[0:00] salary board to order. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

[0:04] United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation

[0:10] under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[0:15] » Morning, everyone. >> Morning.

[0:16] » Housekeeping note, this meeting is being recorded. We'll start with

[0:19] introductions. Mr. Moore. >> I'm Moore, I teach director.

[0:24] » Matt Bryer, treasurer. >> Rick Brown, solicitor.

[0:26] » Greg Gebauer, commissioner. >> Fritz Schucker, commissioner.

[0:29] » Morning, Matt here. >> Lisa Berry, commissioner.

[0:31] » Matt Straw, up planning chief clerk. >> Natalie Anders, office administrator.

[0:35] » Bob Groh, district attorney. >> Bob Keltz, road bureau.

[0:39] » Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Uh as a matter of formality, commissioner

[0:44] Fritz Schucker, Matthew Weisenberry, and Greg Gebauer, along with the treasurer

[0:48] Matthew Bryer, comprise members of the Elk County Salary Board. The board also

[0:52] consists of other elected officials and directors when matters arise concerning

[0:57] their department. The chair of the Salary Board is Fritz

[1:01] Schucker. She is chair for the County Commissioners.

[1:03] We have an agenda in front of us, um gentlemen.

[1:07] A motion to approve that or suggest any changes?

[1:11] » I move to approve. >> Second.

[1:12] » We have a motion and a second. Thank you. All those in favor signify by

[1:16] saying I. >> I.

[1:18] » I. Motion carries. There is no old business. Under new bus-

[1:23] business, we have a request by our district attorney for a paid internship

[1:26] contract with Ridgway Area School District school student, Nathan Steger

[1:31] Jr., at a rate of $14 per hour, 2 and 1/2 hours per day, 15 hours per week.

[1:38] Funding secured through Act 13 as approved by the courts. Um Mr. District

[1:42] Attorney, any other information? >> No, I just think that I obviously on

[1:46] here it specifies Ridgway Area School District and Nathan Steger. My plan is

[1:50] at the next we have our budget meetings to have this be a position that

[1:53] continues. So, if it is approved for today, um to add it to reach out to the,

[1:58] uh, I know that some of the issues that brought to light here with the lack of,

[2:01] uh, time that we had to kind of consider

[2:04] this a career book, but my goal would be to reach out to the guidance counselors

[2:08] of each of the, uh, four area schools, let them know that this position would

[2:11] be available. If they have seniors that are willing to do that to app- to apply

[2:16] and have more kids to consider to bring more kids into, um,

[2:20] to my office, see what lawyers do, to gain insightful experience, and

[2:24] hopefully have more lawyers that return to our area. So, I know that this is

[2:29] specific to Mr. Steger, but my goal is for this to be county-wide going forward

[2:33] for that benefit, just so that everyone understands that.

[2:36] » That's great. >> And then, so far, obviously, uh, Nathan

[2:38] has been with us for, uh, about a week and a half since school

[2:42] started. Um, obviously, I have him observing some

[2:45] things, but he job shadowed me four times in the school year in summer last

[2:48] year, so he understands. Uh, he's been starting to do some, uh, work for

[2:52] preparing for court, some technological things that we utilize in terms of

[2:56] downloading videos and getting evidence prepared for hearing. So, already seeing

[3:00] the benefit of having him there. Um, and I think the good thing is it's not a

[3:03] whole day, so it's I can get a lot in that two and a half hours. Okay.

[3:08] » So, does he come in after school? >> He comes in at 8:30 every day. He goes

[3:12] in for his first period, he comes out here for three periods, and then returns

[3:15] back to the school at 11:30. >> Oh, great. So, it's

[3:18] » So, he's a senior. He actually has all of his credits, but he would, you know,

[3:21] it just works out that he has the mornings. It works out cuz that's

[3:23] usually when we have court hearings. So, that's all.

[3:26] » Is Is this part of the school-to-work program?

