By a 6-3 vote, North-ampton County Council recently rejected Executive John Brown's nominee for director of administration, Cathy Allen. Council complained that Allen's education (a high school diploma) and her relative inexperience (two months of county employment) made her unqualified to administer a $360 million budget with 2,200 employees.

But she's still deputy director.

Before he went on a week's vacation in May, Brown designated Allen as the person to contact in his absence.

Hanover Township's budget and workforce is decidedly smaller than Northampton County's. But at their May 27 meeting, supervisors approved a new director of administration position, to be filled by Ryan Kish at a annual salary of $55,000.

Kish has a master's degree in public administration and policy planning, and two years of experience working under township Manager Jay Finnigan.