Elected official shouldn’t require babysitting to do her job

THE DRAMA IN THE Westmoreland County Register of Wills office continues. It started with judges ordering Register of Wills Sherry Magretti Hamilton to comply with certain timelines. She didn’t. There was a hearing that revealed more of the dysfunction in the office, including a large backlog of uncompleted work delaying official processing and filing of things like adoptions and estates. That prompted Hamilton to be held in contempt of court for failing to comply. Then Common Pleas Judge Harry Smail Jr. appointed Greensburg attorney Jim Antoniono to act as a conservator for the office. Now let’s talk about the money. No, not the almost $90,000 Hamilton is receiving from the taxpayers for her elected position. No, not the $170 per hour Antoniono will receive as conservator — or the $60 per hour to hire a solicitor. On Friday, Smail issued another order. This one directed Hamilton to turn over all past due payments to the controller’s office. The register’s office is a revolving door of not only paperwork but also costs and fees collected in relation to the various cases it processes. According to Controller Jeffrey Balzer, in 2023, the office turned over $1.7 million. About $500,000 was estimated due for the first four months of 2024. Balzer said no costs and fees collected during that period were turned over as of Friday. December payments were made just May 8. Smail’s order gave Hamilton six working days to make that payment and required future payments be made by the 10th of each month. Hamilton expressed shock and claimed there were “no problems.” Her new solicitor, Sean Logue, says the backlog is eliminated and adoption records are up to date and other aspects of the previous orders were being addressed. Payment was not part of the previous order. It shouldn’t have to be. If Hamilton’s indignation is supposed to show she’s capable of the job she has held for four terms now, it’s unconvincing. She is not a child who should require a chore chart to get a gold star — or in this case a paycheck. Commissioners Ted Kopas and Sean Kertes have called for her resignation. Kopas also has called for state lawmakers to remove her. Someone should listen. Until Hamilton is out of office, replaced by someone who doesn’t need meticulous court orders to do each portion of her job, the taxpayers will continue to be bogged down with extra costs to get the bare minimum done.