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Commissioners decline $15,000 supplemental appropriation to refill prothonotary legal assistant position
Summary
A motion to appropriate $15,000 to fill a long‑vacant legal assistant position in the prothonotary's office failed after commissioners questioned the workload and timing of the request.
A motion to approve a $15,000 supplemental appropriation to fill a vacant legal assistant position in the prothonotary's office failed at the Franklin County commissioners meeting after commissioners said they needed more evidence that the office could not function without the position.
The request, presented by county staff, sought funds to fill a long‑standing vacancy in the prothonotary's office. Staff said the position had not been budgeted earlier in the year because the vacancy had lasted long enough that the FY budget originally excluded it.
A commissioner who moved the item said he had contacted the prothonotary and was told work was backing up and the elected official wanted the position filled. Another commissioner opposed the motion, noting the position had been vacant for 18 months and asking whether workload changes justified the hire. The opposing commissioner also asked whether the prothonotary had requested additional weekly hours (from 37.5 to 40) before seeking a new hire; staff replied there had been no such request.
The motion failed on a voice vote; the transcript records the outcome as "Motion fails." The record does not capture a roll‑call tally or named votes.
Commissioners said they supported transparency and wanted data showing that the office could not handle the workload before approving a supplemental appropriation. No alternative funding or direction was recorded during the meeting.
