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Venango County Salary Board approves staffing changes and pay-grade overhaul
Summary
The Venango County Salary Board on June 9 approved a package of personnel actions — creations, reclassifications and abolitions — and adopted updates to pay ranges and Human Services compensation rules intended to address recruitment and retention challenges for county operations.
The Venango County Salary Board on June 9 unanimously approved a package of personnel actions and changes to county pay ranges intended to address recruitment and retention challenges.
The board, meeting at the Courthouse Annex, approved Attachment B — a set of position creations, reclassifications and abolishments that included a new Director of Finance position (effective May 4, 2026) created for training and to be abolished upon the current fiscal director’s retirement scheduled for June 26, 2026; the reallocation of a Data Collector to Field Assessor (effective March 30, 2026); and a temporary Legal Intern position (effective May 19, 2026) that the minutes say will last no longer than Aug. 31, 2026 and will be abolished when a new law clerk is hired.
The board also approved public-safety and corrections staffing changes: a Sheriff's Assistant I was reallocated to Sheriff's Assistant II (effective March 1, 2026); two Corrections Officer positions were reallocated to Field Training Officer (effective April 12, 2026); Corrections Officer titles were reclassified to Corporal (effective June 1, 2026); and a Prison Captain title was reclassified to Major (effective June 1, 2026). The document records that reclassifications change titles only and do not alter pay rates.
Financial and programmatic changes approved include reallocation of a Fiscal Officer II to Budget Analyst II (effective May 24, 2026), and abolition of one Adult Community Health Nurse position (effective March 10, 2026). The board also approved a reallocation in the County’s CSS/Housing unit, moving a CSS/Housing Supervisor to a CSS Program Manager (effective March 1, 2026), and creation of two park positions — a part-time Park Maintenance IV and a full-time Park Manager (both effective March 30, 2026).
Commissioner Kenneth J. Bryan moved to approve Attachment B; Commissioner Timothy Heffernan seconded, and the minutes record the vote as "aye all." Earlier in the meeting Jeannie Ritchey, the county treasurer, moved to approve the Dec. 9, 2025 Salary Board minutes; that motion also passed unanimously.
The board separately approved a Salary Board narrative that explains broader changes to the county’s compensation structure. The narrative — adopted by motion and recorded as approved — states that the HSNEHR and HSEXEM pay ranges will be updated effective July 5, 2026 and that NEHR and EXEM ranges will be updated effective Jan. 1, 2027. It also says the Human Services "Step Program" will end July 5, 2026, meaning employees in Human Services will no longer be eligible for step increases or promotions under that program after that date. Administrative Rules language referencing recruitment and retention bonus programs for Human Services was removed; the minutes note existing annual retention agreements will be honored through their terms but will not be renewable.
No public comment was recorded on the Salary Board agenda. The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Samuel Breene at 4:38 p.m. and adjourned at 4:41 p.m. after a unanimous motion to adjourn by Jeannie Ritchey, seconded by Commissioner Heffernan.
What happens next: the minutes record the effective dates for each personnel action and the pay-grade updates; implementation will follow county HR and payroll processes and, where noted, positions created for training will be abolished on or after the dates specified in the minutes.
