WASHINGTON - If Washington County Court of Common Pleas Judge David Gilmore could step back in time, he'd still recommend a change in county government.
Gilmore served as the chairman of a mid-1970s Washington County government study commission before later becoming a commissioner and a judge.
The commission that year decided to choose a home rule form of government, a recommendation that was soundly defeated in the 1976 election.
Gilmore was asked last night by current government study commission member Michael Wallace if he would make the same decision again.
"I would recommend the same thing today," Gilmore said.
Gilmore, Washington County President Judge Thomas D. Gladden and Court Administrator Christine Brady were interviewed in the fifth week of the commission's fact-finding mission.
The study commission will use that information and other facts gathered about counties in Pennsylvania with different forms of governments to make its determination.
It can recommend keeping the existing three-commissioner structure, choose an optional form of government, or draft a home rule charter.
Voters would then vote on the recommendation.
Allegheny County and five other Pennsylvania counties - Erie, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Delaware and Northampton - employ home rule forms of government.
Gilmore said one of the "hot issues" the previous study commission dealt with was the question of whether to keep the elected row offices, such as clerk of courts.
Gladden, the state's longest serving trial judge with 31 years of service, serves as an administrator over the courts, and oversees all 12 county district justice offices.
Overall, he is supportive of the current structure of government, Gladden said. "We all work together."
Brady, who has worked for the county for more than 30 years, said her department's role is to manage all aspects of the court system, including departments such as juvenile and adult probation.
Brady is also in charge of hosting orientations for jurors.
On March 20, the study commission will interview Sheriff Larry Maggi, Human Services Director George Krcelich, Planning Commission Director Lisa Cessna and an official from the tax revenue office. The board will return to meeting the first and third Wednesdays in April.
Plans are also in the works to have a conference call at an upcoming public meeting with county officials from Lackawanna and Northampton, which have home rule charters.
