MARK WAITE / PVT Tammy Otero, left, and Kenneth Keeslir, are introduced to Nye County commissioners Tuesday. Advertisement

Tammy Otero, from Ely, was hired as the new Nye County finance director last week, while Kenneth Keeslir, whose experience stretches all the way to New York City and the Republic of Vietnam, was hired as director of management information systems.

The vote on both candidates was unanimous as Nye County Commissioners ratified the selections of County Manager Ron Williams.

Otero replaces Pam Webster, who was county comptroller or finance director, for over a year before her promotion to assistant county manager July 17.

Otero has been a finance and human resources manager for Mount Wheeler Power Company in Ely since 2005. She was controller and, accounting supervisor before that, and initially, a worked as a financial planner for Bentley Nevada Corp. in Minden from 1988 to 1999.

Otero received her bachelors in business administration from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Keeslir said he's originally from Singapore. His latest experience was post masters work at Walden University in Minneapolis in applied management and decision services, specifically completing numerous studies on the challenges of technologies, business, intelligence, competitive advantage and cultural barriers facing international organizations operating in Southeast Asia.

Keeslir's resume lists a position as director of information technology operations for Prudential (UK) Vietnam in 2004; director of information technology for Always-On Software in New York City in 2002; M.I.S. director for Solarcom Inc. in Philadelphia 1999 to 2000; director of information services for the Reserve Readiness Command, region four, from 1996 to 1999; head of operations and security for SBU-22 in New Orleans from 1993 to 1996 and technical representative for marine systems technology for a San Diego firm from 1991 to 1993.

Keeslir has a master of science degree in management information systems from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and a bachelors degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.

Former comptroller Webster was given an employment agreement worth a salary of $102,440 annually, as part of her new position, with severance pay of three months if terminated after the first two years; up to five months salary if she's terminated after her sixth and subsequent year.

In another personnel matter, commissioners approved an inter-local agreement designating Nye County Air Quality Compliance Officer George Bernath as a county employee instead of working for the state.

"I'm not going to say things went wrong with our air quality program but we've had some issues come up over this year, the most important issue is this board had asked that we track the air quality fees, the permit fees and any penalties or fines that had been collected and bring that to you as a way of budgeting the air quality operation," Williams told commissioners.

"It would be better if the state would fund the position but let's make him a county employee so he can work under our rules and only one person instead of two agencies," Williams said.

The commission approved adding $13,000 to environmental consultant Mary Ellen Giampoali's contract, increasing it to $148,000, to help transfer Bernath's work to Nye County and update the database.

"Can we hire someone full-time to take care of these matters at less rate than this contract is? It's a lot of money Mr. Williams," Commission Chairman Gary Hollis said. Commissioner Butch Borasky agreed the county should, as a rule, look into hiring staff instead of paying consultants.

Williams said those expenditures to Giampaoli for the air quality program were over a three year period.

"I don't believe Mary Ellen's work has cost the county that much based on what we got from her," Williams said.

A contract was also amended with air quality hearing officer Henry Melton increasing it by $12,000.

"As far as having a hearing officer I would recommend the board always keep an unbiased third person as officer so you don't have an employee of the county making decisions that could cost somebody 10 to 20 grand down the road," Williams said.

Pahrump Regional Planning Commissioners will now be paid $40 per meeting, up to a maximum of $200 per month, after a request from Borasky. The action means Nye County will pay at least $3,360 per year on RPC pay, figuring seven commissioners who meet monthly.

"I sat on the RPC for two years before I was elected county commissioner and I know for a fact what time it takes to work on your agenda, to do your drive-around, the amount of hours to make a decision that sometimes are gut wrenching," Borasky said.