FALLENTIMBER — The Cambria County commissioners approved a new county solicitor and labor counsel by a 2-1 vote during their meeting Thursday at the Reade Township Volunteer Fire Department.

The commissioners voted to approve the Johnstown-based law firm Spence Custer to act as the county’s solicitor beginning May 1 and ending Dec. 31 at a rate of $6,250 per month. They also approved the Butler-based Dillon, McCandless, King, Coulter & Graham firm to serve as the county’s labor counsel beginning May 1 at a rate of $175 per hour.

Commissioner Tom Chernisky opposed both hirings, noting he felt the commissioners should have advertised the positions and awarded them through an interview process.

“We didn’t do that. We hand-picked things, and I just think that’s wrong,” Chernisky said after the meeting, adding there may have been other eligible firms for the positions the county could have uncovered through an interview process.

“I wasn’t voting against any individual. I was voting against the process,” Chernisky said.

As a result of the votes, the county’s outgoing solicitor, Ron Repak Jr., will remain with the county as its labor attorney once his job as solicitor ends April 30. Attorneys Mike Parrish Jr. and Toby McIlwain will serve as the county’s new solicitors, officials said during the meeting.

All three commissioners said Repak has done a “great job” for the county.

Commissioner Keith Rager said he appreciated Repak’s dedication and service.

President Commissioner Scott Hunt echoed Rager’s comments, noting Repak has served as the county’s solicitor for two years and four months.

“Completely four months because you’re not done until April 30,” Hunt said. “It wasn’t the plan, but it did end up working out that you’re not actually leaving us, you’re staying on (and) moving just to the labor side of things.”

Repak thanked the commissioners for the opportunity to continue working with them on “the labor side of it.” Repak added he has “full faith” in Parrish and McIlwain’s ability to address the issues that come before the county in the future.

“I think that tag team approach will work well,” he said.

The commissioners also approved an intergovernmental agreement with Huntingdon County to house inmates at the Cambria County Prison at a rate of $103.50 per inmate per day.

Right now, the agreement is only for one inmate, Repak said, noting Cambria County Warden Kurt Wolford has the opportunity to revoke the agreement immediately if there are any medical or behavioral issues with the inmate.

“We could revoke it immediately so that they would be sent back to Huntingdon,” Repak said, noting any medical and transportation costs “or anything of that nature” will be covered by Huntingdon County.

“It was an attempt to help out a good neighbor as well as generate revenue for the prison,” Repak said. “We’re generating revenue based on this agreement.”

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.