LOWVILLE — Lewis County's new economic development director is getting a higher salary than his predecessor, but not a county car.

County legislators, after hiring Warren S. Rosenthal to the vacant position a couple of weeks ago, last week set his annual salary at $65,000.

Former director John A. Sorbello — who held that position from January through September 2007 before taking a private-sector job near his home in Rome, Oneida County — was granted an annual salary of $57,500.

However, Mr. Sorbello's contract also included a somewhat controversial provision allowing him to commute from Rome in a county car.

The additional salary was intended as a replacement for that benefit, said Legislator Richard C. Lucas, R-Barnes Corners.

Mr. Rosenthal, a former Lake George real estate agent and business consultant, decided to move to Lewis County.

County legislators last week also approved the hiring of a second planner as a replacement for former Business Development Director Jacqueline S. Longton.

Ms. Longton, who recently resigned to work as a city of Watertown planner, primarily oversaw Lewis County's Empire Zone program.

The new hire will concentrate more on planning issues, Mr. Lucas said, since state support for the economic development program remains uncertain.

"We're going to try to consolidate the planning with the Empire Zone program," he said. "The Empire Zone program has started to diminish."

The hiring of a second planner would return the Economic Development Department to a five-person office.