984. In 2000, the commissioners changed her job title to chief clerk/administrator.