Pottsville Council Votes Against Police Sergeant’s Promotion After He Was Sworn In

Pottsville Council members cast a majority vote Monday night to not ratify a promotion for police officer Jonathan Randolph to the rank of Sergeant.

Randolph had been on a period of administrative leave before getting reinstated in July. He was then sworn in as Sergeant during a ceremony at City Hall that same week.

On Monday, council members were asked to ratify that promotion with a majority vote.

First, there was confusion about making the motion to even vote on Randolph’s promotion.

Councilmen Tom Wood made the initial motion and Andy Wollyung seconded. However, Wollyung said he was looking at a screen in the council chambers that shows the meeting agenda and it showed a different resolution than Randolph’s promotion. By that time, Councilwoman Cat Mahon had already voted no.

Wollyung explained his mistake and asked to rescind his second and that prompted a do-over.

Once again, Wood made the initial motion. An uncomfortable pause followed before Mayor Bill Messaros eventually seconded the motion, prompting the vote.

Mahon again voted no, as did Wood and Wollyung. Councilwoman Dottie Botto paused when her turn to vote came up and eventually said, “I have to say, I know this may put us in a not good position but morally, I can not vote ‘Yes’ to this, so my answer is ‘No’.”

Messaros cast the only vote in favor of Randolph’s promotion.

Before council adjourned the meeting, an executive session was called to discuss the ramifications of that vote. Council members gathered behind closed doors for about 50 minutes.

When they finally emerged, Solicitor Ed Brennan told council members that the City’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with the police union allows them to choose to ask the Civil Service Board to come up with a certified list of candidates for the position of Sergeant.

“The law specifically provides if the vacancy continues, which it is at this point, that you can ask the Civil Service Board to certify an eligible list of candidates for this position of Sergeant,” Brennan said.

Council members voted unanimously to do that.

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