WFRM.net reports...

After months of wrangling, Potter County finally has a Victim Witness Coordinator. The Potter County Commissioners acknowledged today that Christy Steiner has “in processed,” is on the job and will now get paid. The situation began this past summer when the new District Attorney Dawn Fink fired Robin Freeman who had been hired by former District Attorney Jeff Leber. Freeman filed a grievance with the union representing county employees. The matter was resolved and an employee of the DA’s office temporarily assumed the responsibilities until a permanent coordinator could be hired. During the interim, the commissioners and district attorney discussed whether or not the position should be a contract position or a union position. The DA lobbied for a contract position. Commissioner John Torok agreed with her, saying that he always thought it should be on a contractual basis but said since it had been advertised as a county job, it had to remain that way for the time being. In late November, the commissioners agreed to hire Christy Steiner, at DA Fink’s recommendation for the position, but up until yesterday Steiner had not shown up in the courthouse for “in processing” which would put her on the county payroll. During today’s meeting, the commissioners revealed that a recent high-court ruling determined that county commissioners do not have authority to vote on department head’s hiring and firing. The county salary board, made up of the commissioners and county treasurer and the involved department head, has the authority to create positions; set salaries and abolish position, but not act on hirings or firings. That is left to the department head.

from WFRM.net