Post by bob quarteroni on Aug 2, 2013 10:55:33 GMT -5
From the CV:
Wilkes-Barre Area hires mayor's brother
By Michael P. Buffer (Staff Writer)
Published: August 2, 2013
WILKES-BARRE - By a 5-4 decision at Monday's meeting, the Wilkes-Barre Area School Board hired Brian Leighton, the brother of Mayor Tom Leighton, as a truant officer.
Board members Christine Katsock and James Susek said they voted against the personnel appointment because a district interview committee didn't consider Brian Leighton to be the best applicant for the job.
"He wasn't the top candidate," Susek said shortly after Monday's night's meeting adjourned.
The salary for the job was not available. The job was vacant from a retirement, Katsock said.
"The reality is he was not the recommendation of the committee that interviewed, so he was actually hired in violation of the hiring policy within the district," Katsock said.
According to the meeting agenda, the official title of the job is home and school visitor, and wages will based on the first step of the salary schedule.
School Board President John R. Quinn declined to respond to Katsock's assertion that the decision to hire Leighton violated the district's hiring policy, but he touted Brian Leighton's experience as a Luzerne County probation officer.
"Not to say anything against the other person, but he has 25 years of experience as an adult probation officer. This is not an easy job," Quinn said. "The kinds of places those people go to, most people wouldn't have the guts to take those kinds of jobs. I wouldn't."
Leighton has worked for the county since 1985, and his county salary is $62,394 a year, records show.
The board discussed personnel decisions in a closed session for about an hour and hired eight other employees during the public meeting. Their salaries were also not available.
Wilkes-Barre Area hires mayor's brother
By Michael P. Buffer (Staff Writer)
Published: August 2, 2013
WILKES-BARRE - By a 5-4 decision at Monday's meeting, the Wilkes-Barre Area School Board hired Brian Leighton, the brother of Mayor Tom Leighton, as a truant officer.
Board members Christine Katsock and James Susek said they voted against the personnel appointment because a district interview committee didn't consider Brian Leighton to be the best applicant for the job.
"He wasn't the top candidate," Susek said shortly after Monday's night's meeting adjourned.
The salary for the job was not available. The job was vacant from a retirement, Katsock said.
"The reality is he was not the recommendation of the committee that interviewed, so he was actually hired in violation of the hiring policy within the district," Katsock said.
According to the meeting agenda, the official title of the job is home and school visitor, and wages will based on the first step of the salary schedule.
School Board President John R. Quinn declined to respond to Katsock's assertion that the decision to hire Leighton violated the district's hiring policy, but he touted Brian Leighton's experience as a Luzerne County probation officer.
"Not to say anything against the other person, but he has 25 years of experience as an adult probation officer. This is not an easy job," Quinn said. "The kinds of places those people go to, most people wouldn't have the guts to take those kinds of jobs. I wouldn't."
Leighton has worked for the county since 1985, and his county salary is $62,394 a year, records show.
The board discussed personnel decisions in a closed session for about an hour and hired eight other employees during the public meeting. Their salaries were also not available.