Albert Gricoski is the new director of the Schuylkill County Election Bureau.

The commissioners appointed him to the role at Wednesday’s meeting.

Monday is his first day. His salary is $42,000.

Gricoski was the former first deputy in the Schuylkill County Prothonotary’s office who resigned in August because his son is doing online schooling and to concentrate on his funeral business, he said previously. He had been the first deputy prothonotary since 2019.

Commissioner Barron “Boots” Hetherington extended the job offer recently, which he accepted. Hetherington said Gricoski is familiar with the elections office and has run a county office before.

Gricoski, who lives in Butler Township, said Friday he is excited and “honored” to lead the elections office.

“I’ve always been interested in the political process,” he said.

He will be a full-time elections director, something he promised when hired. Former director Frannie Brennan retired in June after being director since Jan. 1, 2009.

“She did a good job for many years for the county,” Gricoski said.

He said the elections office is a busy place right now.

“There’s a lot to do in a short period of time,” he said.

The presidential election is Nov. 3.

In other election business, commissioners appointed Robin Reiley as a trainer/election liaison. The salary board set her pay at $17.89 an hour. Gricoski said he did not ask commissioners for a trainer/election liaison.

Commissioners voted to hire 13 election rovers effective immediately for office preparation and logistics and accuracy for the election at $10 an hour and 57.5 cents per mile. They will be sent to wherever needed. The following people were hired for the positions: Mike Botto, Ron Coleman, Carol Cooney-Syzdek, Georgene Fedoriska, Joe Matz, Marybeth Matz, Daniel Wachter, Paula Warmkessel, Jim Gustas, Julie Zangari, Tim Wood and John Handler.

Commissioners also approved the Tamaqua debt authorization referendum question for the Nov. 3 ballot. Voters will be asked the following question: Should debt in a sum not to exceed 2.5 million dollars for the purpose of financing the rehabilitation and repair of the Bungalow Pool be authorized to be incurred as debt approved by the electors? Yes or no.