A simmering dispute between the Clarion County commissioners and county Treasurer Tom McConnell boiled to the surface on Tuesday during the county’s salary board meeting.
McConnell, who began his second term on Jan. 1, last week announced his resignation, effective Sept. 11.
His deputy, Karyn Montana, will fill the balance of his term and will receive the same pay rate as McConnell. Now, the Treasurer’s Office must fill the opening for deputy treasurer.
“The commissioners are responsible for the budget, and yet we would have no say in how the money is spent,” he said.
In addition, Tharan said he would like to have a legal opinion on who sets the salary range.
McConnell, who is a member of the salary board, said he had been trying to establish the salary range for “months” and had not received a response from the commissioners.
Tharan, though, said he had not seen the proposal until Tuesday morning.
“I would have liked to have had more time to look it over,” he said.
McConnell’s response was he delivered the agenda on Friday morning and “besides, you have had almost a year to talk to me about this. You totally disrespected my office.”
McConnell pointed out Montana would be left without a deputy to help her in the office, effective Monday, and that she would not be able to hire anyone without knowing the salary range.
Montana said she had someone in mind to fill the position and that the applicant has a degree in accounting.
In August, the commissioners created the new positions of human resources director, manager of land services and county administrator/chief clerk.
“You seem to have no problem setting the salaries for the new positions you created,” McConnell said.
McConnell’s motion to adopt the $27,000-to-$35,000 range died for lack of a second.
McConnell then offered an amended motion with the range of $27,000 to $32,000, which also died for lack of a second.
Commissioner Wayne Brosius made the motion for a salary range of $27,000 to $30,000.
That motion passed, with all three commissioners voting in favor and McConnell casting the lone dissenting vote.