At the Nov. 19 meeting, county staff presented a methodical 'TDA cleanup' to remove vacant positions across multiple departments from the Table of Department Authorized (TDA). Speaker 3 read department lists that included positions in the prothonotaries’ office, district attorney’s office, courts, adult probation, domestic relations, juvenile probation, TPS, facilities management, human resources, military affairs, RMS, and soil conservation. The motions for each departmental removal were made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Commissioners and staff emphasized that the positions presented for removal were vacant. Speaker 3 noted the removals were intended for budgetary cleanup and that departments could later request to add positions back if operational needs required.

The veterans’ services assistant position drew particular attention. Speaker 10 said the vacancy was created by a retirement, that a qualified veteran candidate had been identified and that the county implemented a hiring freeze the same day the candidate was ready to be hired. He said veterans were waiting up to a month or more for scheduled appointments because only two Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) remain on staff. Speaker 10 asked the board to rescind the elimination so the county could hire the ready candidate.

Speaker 3 said the matter would be put on a future agenda for further consideration; the board did not reverse the vote during the Nov. 19 session. Commissioners requested staff to return with documentation and to discuss the matter at the next scheduled meeting, so the vacancy can be revisited with fuller information.

Why it matters: Removing vacant positions reduces the county’s formal headcount and can simplify budgeting, but it can also slow the county’s ability to hire quickly when operational needs arise. The veterans’ services request underscores a tension between budget-driven freezes and continuity of citizen-facing services.

What’s next: The board asked staff to add the veterans’ position for further review and to return with information; no final hiring decision was made at the Nov. 19 meeting.