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Friday, June 19, 2026

NorCo Council Confirms New Fiscal Director, but at a Lower Pay Than Proposed by Executive

 At last night's meeting, Northampton County Council voted to approve the appointment of Deb Watlington as the county's new Fiscal Director, but at a lower starting salary than what had been proposed by Executive Tara Zrinski. 

Zrinski's appointment would start Watlington at a salary of $125,108, and with benefits would give her a total compensation package of $164,923. 

While she agreed with the appointment, Council member Lori Vargo Heffner said that the starting salary should be $109,632 and proposed confirming the appointment at the lower rate. Her motion to amend was passed by a 5-4 vote, The Yes votes were from Vargo Heffner, Theresa Fadem, Tom Giovanni, Nadeem Qayyum and Dave Holland. Voting No were Council members Ken Kraft, Kelly Keegan, Jason Boulette, and Jeff Warren. 

At this lower rate of $109,632, Watlington's appointment was approved in a 6-3 vote. Voting yes were Vargo Heffner, Giovanni, Fadem, Holland, Boulette and Kraft. Voting No were Keegan, Warren and Qayyum. 

Before the vote, County Solicitor Melissa Rudas advised that the Executive has the right to hire a Fiscal Director at any salary she chooses, and that reducing the pay was an "exercise in futility." Vargo Heffner strongly disagreed, stating that Council approves the budget and corresponding salaries. 

This issue has arisen before. When he was Executive, John Brown knocked his Administrator's salary up by three steps without getting permission from County Council. Then Controller Steve Barron noted this increase violated Career Service Regulations (Section 4.01) that require County Council to approve any pay raise that bumps anyone up more than one step in the payscale.  The Home Rule Charter does specifically provide that County Council sets the wages (Section 202(11).

While Zrinski has the authority to award a one-step increase right now, it's unclear to me what authority she has to set a higher salary. 

Zrinski made clear in her introduction of Watlington that a higher salary was necessary to lure Watlington, a CPA, from Lehigh. So I fail to understand why Council went with a lower compensation package for someone who already is taking a pay cut. 

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1 comment:

  1. AnonymousJune 19, 2026 at 12:07 AM

    They went with it because it’s what Lori wanted Q is a roll of the dice on any vote and sadly Dave seems to go with whatever Lori wants it’s disappointing to say the least. They think this is a great triumph they can tell the voters about that they saved so many thousand dollars but it could end with either an annoying back and fourth and maybe losing out on someone actually qualified to do the job.

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