County Clerk

McCONNELLSBURG, Pa. -- A 13-year Fulton County (Pa.) commissioner has resigned and been appointed the county's new chief clerk. Daniel H. Swain Jr. will be paid an annual salary of $52,416. Pennsylvania code stipulates that President Judge Douglas Herman will appoint a replacement commissioner to serve the remaining 2 1/2 years of Swain's term. Swain started his new role Monday. "I just love county government and the good we've been able to do," Swain said. Former Chief Clerk Dick Wible recently announced his retirement after 34 years.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Berkeley County Clerk John Small has worked in the office for 41 years, making him one of the county's longest-serving public officials. Small, 57, started in 1957 as a deputy clerk under Eugene Dunham. He was appointed clerk in 1971 to fill out an unexpired term, and ran on his own in 1972 for a shortened two-year term. In 1976, he won his first full six-year term. He's won re-election ever since and has had an opponent every election except in 1980. Small, a Republican, is running for his fifth term.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. - John E. Ott, county clerk for Jefferson County, said Thursday he will ask the county prosecutor's office to decide if Democratic County Commission candidate Gregory Lance is a legal resident of the Harpers Ferry District, the district he is seeking to represent. The flap surfaced Thursday in a letter to Ott and Patsy Noland, Jefferson County Circuit Clerk, from Charles E. Rowe, chairman of the county's Republican Executive Committee, which charged that a loan application filled out by Lance on Oct. 8 listed his address as 428 S. Samuel St., Charles Town, W.Va.

The Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday approved the appointment of Vicki Lumm as the new county clerk. She succeeds Joni Bittner, who is retiring July 1 after serving as county clerk for more than 28 years. Lumm has worked in the county attorney's office as legal secretary since 1998. In making the appointment, Commissioners' President John F. Barr lauded Bittner for her service and dedication to local government and the citizens of Washington County. County Administrator Gregory Murray echoed those sentiments, adding that Lumm has assisted the clerk on many issues over the years, and is "well versed in the requirements of the position.

An awards luncheon was held on April 18 to honor employees for their years of service to the District Court of Maryland. Lapel pins were given for five years of service to Royann Houser and Bob Hart. Jerry Richardson was honored for 10 years of service. Dixie Scholtes, administrative clerk and Sara Snyder, county clerk presented the awards. Pictured, left to right: Dixie Scholtes, Sara Snyder, Royann Houser, Jerry Richardson and Bob Hart.

BY RICHARD F. BELISLE Staff Writer MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Eastern Panhandle voters Saturday followed their counterparts across the state by overwhelmingly approving by 3-1 a constitutional amendment that allows the state to invest public money in the stock market. And like voters across the state, Panhandle residents turned out in low numbers, local election officials said. The percentages in all three eastern West Virginia counties ranged from a low of 7 percent in Berkeley County, to 11 percent in Morgan and 12 in Jefferson.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - The Morgan County Commissioners on Friday approved the appointment of Thomas "Tucker" Stinebaugh, chief of the Great Cacapon (W.Va.) Fire Department, to fill a vacancy on the Morgan County Planning Commission. Planning Commission President Jack Soronen said former member John Barker recently resigned his position, and Stinebaugh would bring a lot to the planning commission since he has "great ties with emergency service people. " The position became effective immediately at Friday's county commission meeting.

An award luncheon was held June 14 to honor employees for their years of service to the District Court of Maryland. Lapel pins were given for five years of service to Cindy Williams, Sandy Gladhill, Ann Manley, Whitney Helman and Kim Hurd. Judge Ralph H. France II was honored for 10 years of service. Awards were presented by Dixie Scholtes, administrative clerk, and Sara Snyder, county clerk. Pictured from left: Cindy Williams, Sandy Gladhill, Ann Manley, Ralph France, Whitney Helman, Kim Hurd, Dixie Scholtes and Sara Snyder.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Old light bulbs piled on the floor, yellowing years-old pamphlets and empty cabinets keeping the spiders company inside the Crawford Building in Martinsburg are going to be replaced with county offices after the building is gutted. Several county officials toured the building with architectural engineers Thursday afternoon, planning where to put the offices of the county clerk. County clerk offices include voter registration, hunting and fishing licenses, administration, finance, fiduciary and records, including the storage of deeds.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. -- The county's top election official said Tuesday she hopes new tabulating equipment available for next month's primary election will greatly speed up vote counting and avoid long election result delays seen in the 2006 general election. While officials in Berkeley and Morgan counties were able to finish their tabulating before midnight in the 2006 November general election, it took Jefferson County officials until 5 a.m. to complete their work. County officials said at the time that the machine that counted votes appeared to be operating slowly and Jefferson County Clerk Jennifer Maghan said the problems were made worse by an inexperienced technical assistant.

