Carbon County commissioners on Thursday welcomed a new chief public defender, as the county looks to fill other positions due to retirements and resignations.

Eric T. Wiltrout of Jim Thorpe will move from the District Attorney’s office, where he served as an assistant district attorney 2, to the top job in the Public Defender’s Office at a salary of $92,500.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner welcomed Wiltrout to the public defender’s position and wished him many more years in county service.

Commissioner Wayne Nothstein noted that they just acted on the retirement of Roberta Bales, a fiscal/data processing supervisor in the Controller’s Office, who has 37 years of service, and that Mark Nalesnik, county EMA coordinator plans to retire.

Bales’ last day is Jan. 3, 2025, while Nalesnik’s last day is Oct. 2.

Nothstein said the commissioners seem to be doing a lot more interviews, advertising for positions and adjusting salaries lately with the many personnel changes.

Other changes included these appointments: Richard A. Stanci of Lansford, deputy sheriff, effective Aug. 5; Henry J. Tomasko Jr. of Andreas, part-timer security office, also in Sheriff’s Office, and Kelsey D. Massar of Tamaqua, probation officer I, Juvenile Court.

The county salary board also established the positions of an aging case aide II trainee at a rate of $14.13, and a fiscal/data processing supervisor trainee at a rate of $26.97 an hour.