Mark Atkinson was sworn in Monday evening as the next Mayor of Pottsville.
The swearing-in was performed by District Magistrate James Reiley inside City Council Chambers before the regular monthly council meeting.
“It’s a humbling experience,” Atkinson said of the swearing-in, during which he became visibly emotional. “You’re responsible for an entire city,”
Last week, the remaining council members voted in favor of naming Atkinson as Mayor following the October resignation of Dave Clews.
Following Monday’s meeting, Atkinson said his primary goal is to maintain continuity from Clews’ time in office.
Atkinson will have just a little more than a year in office. The mayor’s position is up for re-election in 2025 and Atkinson says he intends to run.
The mayor said he intends to focus on addressing some of the city’s biggest challenges right now, namely developing business, food insecurity, homelessness, and a lack of firefighters.
He said the city’s limited budget will restrict the ability to address these challenges.
Atkinson moving from the Director of Accounts and Finance on Pottsville City Council to the Mayor’s chair creates a vacancy that needs to be filled in less than 30 days.
Atkinson stepped aside from that role on council last Thursday, when he was voted in as Mayor.
On Monday, Bill Messaros was appointed as Director of Accounts and Finance. Andy Wollyung is Director of Public Safety, and Dottie Botto is Director of Streets and Public Improvements.
Presumably, the person voted in to fill the vacancy on City Council will be Director of Parks and Public Property.
Council has taken no formal action publicly to fill the vacancy on Council.
In other moves on Monday, Council members appointed Justin Trefsger, the city’s Code Enforcement Officer, to the Historical Architectural Review Board.
Owen Webber was hired as a police patrolman.
Subscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...