Greene officials take oath of office
WAYNESBURG – A standing-room-only crowd packed the Greene County Courthouse Monday morning to witness newly elected and present county employees being sworn in during a formal ceremony for the administration of oath of office. Judges H. Terry Grimes and William R. Nalitz administered the oath of office to incumbent commissioners Pam Snyder and Dave Coder and newly elected Commissioner Archie.
Pam Snyder and Coder, running a joint campaign called the “Greene Team,” faced off in the general election in November against the Republican team of Trader and Mark Snyder, whose campaign was called “Partners for Progress.” The four candidates were vying for the three seats on the board of commissioners.
Snyder led the candidates in total votes, while Coder finished second and Trader came in third. The official election results mean that Snyder and Coder will retain the Democratic majority on the board of commissioners for the next four years, while Trader will serve as the Republican minority commissioner.
Also sworn in Monday were Shirley Stockdale, clerk of courts and clerk of orphans court; Thomas Headlee, register of wills and recorder of deeds; David Balint, controller; Susan Kartley White, prothonotary; Cory Grandel, treasurer; Marjorie Fox, district attorney; and Lee Watson, judge for Magisterial District 13-3-03.
Numerous township and municipal officials, as well as deputies of various county offices, also were sworn in during the ceremony.
The judges also recognized former county controller John Stets for 20 years of service. Nalitz commended Stets for his commitment to the county while serving as controller and for “helping bring the county finances into the 21st century.”
Stets has held the position of controller since 1988, after a referendum in the 1987 primary elections when he was elected to the position. He was re-elected four times, serving a total of 20 years.
Stets announced in February 2006 that he would not be seeking re-election after his last term expired on Dec. 31.
During the ceremony, Nalitz congratulated all officials who were sworn in and encouraged them to strive for success during their respective terms.
“It is your job as elected officials to use these terms of years to help your communities,” Nalitz said.
The ceremony also included an invocation and benediction, both which were conducted by Benjamin Williamson.
Following the ceremony, officials who were sworn in signed their respective oaths of office.
While signing her oath, Snyder said she was looking forward to what lies ahead for Greene County in 2008.
“This is going to be a very busy year for Greene County,” she said. “We will see more state and federal funding coming in this year for a number of different projects, and we anticipate seeing major improvements to many areas such as the airport, fairgrounds and pools. Good things will continue happen for the county this year.”
Snyder said she expects the three commissioners to be able to work together efficiently.
“Everything will be fine,” she said. “The three of us all have the same goal while serving as commissioner: To improve the quality of life for Greene County. And we will work together diligently to achieve that goal.”
Shortly after the ceremony had concluded, the county commissioners held a brief reorganization meeting.
Commissioners agreed to re-elect Snyder as board chairman and Coder as vice chairman, and elect Trader as secretary. The board also agreed to reappoint Gene Lee as chief clerk, Farley Toothman as solicitor, Widmer Engineering as the county’s engineering firm, and Harry Cancelmi as public defender.
Commissioners also agreed to tentatively set the dates and times for 2008 for their agenda and regular board meetings, as well as the meetings for the county salary, retirement, prison, assessment and sinking fund boards.
Commissioners will hold their agenda meetings on the first and third Wednesdays of each month and the regular board meetings on the first and third Thursdays of each month. All of these meetings will be held at 10 a.m. in the first-floor meeting room of the county office building.
The county salary and retirement board meetings will be held on the third Thursday of each month, immediately following the commissioners’ board meeting.
The prison board meetings will be held on the third Wednesday of each month at 11:45 a.m. in the first-floor meeting room, except for the months of March, June, September and December, where they will be held at the county jail at noon.
The assessment board meetings will be held immediately following the first commissioners’ agenda meeting in March, June, September and December.
The sinking fund board will meet on Thursday, Feb. 21, immediately following the salary and retirement board meetings. Public notification will be made if future meetings of the sinking fund board will be needed.
It also was announced that public notification will be made if the county’s election board meets to meet. There are no regularly scheduled meetings at this time.
For more information regarding the meeting schedules, call the commissioners’ office at 724-852-5210.