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Commissioners ask administrator to consult with public defender about staffing rather than immediately replacing lawyer

Erie County Commissioners · January 30, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Commissioner Mr. Old questioned a $60,000 recruitment to replace a public defender and suggested reallocating funds to raise pay for remaining attorneys; County Administrator Hank Solowiej said the office has had significant turnover and was asked to consult with Public Defender T. Doug Clifford before any hire.

During the Jan. 30 meeting Commissioner Mr. Old raised concerns about a Request for Recruitment to replace a public defender at an annual salary of $60,000 and suggested the commissioners consider using those funds to increase pay for remaining attorneys instead of hiring a replacement.

County Administrator Hank Solowiej told the board the Public Defender's Office has experienced substantial turnover and appears to be short several attorneys. The commissioners instructed Solowiej to contact Public Defender T. Doug Clifford to discuss staffing options before approving the recruitment request.

The discussion did not result in an immediate hiring authorization; the board requested staff follow up with the Public Defender so the commission can make an informed decision on recruitment or reallocation of funds.