TWELVE FURLOUGHED POSITIONS IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY ELIMINATED

Twelve positions that were furloughed as a money-saving measure by Westmoreland County officials were eliminated yesterday.  The Trib reports that Seven of the positions were in the human services department, while three others were at the juvenile detention center and two more at the county prison.  The moves are expected to free up $1.6 million.  Cash flow issues that resulted from a state budget impasse and a subsequent freeze on allocations for mandated social service programs led commissioners in October to furlough 125 full- and part-time staffers in an effort to save money. Some employees started to return to work as of mid-December, a month after state lawmakers passed a budget, and others retired or resigned.