Tom Wood was chosen among four candidates to fill a vacancy on Pottsville City Council on Thursday afternoon.
The vacancy was created after then-Councilman Mark Atkinson became Mayor following the resignation of Dave Clews in October.
Wood, a teacher at Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29, will fill the vacancy created by this shuffling of the deck chairs, and serve a term that expires at the end of 2025. That’s when Atkinson’s term as Mayor expires.
Wood will serve as the Director of Parks and Public Property.
At a special meeting of City Council on Thursday afternoon, Wood was apparently one of four candidates that expressed interest. However, there was some hesitancy to name the four people who allegedly expressed interest in serving on City Council.
“There were four individuals who came forth and expressed interest to the City and I believe that all the Council members know those individuals. And at this time, I will entertain a nomination,” Atkinson said, not disclosing the identity of those four.
Solicitor Tim Pellish told Atkinson that he should name the four people who allegedly expressed interest in serving on City Council.
They were current City Controller Mike Weres, who just won election to that office in the 2023 General Election, Maria Glore, Jack Killian, and Wood.
Wood was the only one of the four to be nominated and got a unanimous vote affirming him to be the next Councilman.
Councilman Andy Wollyung, who nominated Wood, said Wood is “a great leader in the classroom” and is “a great asset to the Yorkville community.”
Councilwoman Dottie Botto endorsed Wood by saying, “He’s very down-to-Earth. He’s community-oriented, very family-oriented. I think he’s going to be a great asset, especially doing Parks and Rec.”
Wood will be sworn-in at Monday’s regular Council meeting.
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