Berkeley County Circuit Clerk Virginia M. Sine has filed lawsuits against two attorneys in an attempt to collect hundreds of dollars in fees they were charged upon obtaining copies of court documents from her office, according to court documents. The lawsuits against Amanda L. Lewis, of Martinsburg, and Kenneth J. Ford, of Middle River, Md., were filed Feb. 6 in Berkeley County Circuit Court on Sine's behalf by Norwood Bentley III, Berkeley County Council's attorney. Sine has asked the court to order Lewis to immediately pay $835.64 in fees and for Ford to pay $460.44, according to the lawsuits.

The Berkeley County Council now wants to be advised if other elected county officeholders wish to hire a family member, relative or friend. The council must approve most employees hired by the county clerk, circuit court clerk, sheriff, prosecuting attorney and assessor, making members personally liable and subject to removal from office if they knowingly agree to an illegal hire, according to a letter the council agreed Thursday to send to the...

The Berkeley County Council now wants to be advised if other elected county officeholders wish to hire a family member, relative or friend. The council must approve most employees hired by the county clerk, circuit court clerk, sheriff, prosecuting attorney and assessor, making members personally liable and subject to removal from office if they knowingly agree to an illegal hire, according to a letter the council agreed Thursday to send to the...

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- The Berkeley County Commission voted 2-1 Thursday to give full-time county employees a 3 percent pay increase and separately decided unanimously to fully shoulder a 17 percent increase in the county's health insurance premium. In a third vote, commissioners adopted a policy that prescribes how retired employees can continue their life insurance benefit, if they wish to continue to pay 100 percent of the premium. Life insurance benefits that had been previously extended to two employees who were not eligible because they had not retired, along with 16 other former employees, will be allowed to continue with the county's group plan as long as they pay for it. The pay increase, which will cost the county $283,637 annually, will go into effect Oct 1. The increase will not be applied to commissioners' salaries or to other county elected officers' pay, which are set by state law. The county clerk, circuit clerk, assessor or prosecuting attorney or sheriff will receive a lump sum of money that is equivalent to a 3 percent raise for each of their employees, but each official still has the authority to decide how the additional funding is spent.

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. -- After 18 months on the job, Jefferson County Circuit Clerk Laura Rattenni was singled out among 55 West Virginia counties for a clerk of the year award. The honor was bestowed upon Rattenni by the West Virginia Association for Justice, an organization representing the state's trial lawyers, association spokeswoman Beth White said Tuesday. Rattenni, a deputy clerk in the office for seven years at the time, was appointed to fill out the remaining two-year term of Patsy Noland when Noland won a seat on the Jefferson County Commission in November 2008.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Longtime Berkeley County Clerk John W. Small Jr. said last week he intends to seek another six-year term next year, and the Republican might have opposition in the 2010 election. Small, 76, of Martinsburg, filed a precandidacy form Sept. 10, joining Democrat Christopher R. Ross of Martinsburg, who filed the campaign finance paperwork Aug. 21, according to the voters registration office. Filing a precandidacy form allows candidates to lawfully accept contributions and make expenditures for an election if they ultimately choose to run for office.

McCONNELLSBURG, Pa. -- A 13-year Fulton County (Pa.) commissioner has resigned and been appointed the county's new chief clerk. Daniel H. Swain Jr. will be paid an annual salary of $52,416. Pennsylvania code stipulates that President Judge Douglas Herman will appoint a replacement commissioner to serve the remaining 2 1/2 years of Swain's term. Swain started his new role Monday. "I just love county government and the good we've been able to do," Swain said. Former Chief Clerk Dick Wible recently announced his retirement after 34 years.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Berkeley County Clerk John W. Small Jr. told county commissioners Thursday he was "strictly opposed" to opening satellite locations for early voting for elections, primarily because of the extra security, equipment and staffing needed to make it viable. "It's going to cost the county a whole lot of money to even set up one outside location," Small said. State lawmakers this year passed legislation that allows counties to provide additional locations for early voting, in addition to the County Clerk's office.

The Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday approved the appointment of Vicki Lumm as the new county clerk. She succeeds Joni Bittner, who is retiring July 1 after serving as county clerk for more than 28 years. Lumm has worked in the county attorney's office as legal secretary since 1998. In making the appointment, Commissioners' President John F. Barr lauded Bittner for her service and dedication to local government and the citizens of Washington County. County Administrator Gregory Murray echoed those sentiments, adding that Lumm has assisted the clerk on many issues over the years, and is "well versed in the requirements of the position.

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. -- The Berkeley County Commission on Thursday gave its human resources director four more weeks to determine what government positions should be cut to help close a projected $1.5 million deficit. Alan J. Davis told the commission as many as eight positions could be eliminated after a "cursory review," but said he needed more time to meet with department heads to make sure he made the best recommendation. "I think the additional time would be well-spent," Davis said of his request for the commission to delay action until Jan. 15. Davis said four vacant positions to be left unfilled will result in about $100,000 in savings and the additional cuts could save another $300,000.