HOLLIDAYSBURG — The Blair County Salary Board on Wednesday took the first step toward setting a maximum period of six months for retroactive pay increases requested on behalf of select non-union employees.

The board, in a series of 3-to-1 votes, set new salaries for four supervisory employees in the county’s Children, Youth and Families office who were hired in 2025 for less pay than would have been calculated by applying the county’s pay policy.

CYF Director Shannon Tucker, who presented the proposed salary changes, said the retroactive adjustments would put those employees at their correct pay levels and put the county in a position to garner the appropriate state reimbursement.

But rather than awarding retroactive pay as far back as January 2025, when two of the four were hired, salary board members Amy Webster, Laura Burke and A.C. Stickel voted in favor of making the salary adjustments effective as of Nov. 8.

Commissioner Dave Kessling, after voicing concern about generating similar requests from other county departments, voted no. He also recalled the county’s approval of CYF salary adjustments in April 2025 that were supposed to reflect application of the pay policy.

“These people kind of fell through the cracks,” human resources analyst Kyle Brashear said.

Stickel spoke of his support for recognizing an employee’s experience, qualifications or education through application of the pay policy, but he said he wouldn’t “go back more than six months.” By setting a limit, Stickel suggested that the county will avoid requests that might cover lengthier periods.

In light of the votes, the salary board approved the following annual salaries, effective Nov. 8: Casework Supervisor Taylor Kovac, $57,358; Supervisor Social Services Unit Danyel Barkman, $54,959; Quality Assurance Program Specialist Sandra Wharton, $63,616; and Casework Manager Marie Luciano, $64,528.

The salary board also set Luciano’s salary, effective March 31, at $82,530 annually, when she was promoted to CYF assistant administrator, also known as CYF program manager.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.