"These are positions that a new government would want to bring in their own people," said Castor. "I think it was beneficial to the employees to be told now rather than when they show up for work Jan. 3."
Also told Wednesday that they would not be part of the new administration were the county's chief operating officer, Robert W. Graf; chief financial officer, Randall Schiable; the head of the public property department, Fred J. Shaughnessy; and Kenneth B. Hughes, director of the Planning Commission.
Castor said all six had been notified by Commissioners Chairman Joseph M. Hoeffel 3d on behalf of incoming Commissioners Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards, both Democrats.
Shapiro declined to discuss personnel matters. Hoeffel said only: "This administration didn't fire anyone."
Shapiro, a state representative, and Richards, a Whitemarsh Township supervisor, were elected last month, giving the county its first Democratic majority among commissioners in more than 13 decades. Castor, a Republican, was reelected to a second term.
It is not unusual for elected officials to bring their own advisers into key administrative positions. But some county department heads had more reason to worry than others, said Castor. Several had strong personal ties to Matthews and were brought in as part of his four-year term as chairman, a position he resigned last week after his arrest on perjury charges.
Prosecutors say Matthews lied about his prior relationship with a title insurance firm later given a contract for government work. The commissioner has denied all charges.
In a highly critical report, grand jurors also criticized several elements of the Matthews-led government, saying it recklessly spent taxpayer money, operated without set policies, and put cronies in key positions.
