Greene County Emergency Medical Services director Dennis Morlan postponed his retirement for one year, giving the county supervisors more time to determine how to assure ambulance service is available to county residents.
Morlan told the supervisors in the early spring of his plan to retire July 1 after 32 years of providing ambulance service under a contract with the county. He cited health reasons, but said he would not leave the work force until he was sure the service and county residents were in “good hands.”
Board of supervisors chair John Muir shared the information at the board’s July 9 meeting.
Assistant county attorney Thomas Laehn explained to the supervisors his recommendation that after the retirement of county attorney Nicola Martino on Dec. 31, the position of assistant county attorney become a part-time position.
Laehn works fulltime as assistant. He is the only candidate for county attorney at this time.
Laehn said the timeliness requirements for filing indictments in criminal cases make it necessary to have a county attorney (or an assistant) available at all times. According to Laehn, that’s one of the reasons Martino has taken only one vacation in 42 years. “I really think the county owes him a debt of gratitude,” Laehn said about Martino.
He also said an assistant in the office would allow the county to keep its non-criminal work (reviewing contracts, assisting in public information requests, etc) in house.
Laehn suggested the assistant county attorney position would be 15-20 hours per week, and could be an attorney working for a law firm or as an assistant in a neighboring county.
Laehn said Martino would like to see an assistant in place by mid-December to allow an easier transition after his retirement.
Muir, though, asked that an assistant not be hired until after Jan. 1.
