Salary Board Ready to Share Technical Assistant

by Jonathan Weaver

County Commissioners approved a new position with the Information Technology Department and other salary changes at their Salary Board meeting yesterday morning.

Current Department Clerk Shannon Yockey – who started in the Tax Claim Department in 2009 before applying to the Commissioners’ office – will split her time as an Administrative/Technology Assistant between the Information Technology department.

Human Resources Director Dan Lucovich said he and County Clerk George Skamai and I met extensively with IT Manager Tony Arduini on his plan to reorganize.

Yockey, 39 of Kittanning Borough, will eventually receive another monitor from the IT department so that she can continue working at her current desk in the commissioners’ office.

“I don’t even know how, but to me, it’s like common sense,” Yockey said. “I read a lot to try and learn what’s going on.

Yockey has learned on her own computers as well, knows how to troubleshoot the office printer and manages the County Verizon Wireless cell phone account.

“This is the best of both worlds – I can still keep my old position and do more with what stuff I like to do,” Yockey said.

Currently, there are only three staff members –including Arduini – responsible for more than 1,400 County devices across all County buildings– including the new phone system implemented in the past few months which doubled the call log.

“I’m looking more long-term,” Arduini said. “IT as a department is growing, and needs to grow into even more staff, but that’s take one bit at a time.”

Arduini does not think it will take long to train Yockey in IT, but that she will “take some weight off of our shoulders.”

Commissioners, including Chair David Battaglia, agreed that it is also ‘a starting point’ to reducing costs since a new position did not have to be made. Battaglia recalled specifically that he recently received help from Yockey with his iPhone settings.
“Her skill sets are dramatic in a lot of ways,” Battaglia said. “And we want to lead by example – we’re going to be budget-conscious. It starts with our office.”

“It wasn’t just about what the Commissioners wanted, it’s about what the IT department was looking for that we agreed to share,” Commissioner Bob Bower added.

Financial Advisor Carly Cowan added her positive impressions on Yockey.

“I think she’s a fantastic employee – she’s awesome on the technology-side of things,” Cowan said. “She just seems to have a knack for it.”

Effective immediately, Yockey will earn more than $13.50 per hour.

Also, officials will also immediately begin advertising for a full-time clerk/receptionist in Domestic Relations, and for a seasonal part-time Department Clerk in the Elections department.

“People are going from one department to another within the courts,” Lucovitch said.

Commissioner Battaglia was also concerned with the issue of training.

“No matter what, we’ll always be training someone somewhere,” Lucovitch concluded.

Lucovitch said the positions will be advertised for 10 days.

County Election Director Wendy Buzard said the hiring in her department is specifically because of the upcoming Primary Election rush in May. The position will be filled until otherwise needed.

County Director of Tax Claim/Chief Assessor Jeanne Englert will also receive more than $4,000 more per annum after becoming certified through the State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers earlier this month.

“It has been very enlightening at times,” Englert said. “We’re doing very (well) – we’re moving forward, getting things streamlined. I have a lot of ideas.

“There are so many possibilities that will help make things better.”

 

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