Lycoming County salary board approves hiring moves including deputy warden appointment

The Lycoming County salary board on July 9 approved a package of personnel actions that included creating and filling several positions across county offices. Staff presented the actions as conditional offers of employment, subject to background checks and other standard conditions.

Staff identified Eric Fortin as the new deputy warden of inmate services, a full-time pay grade 12 position with a stated annual salary of $94,707.68 and an effective date of Aug. 2, 2026. "The salary should be $94,707.68," said the staff presenter, reading the item for the board.

The board also approved a correction in adult probation for Alexandria Horafos (adult probation officer 2) to reflect the union language and an effective date of June 7, 2026; new hires were approved for Julie Ross (clerk 3, pay grade 4, $16.04616 per hour, anticipated start July 27, 2026), Courtney Kitchen (juvenile probation clerk 3, pay grade 4, $16.00284 per hour, anticipated start Jan. 20, 2026), and Gabrielle Sims (public defender legal assistant, pay grade 4, $14.07288 per hour, anticipated start Aug. 31, 2026). The staff presenter characterized these as fills of vacated positions rather than newly created roles.

Board members moved, seconded and approved the personnel slate by voice vote during the salary-board portion of the meeting. The board recessed its public session to conduct salary-board business and then returned to the public meeting after ratifying the salary-board actions.

The personnel actions were presented by county staff; the meeting record shows the items were approved without further amendment.

Next steps: conditional offers remain subject to completion of background checks and other hiring conditions noted by staff.