Chief Schuylkill County Tax Assessor Kent Hatter is now former chief Schuylkill County tax assessor.

Meanwhile, a situation with the county’s Management Information System still exists, and has gotten worse, according to a commissioner.

At Wednesday’s county commissioners’ meeting, Commissioner Chairman Larry Padora said the investigation into Hatter “has ended, and he has resigned.”

The investigation was going on for more than 120 days. Hatter had been accused in a federal lawsuit filed by a former county employee of sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation and a hostile work environment.

The complaint, filed March 4 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, was also filed against the county and its former human resources director Heidi Zula by a plaintiff identified only as Jane Doe.

Hatter had served as the chief tax assessor since May 2021, after he took over following the restructuring of the tax assessment and tax claim offices.

Information system issues

The commissioners tabled a move to approve a $33,000 consulting contract with Boyle Electromechanical for a systems evaluation.

“Stronger issues have arisen with the MIS,” Padora said. “I think $33,000 is the cheapest option. But we need somebody to come in as a third-party vendor. There is no continuity of services. We need a training component. We need to get answers.”

Commissioner Gary Hess agreed.

“We need outside expertise,” Hess said. “We need something to make sure things continue to operate today as they should.”

Tamaqua area projects

The commissioners approved a $4,108 change order to a contract with J. Phillips Excavating and Hauling, LLC, increasing the contract from $52,774 to $56,882 for additional yardage for fencing for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) project in West Penn Township.

Commissioners also granted permission to advertise for a demolition project at 2156 West Penn Ave. in West Penn Township. Bids are due in the county Controller’s Office on July 29 at 4 p.m. Bid opening will take place July 31 at 9 a.m., with a tentative award date of Aug. 14.

The commissioners also voted to advertise for a CDBG project for fencing at the North/Middle Ward Playground in Tamaqua. Bids will be done via PennBid and must be submitted by 9 a.m. on Aug. 14 at which time they will be opened.