Westmoreland County Commissioner Cerilli first woman to chair board in more than 40 years

The first woman to be elected chairwoman of the Westmoreland County commissioners in more than 40 years doesn't plan to rush into her leadership role.

“I will look at every department and make my own evaluation,” Gina Cerilli said Monday after the board's organizational meeting. “Nothing will be done for several months, and nothing might be changed. Or, there may be a lot of changes. I don't know yet.”

Cerilli, a Democrat, was elected chairwoman during the meeting, a title that carries a $2,800 bump in pay over fellow Commissioners Ted Kopas and Charles Anderson, and the duty of running business meetings, which occur twice a month.

“Being chairman is just a title, but I'm honored by it,” Cerilli said.

Dorothy Shope, who served from 1972 to 1975, was the last woman to hold the post. Anderson was chairman for the last four years that Republicans controlled the board. Cerilli, the top vote-getter in the November general election, joins Kopas to form the Democratic majority on the board. Kopas was named vice chairman, and Anderson will assume secretarial duties.

Cerilli — a newcomer to the board — could play a big role in balancing the conflicting views her colleagues have clashed over concerning the direction of county government for the last four years, longtime Democratic Party official Ken Burkley said.

“Can she be a swing vote? That's too early to tell,” Burkley said. “But she can be a person who sometimes agrees with Anderson and sometimes agrees with Kopas. It's a good thing. She is a new, fresh face who doesn't have a history of animosity, or of working with either one of them.”

Fixing problems at Westmoreland Manor, the county-owned nursing home, is one of the things Cerilli said she is making a priority for the new board. The Manor was cited in the summer by state inspectors for problems that ranged from poor patient care to elevator safety.

Commissioners in 2014 hired Premier Healthcare Resources to run the Manor for three years after the facility had been operated for the previous two decades by another private firm. At that time, commissioners said the change was made to improve financial conditions at the nursing home, which had been operating at a more than $1 million deficit.

Cerilli and Kopas said during the last year's campaign season the management change resulted in a downgrading of patient care. Kopas voted against hiring Premier. Cerilli is scheduled to meet with Manor staffers and administrators this week.

“I want to have open communication and discussions with union members,” Cerilli said. “I know employee morale is not great. I'll look at the management contract, but I'm not in favor of breaching any contract.”

Kopas said Monday that repairing the Manor's reputation and improving the county's overall financial condition has to be the focus of the commissioners.

“My agenda is good government. It certainly will involve changes, but there will be a process, a thoughtfulness that was missing four years ago,” Kopas said.

Anderson, who as part of the board majority party instituted a series of personnel and policy changes at the courthouse, said he is open to new ideas to get the county on track.

“There might be some new proposals that are even better,” Anderson said. “I'm not locked into anything.”

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-830-6293 or rcholodofsky@tribweb.com.