Clarion County commissioners on Tuesday approved the hiring of the law firm of Zwick and Zwick on an interim basis to serve as the county’s public defender.
Clarion County hasn’t had a public defender since the assistant public defender resigned and the former public defender, Erich Spessard, took a position as assistant district attorney.
Brookville-based Zwick and Zwick will act as the interim public defender for the period from Jan. 16 to March 15, 2020. Three attorneys – “C.J.” Zwick, Greg Sobel and Robert Fisher – will share the workload at a cost of $1,350 per week.
“We have reached out to law schools,” commissioner Ted Tharan said.
During Tuesday’s salary board meeting, the position of office manager for the public defender’s office was created. Then during the commissioners meeting the new position was filled by Donna Gallagher, and she will be paid a salary of $36,500 effective Jan. 27.
In other business Tuesday, the commissioners approved paying pollworkers for training for the first time.
The original motion was to pay the pollworkers $20 for each training session, then Tharan suggested $25 would be a more equitable rate. The workers would also receive 51 cents per mile for travel.
Brosius said the new voting machines have made additional training mandatory.
Brosius was also elected chairman of the election board.