SUNBURY — Several Northumberland County employees said they are shocked by the abrupt firing of tax claims director Pat Yasenchak on Friday after 14 years as a county employee. Speaking anonymously, they said the dismissal appears to be a plan by county commissioner Vinny Clausi to replace Yasenchak with his hand-picked hire at a higher pay.
Clausi, a Democrat, and County Clerk Rose Marquardt would say little about the move, but they denied Yasenchak was ousted to make room for a political appointee and said the new tax claims director will actually be paid a little less than Yasenchak.
Yasenchak’s replacement, a veteran county juvenile court department employee, isn’t being identified until she’s formally accepted the position.
The terms of the contract call for her to start on Nov. 30 at a starting salary of $31,858, Marquardt said.
Clausi said he’s not friends with the woman who was suggested for the job by Marquardt due to her financial expertise.
Yasenchak, who worked in the register and recorder’s office for about 10 years before transferring to the tax claims bureau six years ago, was paid $32,496 a year.
Attempts were made to reach her by phone Monday but she wasn’t available for comment.
The tax claims bureau is responsible for handling bankruptcies as well as sales of properties taken by the county due to unpaid taxes.
No wrongdoing is alleged in Yasenchak’s termination, but the office has been under fire in recent years.
Last December, Linda Gilligbauer was fired as a tax claims account clerk amid reports that a criminal investigation had been launched into the loss of $40,000 during 2007. The investigation ended with no criminal charges being filed.
Yasenchak is the fifth department leader to be terminated by the commissioners this year.
In January, county planning director Steve Bartos was fired for insubordination.
In March, James Golden was let go as executive director of human services after 13 years because the commissioners deemed the position unnecessary.
That same month, county jail Deputy Warden John Conrad was suspended and later terminated. No reasons were cited.
In July, county assessor Mike Diehl was fired by the commissioners who said they were taking the office in another direction.
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