Blair’s chief clerk resigns post again
Socie will return to position on county planning commission

Socie
HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County’s chief clerk/county administrator is returning to her former job, leaving commissioners again searching for their primary assistant who oversees day-to-day operations.
Sherry Socie, who said in December that she was withdrawing her resignation and staying on the job, said Thursday that she is returning to the Blair County Planning Commission and resuming her work as a strategic planner and grant writer.
Commissioners on Thursday approved Socie’s resignation notice with a Feb. 3 effective date.
Commissioners, who hired Socie in September and encouraged her to remain on the job — leading her to withdraw a resignation that was to become effective on Nov. 30 — acknowledged Socie’s pending resignation and the need for a replacement.
In submitting her first resignation notice, Socie referenced her need for a work-life balance and on Thursday, referenced her interest in grant-writing, which was the focus of her former job.
Socie took the job at a time when the post had been vacant for about two months, after commissioners fired Chief Clerk/County Administrator Nicole Hemminger in a 2-to-1 vote, effective July 2. At that time, Hemminger was the office’s most experienced employee with about 6.5 years of service, starting as assistant chief clerk in January 2017 and then becoming chief clerk/county administrator in January 2020.
Shortly after Hemminger’s departure, Assistant Chief Clerk Alison Senkevich submitted her resignation that was effective July 19.
Commissioners filled the assistant chief clerk position as of Nov. 25 with the hiring of Alicia Tiracave at $46,805 annually.
Socie was initially hired at $74,000, but commissioners voted in late October to adjust her salary to $77,097 after a closer examination of its salary schedule and pay policy that assigned a 7% increase over the minimum starting pay.
Based on last week’s action, when commissioners established pay rates for about 115 non-union employees in light of the county’s updated salary schedule and job gradings, Socie’s pay was set at $82,791 annually as of Jan. 4.
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 815-946-7456.