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Pocono News Section
Layoff picture becomes clear
Layoff picture becomes clear - Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 6:12PM EST
Thursday, Feb 12, 2009 @ 06:12pm EST
Sam Guesto, the county director of special courts and alternative sentencing is laid off.
He came under fire because of another county controversy a year ago.
But on Wednesday, he became part of 27 county employees laid off.
It will save the county his salary total of 78 thousand dollars.
It was a choice made by the county judicial system, that laid off 27 staff members.
Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla says, "had it not happened in the courts, we would have had to go back to the other departments and make cuts again and really they can't afford any more cuts in their departments."
Guesto was appointed by suspended Luzerne county judge Mark Ciavarella.
Before the appointment, Guesto came under fire while serving at his former position, county manager.
He was one of several county officials who racked up thousands of dollars in unapproved county debit card charges in 2007.
Most of the county layoffs though are in the probation department.
11 are laid off, and we're told one probation employee worked his position for 25 years.
Luzerne county commissioner Greg Skrepenak, "They have families like all of us and in these uncertain economic times there's a lot of stress in ones life and now that they lost their job I can only imagine. I hope they can get back on their feet."
Other than lay offs, eight current vacant positions in court administration will not be filled.
More cost cutting measures to help get Luzerne county out of debt.
The county says these layoffs will save about two point one million dollars.
It will cut the county budget debt and help stop any future layoffs.
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