County Maintenance head exits / By Martha Knight

Paul Meissner, retiring as McKean County director of maintenance  Martha Knight Photo

SMETHPORT—Just weeks after the abrupt departure of Larry Norton as head the McKean County 911 service, a department head was “given the option to retire,” and has said he is doing just that.

Paul Meissner of Eldred had given oral notice of his decision to retire as maintenance director, with an effective date of March 14, he told a reporter. As of Friday he had yet to “do the paperwork.”

His decision came after a confrontation with a maintenance staff member had given rise to a union grievance, but before Meissner had been told of two summary charges being lodged against him in Magisterial District Judge William Todd’s court.

The summary charges were filed Thursday, a week after the March 13 incident. The Non-Traffic Docket sheets pertaining to them state that the arresting officer is McKean County Detective Ryan D. Yingling. The summary charges are shown as Disorderly Conduct Engage in Fighting, and Harassment—Subject Other to Physical Contact.

The two docket sheets, one for each summary charge, provide barebones information, and no description of the incident on which the charges are based. No arrest date is shown, for the docket form was created before there had been any arrest or notice to Meissner. The cases are shown as active, with the status being “Awaiting Plea.”

McKean County District Attorney Ray Learn told The Era Friday that the summary charges against Meissner “will be handled just like any other case, with no favoritism.” In summary cases, Learn explained, usually no prosecutor is assigned, but the arresting officer will present the Commonwealth’s case in the hearing before Todd.

Learn acknowledged that it may seem as if his office is involved because the arresting officer, Yingling, is part of the DA’s office as a county detective. But Learn said that connection does not alter how the case will be handled.

Meissner’s pleas will be made before Todd and the whole process will unfold at that level. Meissner could plead guilty or no contest, or could plead not guilty and mount a defense.

Meanwhile Meissner did say he had retained counsel in connection with his situation, even before learning that charges had been filed. He declined to speak further with the press, adding that he had been told by the McKean County Commissioners not to do so.

However, Meissner had said earlier that he “had the option” to retire, inasmuch as he is eligible for retirement.

Meissner had ended a career in the U.S. Navy before coming to live in this area some years ago. He had spent more than 20 years in that service, much of it in maintenance and engineering work. After retiring from the service he took a several courses in maintenance mechanics specialties and worked in the hospitality industry, also in maintenance positions.

Meissner moved to Eldred to be closer to a grown child and family. He joined the McKean County maintenance staff, and served for a number of years. When Ken Bush retired as maintenance director in November of 2012, the McKean County Commissioners appointed Meissner to the post.

The Era has pieced together an account of the March 13 incident that resulted in the summary charges being brought against Meissner, and in his decision to take the retirement “option.”

Because of forecasts of heavy snow and hazardous conditions headed for McKean County, Meissner instructed his crew to be prepared to come in early that Thursday morning to clear the walks and steps and put down snow-melt, before staff and members of the public would start arriving at the Court House. He and most others arrived around 6 a.m. and had taken care of those tasks before 8 a.m.

One crew member, Kevin Strawcutter, arrived later. Meissner reproved him for not having been available to respond to the phone call summoning the crew, and there was an argument. Meissner is said to have “pushed” Strawcutter “back out of his (Meissner’s) space.” Strawcutter then filed a grievance through the union.

Also that day Meissner conversed with one or more commissioners and was given to understand that he had the option to retire. He has served with the county long enough and is old enough to be eligible for retirement, Meissner told a reporter.

Meissner also told a reporter that he has had excellent relations with the commissioners and with Human Resources Director Kathy Roche.

Commissioner chairman Joe DeMott told The Era last week that he would not be able to speak about “an employee matter.” Asked who was in charge of the maintenance department at that time, he also declined to say. He said he would contact the reporter if he had information to disclose later.