In a move that has stirred a political storm in Lackawanna County, Jenna Strzelecki, Pittston city’s business administrator, has been selected as the new human resources director. The decision, made by Commissioners Chris Chermak and Brenda Sacco, faced immediate criticism for alleged political maneuvering, raising questions about the transparency of the hiring process.
Strzelecki’s appointment, which comes with an annual salary of $65,139, has been met with opposition from Commissioner Bill Gaughan. He expressed his disapproval, highlighting that more than 30 applications were received, yet only Strzelecki was interviewed. This decision was made just before Commissioner-elect Thom Welby is anticipated to join the Board of Commissioners, replacing Sacco.
Gaughan described the decision as “the definition of backroom politics,” accusing the commissioners of abusing their power to distribute political favors as their term concludes. His efforts to reach Sacco for a response went unanswered, as she has not returned calls since assuming her role on October 22.
Chermak Denies Political Motives
Chermak, in a telephone interview, denied any political motivations behind the hiring. He stated that both he and Sacco had kept Welby informed of their plans to appoint Strzelecki, and Welby had raised no objections. He emphasized that Strzelecki was chosen for her qualifications after a thorough resume review.
“Well, first of all, you know, we have two qualified commissioners who agreed on this person and think that she’s very qualified. We ran it by Thom Welby just so he wasn’t in the dark,” Chermak explained.
Chermak clarified that a screening process was initiated to find a successor for Joanne Decker, the previous HR director. He noted that he was not part of the panel conducting the initial interviews, which included Gaughan, deputy chief of staff Traci Harte, and human resources manager Amanda Chase.
Responding to allegations of bypassing the interview process, Chermak said, “He (Gaughan) doesn’t tell me anything,” and cited that he was invited but did not attend the panel interviews, leading to a halt in the search process.
‘Best Suited for What We Needed’
Chermak defended the decision, stating that Strzelecki was the most suitable candidate for the role. Strzelecki, 41, has a rich background in administration, having served as Pittston city’s business administrator and human resources director since 2023. Additionally, she has held positions at Lackawanna College and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, and is a current Scranton School Board member.
Gaughan, however, questioned the validity of the process rather than Strzelecki’s credentials, stating, “I have never been shown this candidate’s resume. I’m not questioning her background or potential qualifications. I’m questioning the sham process Sacco and Chermak used to push her through.”
He criticized the timing of the appointment, suggesting that Sacco’s imminent departure from office should have prompted a more inclusive decision-making process involving Welby. “This hire reeks of favoritism, secrecy, and backroom politics,” Gaughan added.
Welby: ‘She’s Terrific’
Welby, set to assume office, expressed his approval of Strzelecki’s hiring, having reviewed her LinkedIn profile and resume. “I got to meet her and get to know her a little bit over the course of the campaign,” he noted. “She’s terrific. She really is.”
Welby refrained from commenting on whether he would have preferred to delay the hiring until he officially joined the board but acknowledged the commissioners’ authority to make decisions while in office. “I’m okay with her, and I told them that. I think she’s fabulous.”
With Strzelecki’s extensive experience, Welby is optimistic about her ability to address ongoing issues within the county, including high overtime costs at the prison and other HR challenges. “I think just by her personality and her experience, she can overcome a lot of that,” he said.
Welby, currently serving as an aide to state Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, anticipates being sworn in by Thanksgiving. “Definitely, definitely, definitely, by the end of the month,” he affirmed.
