The Lackawanna County Salary Board on Monday approved department salary items contained in the county’s proposed 2026 budget and authorized creation of a dedicated domestic relations attorney position, which drew at least one dissenting vote.

Board members moved quickly through routine approvals for the Clerk of Judicial Records, Courts, Controller, coroner, district attorney, recorder of deeds, register of wills, sheriff and treasurer’s offices. Several personnel items were approved during the session, including a budget-neutral redistribution of staff salaries in Judge Mark Powell’s office and a promotion to Accountant 1 for Jenna Rizzo.

Speaker 8, speaking "on behalf of Judge Mark Powell," described the redistribution as budget neutral: "It is budget neutral...the money has already been there and is there," and said the proposal reduces two salaries and increases two others within the judge’s existing staff pool. The board approved that motion by voice vote.

The session drew more discussion when Speaker 10 moved to create a position specifically for the office of domestic relations. Speaker 10 said much of the position’s cost "would be reimbursed by the state if we so choose to seek the money back," and described the hire as added support for domestic relations work after Attorney Frederickson’s departure.

Speaker 7 announced they would vote against the position, saying, "I'm gonna be voting no on this just because I don't think we need it." The motion nevertheless passed on a voice vote with at least one recorded "no." No numerical roll-call tally was provided in the record; votes were recorded by voice.

Other approved personnel actions included a recommendation to change a vacant landscape-coordinator title to a maintenance position with a lower salary and a promotion for Jenna Rizzo to Accountant 1. Speaker 2 noted Rizzo "manages a $300,000,000 accounts payable portfolio." Several presenters and department representatives said the 2026 items are budgeted and budget-neutral where indicated.

The board completed the agenda without further formal votes on the matters raised in public comment and adjourned. No effective hire date or start date for the new domestic relations attorney was stated on the record; the motion was recorded as approved.