Request for salary increase draws criticism at meeting

The treasurer has asked that the chief deputy's salary be increased to 43,470.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Public outcry may just put the brakes on an request for a nearly 4,000 raise for the chief deputy in the Lawrence County treasurer's office.
"I'd like to know when people started dictating what raise they should get. If you people don't vote her down, shame, shame on you," Oren Allen of Shenango Township told Lawrence County commissioners at their Tuesday meeting.
Allen was referring to comments Cathy Toscano, who was recently named chief deputy of the county treasurer's office, made concerning a pay cut she would receive by taking the job.
Toscano became acting county treasurer last August when her boss, Gary Felasco, was sentenced to one to seven years in prison for theft from his office. Her salary was increased to that of an elected official, about 49,000 per year. But when the governor's nominee for treasurer, Ron Patrick, took over this past Monday, Toscano's salary went back to the chief deputy rate at 39,561.43.
Toscano said Tuesday she asked for an increase because in addition to the chief deputy's job, she has taken over duties for the recently fired second deputy, Gloria Conti, and she is training the new treasurer.
Patrick has proposed Toscano's salary be increased to 43,470, the same salary as the county controller's chief deputy.
"Of course I would like to get 43,470, but I'm not going to quit if I don't get it," said Toscano, who also is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for treasurer in May.
Who must approve
Any increase for the chief deputy must be approved by the county salary board, which includes the three county commissioners, county controller and the elected official whose office is affected.
Lawrence County Commissioner Dan Vogler said he expects that the salary board will meet at 9 a.m. April 26.
"I'll certainly listen [to the salary increase request], but there is an established rate on the books right now for that position," Vogler said in response to comments made by Allen and another man in the audience opposed to a salary increase for the chief deputy treasurer.
Commissioner Steve Craig agreed with Vogler.
"It's an established rate. It's an open forum. I will listen to everybody's viewpoints," Craig said of the salary request.
Commissioner Ed Fosnaught was not present because he was attending a Pennsylvania Supreme Court hearing in Philadelphia regarding a proposed racetrack and casino in Lawrence County.
cioffi@vindy.com