Pysz, Past City Director of Emergency Management, is New Harrison County Commission Administrator
By Jeff Toquinto on July 14, 2021 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Laura Pysz, who previously served as the City of Bridgeport's Director of Emergency Management and most recently was the head of the Harrison County Office of Emergency Management, was named the new administrator for the Harrison County Commission.
Pysz has served as the interim administrator since the firing of former administrator Willie Parker. The firing took place on April 14 and Pysz took the interim position a week later on April 21.
Parker was released on a 2-1 vote. Commissioner David Hinkle voted against Parker's removal, while Commissioners Susan Thomas and Patsy Trecost voted for his removal.
The matter came to a vote today and the same division existed among the Commissioners. Hinkle made a motion to go back and seek more applications for the position after a lengthy executive session.
Hinkle’s motion was to hire a professional company. He wanted the candidate to have 10-plus years of county administration experience along with a college background involving business administration. Hinkle’s motion failed 2-1.
Following that, Thomas made the motion to hire Psyz. Before the vote, Hinkle again voiced his disagreement with the selection as well as the process.
“You two want to force the issue of a county administrator today,” said Hinkle, who said a job description was never approved. “I don’t understand how we’re hiring someone today … when we didn’t do our due diligence.”
After Hinkle’s comments, a vote was taken with Hinkle voting against the hiring. Thomas and Trecost voted for the hiring.
Hinkle said his vote was "nothing against Laura," but that the Commission "failed the people of Harrison County."
