District attorney asks county council to create two staff positions; officials to place resolutions on full agenda

The Northampton County district attorney told the personnel committee on May 20 that he and county executives agreed to create a new full-time administrative assistant position for the drug task force and to upgrade the pay for the chief county detective.

The DA said the new role was proposed after his administrative assistant, who supported the drug task force, performed additional duties previously paid through task-force funds as a 1099 contractor. “Rather than pay her additional money through the task force they suggested that we create a new position,” the district attorney said, adding he intends to leave the prior position unfilled.

Staff read resolution language that would create one full-time administrative assistant, pay grade CS GR 181A with an annual salary of $43,659 effective May 22, and upgrade the chief county detective’s pay from CE5E ($82,000) to 7G ($90,097), the committee was told.

County staff and counsel explained that eliminating a union position requires opening the union contract or negotiating a memorandum of understanding, which is why the administration proposed creating a separate W-2 position instead of terminating the prior posting. Staff said moving the employee off a 1099 arrangement and onto the county payroll would make the position a W-2 and allow audit oversight through the controller’s office.

Committee members asked how the change affects drug-task-force funds; staff said money previously used to pay the contractor would be available for other eligible task-force expenses consistent with Attorney General reporting rules. The DA and staff agreed to place the personnel resolutions on the next full-council agenda for formal action.

The personnel committee took no formal vote at the meeting; the items were referred to the full council for decision.