Carbon County officials approved new salaries for row office holders’ departments, as well as those under the control of the commissioners office during the annual Salary Board meeting last week.

Some department heads made additional motions to change some of the newly approved salary wages.

The common comment made by department heads when making adjustments to several positions was that they felt the position had been misclassified based on the new grade and steps in the wage scale.

Controller Mark Sverchek, who is also a member of the salary board, said that the study that was completed was a good start but more work was needed to get the classifications correct.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein, who was in favor of making adjustments, also made several motions for additional increases in various departments, but each motion failed 2-2, with Nothstein and Sverchek voting in favor; while Commissioners Chris Lukasevich and Rocky Ahner voting against them.

Nothstein cited extensive responsibilities in several of his motions as reasons for these people needing higher wages.

He also called it a sad day for Carbon County when the motions failed.

Likewise, all adjustments made by Sverchek for his department failed in 2-2 votes.

Adjustment requests for a few positions in the recorder of deeds, treasurer and prothonotary’s offices were approved 3-2, with the row officer casting the tie breaking vote in favor of the increase.

The board also approved its union contracts with several county employees.