SUNBURY — The next round of the dispute between the Northumberland County commissioners and President Judge Robert Sacavage will take place at a hearing today.
The hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. in Courtroom No. 1 of the county courthouse before Judge Michael Williamson, of Clinton County.
The proceeding will consider Sacavage’s request for an injunction to stop the commissioners’ 2010 budget from taking effect on Jan. 1.
Sacavage requested the injunction after the county commissioners refused to reconsider their decision to slash $550,000 from the county court system’s budget in 2010.
The judge has asked for $6.49 million to operate the court system, which includes domestic relations and adult and juvenile probation.
In turn, the commissioners have budgeted $5.88 million for the courts.
Sacavage said the cuts will force him to eliminate 14 positions in the courts.
Sacavage said he asked for a meeting with the commissioners on Dec. 15, but only Frank Sawicki, chairman of the commissioners, attended. Sacavage later delivered a letter to the commissioners suggesting a compromise budget, but the commissioners have not responded.
The county court will be represented by James Gardner Colins, of Philadelphia, former president judge of the state Commonwealth Court. Sunbury attorney Michael Apfelbaum will be local counsel for the court.