[3:28] » Yes. Yes. Yeah, and unfortunately, I think that we raised some issues that he

[3:32] wasn't approved for the school-to-work program till two weeks before the school

[3:35] started. So, we had not contemplated. That's why the expedited manner of

[3:38] getting this position was brought up. Like I said, my goal is to avoid that

[3:42] going forward and to know who we're going to have and have that worked out

[3:45] before we run into these issues again.

[3:48] » Will there be an eligibility requirement through the

[3:51] school? >> Correct.

[3:52] » Yeah, that's what I mean. >> So, these people qualify for the

[3:54] school-to-work program. >> Correct. But, they have to have their

[3:57] credits, things like that, all done. They have to be on board to graduate.

[4:00] So, this is kind of like a to their benefit to have you on staff.

[4:04] Usually, I know through Ridgeway, our school district only offers to I believe

[4:07] seniors that have met those requirements. So.

[4:11] » And is there an agreement then between your office and the school district?

[4:14] » No. No. I All I had to do was sign the school-to-work paperwork just saying we

[4:18] approve, but there's no agreement set in stone like uh

[4:22] he has to follow the terms of their uh their school-to-work program. If he

[4:26] violates it or does anything to the contrary to that, then he would have to

[4:28] go back to school and go to class. So. >> How do you handle confidentiality?

[4:34] » With him? I Well, one, we had a conversation with him about that getting

[4:38] up to it. Um making sure that he understood some of the things that he'll

[4:41] see obviously can't be repeated, especially juvenile hearings that are

[4:44] not open to the public. Um I let him know that any sort of disclosure

[4:48] happened, he would be in my current employment be terminated and have to go

[4:52] back to school until he realizes that. So. Um with all of our staff, those are

[4:55] conversations I have with every new hire as part of our job. I think he fully

[4:59] understands and appreciates that and that that is directly tied to his

[5:03] ability to keep this position. So. Um if if something would happen tomorrow, it

[5:08] would be done. I'd notify the school. He'd have to go to school for 8 hours.

[5:12] So. I think that obviously he would be to his detriment to speak about that.

[5:16] So. >> Well, would the uh

[5:21] would the uh eligible people have Do you know if they do have to be 18?

[5:26] » No, they don't. See, he's only 17. >> Oh, okay.

[5:28] » Yeah, just They just My At least with Ridgeway, I'm not sure about the other

[5:31] schools, they had to be a senior, they had to be uh have all their credits

[5:35] completed, necessary credits completed so they can graduate on time. That makes

[5:38] them available to us. So.

[5:42] » Well, I know the county has a shortage of attorneys. So, I think this is a

[5:48] commendable way of opening some pathways perhaps. So,

[5:52] » Yeah, I think it's good. Like I in the last year I had 10 separate students

[5:56] from the county job shadow me from all four of the high schools.

[6:00] Um it would be nice now when I have those students coming in next year to

[6:04] let them know that this is open and available to them

[6:07] going forward. I really want to do it. So, my goal is to I can't guarantee kids

[6:13] are going to come back to the area, but my goal is to have them

[6:16] Yeah. >> They they think you about it at least.

[6:18] » Yeah, at the very least. And I think that um every every person, including

[6:22] the judge, the police officers, other attorneys, court staff have have

[6:27] told Nathan a million times that we need lawyers here and that you can easily be

[6:30] successful by coming back to this area. So, we have a lot of promotion for that.

[6:34] I mean, Attorney Brown can tell you that there's not many of us left anymore.

[6:41] Yeah. Yeah.

[6:43] » Yeah, and good good attorneys. >> Right. Yeah.

[6:47] » We have a dearth of good attorneys.

[6:51] » I'll learn fine. I'll learn fine. I'm already recording. I don't know if

[6:55] they were recording that. I just think it's beneficial and I'm I'm

[6:59] happy that we were able to do that. And again, I appreciate all the efforts.

[7:07] » That's great. >> Any other comments, questions?

[7:11] » Uh in regards to the wage rate, $14 is the approved fee or rate.

[7:15] » Uh that's the rate that the county's been

[7:18] using for uh in all of the previous

[7:22] instances with uh interns. So, that's how we

[7:26] arrived at that rate. >> Perfect.

