Luzerne County seeking 911 telecommunicators

Luzerne County added five new 911 telecommunicators in April, but more are needed.

The county still has 17 vacant telecommunicator positions and is seeking applicants for a training class in July, said a posting under the human resource department’s career opportunities section at luzernecounty.org.

Telecommunicators start at $40,250 annually and must handle emergency calls while simultaneously dispatching responders.

The five new telecommunicators, listed at an hourly compensation of $19.35, according to the latest county monthly personnel report are: Nicholas Colianni, Destiny Gonzalez, Cassidy Hudock, Krista Masterstefone and Alyssa Ruzzano.

More hirings

The remaining 15 new workers, their positions and hourly compensation, the April personnel report said, are: Nancy Allan, Children, Youth and Families (CYF) clerk typist, $17.43; Molly Ank, Aging Agency care manager 1, $20.12; Thomas Cook, Aging Agency care manager 3, $23.33; Nicholas Ganz and Domonique Kinds, deputy sheriffs, $17.97; Kenayah Kisic, probation services administrative aide, $15.53; Matthew Laporte, CYF fiscal technician, $18.23; Joan Leban, CYF caseworker 1, $20.91; David Lewis, emergency management planning specialist, $18.46; Jeremy Marmolejo, courts help desk technician, $25.55; Nadine Parnther, Aging Agency clerk typist, $15.01; Magdeline Vazquez, domestic relations receptionist/clerk, $14.35; Keith White, probation officer, $23.08; Kayla Will, probation services administrative aide, $15.53; and Nicole Psaila, part-time assistant public defender, $41.93.

In addition to these new hirings, past worker Joseph Dessoye was rehired as a CYF attorney at $23.90 per hour, it said.

Departures

Sixteen workers left county employment in April, the report said.

Three employees retired: Maria Benfante, Aging Agency care manager 2; Thomas Wall, prison captain; and John Brawley, prison lieutenant.

The following workers resigned: Charyl Nagy, human resources business partner; Helen Kosteva, Aging Agency part-time food service worker; Rosemary Krispin, alternate senior center operator; Robert McAllister, Mental Health/Developmental Services program specialist 2; Tori Lavelle, CYF caseworker 1; Justine Love, prison nurse; Richard Naprava, district attorney’s office detective; Evan Newell, deputy sheriff; Johnathan O’Dell, IT information technician; Danielle Stair, prothonotary clerk 3; Nicole Trout, prothonotary clerk 5; and Casey Kusma, prison corrections officer.

One termination was listed on the report of Rachel Gonzalez, a public defender’s office clerk/stenographer.

Position changes

Six workers changed positions in April through the internal merit hiring process, the report said.

These employees, their new positions and hourly compensation, are: Jessica Adametz, human resources business partner, $27.18; Lauren Colianni, DA’s Office opioid outreach coordinator, $21.79; Zachary Hill, community development office deputy director, $34.36; Kristina Jordan, office of human services operations manager, $31.79; Ryan Thomas Kane, 911 PSAP supervisor, $25.64; and Andrew Watkins, 911 PSAP supervisor, $23.58.

Council

County council will hold a voting meeting and work session starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the county courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre.

Instructions for the remote attendance option will be posted under council’s online public meetings section at luzernecounty.org.

Study commission

The county’s government study commission will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday in the county courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre.

The seven-citizen commission is drafting a revised county home rule charter for voters to consider adopting in November.

A link to attend the meeting remotely will be posted under council’s online meeting section (scroll down) at luzernecounty.org.