McKean County is looking for a human resource representative to
help establish a “fully functional” human resources department.

On Tuesday, County Administrator Richard Casey said the
individual chosen for the position will report to Director of Legal
Affairs and Human Resources Michele Alfieri.

According to a copy of a legal advertisement regarding the
opening, the salary for the position will be between $25,000 and
$30,000 depending on experience. Casey said the figure is in line
with what other county’s are paying for a similar job.

“The goal all along has been to establish a fully functional
human resources department,” Casey said. “For the last couple of
years, Michele Alfieri has been wearing two hats, but hasn’t had a
staff to perform human resources functions that have historically
been done on an ad hoc basis in the county.

“This represents that next step in the process.”

Casey said Alfieri will still be the director of human
resources, adding to his knowledge, this is the first time the
county has established such a position.

According to the county’s advertisement, “the ideal candidate
must have experience in the implementation of human resources
programs which have produced positive business results and must
have knowledge, understanding and commitment to provide human
resource services in a fast-paced environment.”

The ad also said a candidate must possess the maturity level to
ensure credibility throughout the organization, be a self-starter
and display honesty, integrity and confidentiality in dealing with
employees at all levels and be a team player.

Casey said applications are due by May 18 and officials are
looking to hire somebody “in the near term.”

“This is something long overdue,” Casey said, adding some work
has been done inside the courthouse to accommodate for a human
resources office.

The office, according to Casey, will be located in the former
public defender’s location on the first floor of the courthouse.
The public defender’s office has been changed over to the former
planning office location; the planning office is now at the Old
County Home along U.S. Route 6.

“The work (on the office) is almost complete,” Casey said. “Now
that we have the physical facility to bring somebody on board,
everything is coming together at the same time.”

Casey said it’s hard to say how many applications the county
might receive regarding the new position.

According to the latest salary figures released in December,
Alfieri was making a salary of $77,250 in her position.

The county has created several new positions over the past few
years. One of the most high-profile hirings was Ray McMahon, the
former director of the Bradford Office of Economic and Community
Development, who now heads the county’s economic development
agency.

The county also named Gerard Rettger last month as the new
director of the 911 Center; he had served under long-time director
Jim Lewis as a deputy. The county is also close to naming a
director for the new Soil and Water Conservation Department.