[7:32] So, hearing no other questions or comments, I'll look for a motion to

[7:35] approve request for this paid internship contract with um Nathan Steger Jr.

[7:43] And this will go through the school year.

[7:44] » Yes, correct.

[7:48] » I move. >> Second.

[7:50] » We have a motion and a second. Thank you. All those in favor signify by

[7:53] saying I. >> I.

[7:55] » I. Motion carries. So, um I would invite you

[8:00] um to bring Nathan to a meeting at some point.

[8:03] » Yes, I brought him over. He met everyone, but you forgot to take your

[8:06] oath that day. But, I also I had indicated to Beth that I think it'd be

[8:10] be something that I think would be beneficial to have a a photo taken with

[8:13] the commissioners and putting on social media just to

[8:16] uh make everyone in the community aware that this is available. They and however

[8:20] we want to tailor it, they have any inquiries, they can be directed to my

[8:23] office. But, I'd like to get it out there so that uh students for next year

[8:26] can kind of have this in their mind going into the next school

[8:30] year. >> He could be a fun attorney.

[8:35] » Yeah. Yeah, he I think when that when Commissioner Mary asked him why he

[8:39] wanted to be an attorney, he said he liked to argue.

[8:42] I mean, that's that's exactly that's a requisite for this job.

[8:46] » Great.

[8:48] So, yes. I'm sorry I missed him. Um new business number two, approval of

[8:52] job description for the part-time district attorney intern. So, we have a

[8:58] um job description that's been prepared by our HR department, uh Pat Straw, and

[9:05] with Bo's input and cooperation. Any um questions or

[9:11] changes? >> No, I but you any recommended change I

[9:13] didn't have any recommended changes prior to being submitted. It's in line

[9:16] with what I expect that position to be doing.

[9:19] The intern with my office, so. >> Awesome.

[9:23] Have you had a chance, Beth? >> I've got some touch-up to do.

[9:27] » All right. Description.

[9:33] » Oh, would you Oh, would you just sign that as well?

[9:35] » Yes, sir. It's a line for both of that. >> That would be

[9:37] » be cute.

[9:40] » Yeah. He likes to argue.

[9:44] » Runs in the family. >> Yes, it does.

[9:46] With a big grin on their face. That's good stuff. That'll get you.

[9:51] » Yeah, especially his grandmother. I love him.

[9:59] Is he Charlie's nephew? >> That's her

[10:01] » grandson. >> Grandson.

[10:05] I am. >> Looks just like fall, don't they? Yeah.

[10:10] » They all have smiles.

[10:17] » I think it's a great partnership, Outreach.

[10:20] » I just wish that the I wish that the schools were a little

[10:25] ahead of where they are, you know? I think that's a a big ask for

[10:29] 3 weeks before the school starts to kind of get this If we're anyone in this

[10:33] position, we're already there. They're already there. Yeah.

[10:37] So, that's why I want to make sure that get out there as soon as we

[10:40] » Awesome. So, we're our representative.

[10:45] » Spring Branch. >> Yeah, they're all listed there.

[10:47] » How was your intern this year? >> She's still working. She's up to 3 days

[10:52] now. She's got it. She's

[10:56] She's about to start law school. She's working for us 3 days a week here

[11:01] in the She's pretty active.

[11:06] social media She graduated.

[11:09] It's great. >> Another great partnership, and she's a

[11:12] law She's made up, right? >> She's employed, but she's looking to

[11:15] rent a house. >> Awesome.

[11:19] Sounds good. So, I would look for a motion to approve that job description

[11:23] for part-time district attorney intern. >> So moved.

[11:27] » So, a motion and second. Thank you. All those in favor signify by saying I.

[11:31] » I. I. >> I. motion to close.

[11:33] » Thank you. Question from the press? Comments from taxpayers?

[11:38] Motion to adjourn the meeting. I'll make that motion.

[11:43] Meeting adjourned. Next meeting is October 1, 2026. I

[11:48] spring my gavel.

Special Salary Board Meeting September 3, 2026

Transcript