Pamela Meister was appointed as the next Harford County Council administrator at Tuesday’s meeting.

The 30-year-old Stevenson resident was chosen from more than 80 applicants, Council President Billy Boniface said. Meister, who is set to begin Aug. 1, replaces Barbara O’Connor, who retired in February after almost eight years at the position.

“Our previous council administrator was great,” Boniface said. “Any time someone leaves an organization and a new leader comes in, it gives you an opportunity to look at what changes could take place.”

Mary Kate Herbig, who is the assistant council attorney, has been serving as the interim council administrator. The administrator serves as an aide to the 17-person government office.

“The council selected one candidate they felt really was going to bring to the office a lot of the skill sets we want to see,” Boniface said of Meister in an interview with Patch on Tuesday morning.

Meister most recently served as the associate executive director at the Baltimore Jewish Council after working as the director of government relations and public policy with the same organization. She also worked as the legislative director to state Sen. Paul G. Pinsky, a Prince George's County Democrat, from 2004 to 2008.

The married mother of one has a psychology degree from George Washington University and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

“[Pamela] interviewed excellent, her references were outstanding,” Boniface said. “I’m really excited about bringing her on.”