The Schuylkill County Salary Board on Wednesday approved a salary increase for the county's first special homicide prosecutor, Senior Deputy Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Lehman of Wayne Township.

The $1,730 increase brings her salary to $59,392 as of Jan. 1.The raise was due to Lehman's new duties."Jen Lehman has been with the county since Feb. 19, 2008, and was promoted to senior assistant district attorney and special homicide prosecutor as she has vast experience in litigation," said District Attorney Christine Holman."Since I took office in January of 2014, there were seven homicides to prosecute. Jen has or will taken first or second chair in each of these cases," she said."Jen is dedicated to her profession, conscientious, skillful and commands nothing less than excellence," Holman said.In other matters, the board also created the position of payroll specialist in the controller's office.It then hired Charity Copeland of Pine Grove for the job at $45,686 a year. She started Jan. 12.Copeland has been an employee in the office. Her salary reflects a $7,000 increase due to additional responsibilities.Commissioners approved the termination of Rest Haven part-time licensed practical nurse Brian Flickinger of Port Carbon, effective Oct. 30, 2014.They also approved hiring Loren Reichert of Cressona as soil conservation program assistant at $14.90 an hour. Reichert will start on Jan. 19, pending a drug test and physical.