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County: Diehl was ‘terminated’ Human resource director offers insight into department head’s firing
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SUNBURY — County commissioners decided to get rid of former Assessor Mike Diehl in an attempt to revitalize the office, according to the county’s human resources director.
Director Joe Picarelli confirmed Friday that he drafted a letter of termination sent to Diehl on July 11. That letter, Picarelli said, was composed under orders from the commissioners.
“Yes, he was terminated. He was relieved of his duties,” Picarelli said of Diehl. “The county wanted to go in a new direction with the department,” he added, echoing statements made by Chief Clerk Rose Marquardt to The News-Item when the newspaper broke the story on Tuesday.
Commissioners Frank Sawicki, Kurt Masser and Vinny Clausi have all declined to comment on Diehl’s termination. Marquardt had only confirmed that Diehl had left office, his position was being covered by part-time field assessor Sam “Shorty” Rumberger and that Diehl is “a very nice man.”
Diehl, of Sunbury, has not returned calls for comment.
The assessor’s office has come under a critical eye recently, most notably when the commissioners struggled to process around 1,100 farmstead tax relief applications. The paperwork had languished in the assessor’s office after a 2004 directive to process only homestead applications, according to Diehl.
County officials have also expressed concern at the lack of revenue generated by the assessor’s office. “It is the office that provides, really, the money, the monetary value for the county,” Marquardt had said previously.
Picarelli said he wasn’t aware that Diehl had received any severance packages from the county, but wouldn’t go into detail, saying he couldn’t discuss the issue any further since it’s a personnel matter.
The former assessor’s salary at the time of termination was $32,296. Diehl was hired as chief assessor back in January 2004. Before that, he worked as deputy coroner for the county from May 1990 to March 2000.
The county will begin advertising for Diehl’s permanent successor this weekend, and will be accepting applications until Aug. 1, Picarelli said. The starting salary for the position will be negotiable based upon relevant work experience.
The chief assessor is responsible for evaluating all real property and fixes tax values on land, buildings and improvements, according to the county’s Web site. The position also assists the mapping division by answering questions on subdivision and land development issues, as well as myriad other responsibilities.
The county is looking for candidates with a certified Pennsylvania evaluator license; knowledge of state assessment law, regulatory policies, procedures and assessment practices; knowledge of state assessment programs; a bachelor’s degree in real estate, public or business administration or a closely-related field, or a comparable combination of training and experience; and at least four years experience as an assessor.
Director Joe Picarelli confirmed Friday that he drafted a letter of termination sent to Diehl on July 11. That letter, Picarelli said, was composed under orders from the commissioners.
“Yes, he was terminated. He was relieved of his duties,” Picarelli said of Diehl. “The county wanted to go in a new direction with the department,” he added, echoing statements made by Chief Clerk Rose Marquardt to The News-Item when the newspaper broke the story on Tuesday.
Commissioners Frank Sawicki, Kurt Masser and Vinny Clausi have all declined to comment on Diehl’s termination. Marquardt had only confirmed that Diehl had left office, his position was being covered by part-time field assessor Sam “Shorty” Rumberger and that Diehl is “a very nice man.”
Diehl, of Sunbury, has not returned calls for comment.
The assessor’s office has come under a critical eye recently, most notably when the commissioners struggled to process around 1,100 farmstead tax relief applications. The paperwork had languished in the assessor’s office after a 2004 directive to process only homestead applications, according to Diehl.
County officials have also expressed concern at the lack of revenue generated by the assessor’s office. “It is the office that provides, really, the money, the monetary value for the county,” Marquardt had said previously.
Picarelli said he wasn’t aware that Diehl had received any severance packages from the county, but wouldn’t go into detail, saying he couldn’t discuss the issue any further since it’s a personnel matter.
The former assessor’s salary at the time of termination was $32,296. Diehl was hired as chief assessor back in January 2004. Before that, he worked as deputy coroner for the county from May 1990 to March 2000.
The county will begin advertising for Diehl’s permanent successor this weekend, and will be accepting applications until Aug. 1, Picarelli said. The starting salary for the position will be negotiable based upon relevant work experience.
The chief assessor is responsible for evaluating all real property and fixes tax values on land, buildings and improvements, according to the county’s Web site. The position also assists the mapping division by answering questions on subdivision and land development issues, as well as myriad other responsibilities.
The county is looking for candidates with a certified Pennsylvania evaluator license; knowledge of state assessment law, regulatory policies, procedures and assessment practices; knowledge of state assessment programs; a bachelor’s degree in real estate, public or business administration or a closely-related field, or a comparable combination of training and experience; and at least four years experience as an assessor.
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