Pottsville City Council says it wants to put a limit on the number of new vape shops and Skill machines in its downtown business district.
During their reorganization meeting on Monday, Council members instructed their Interim Solicitor Gretchen Sterns to begin preparing an ordinance that would essentially put a cap on the number of new vape shops and Skill machines downtown.
It would likely be done through zoning regulations.
Councilman Jonathan Marsh briefly touched on the proposed ordinance last Monday. He cited a recent survey on downtown Pottsville and among its 300 responses, a third of them mentioned the number of establishments selling vapes and offering Skill machines inside as an issue.
It’s not clear when this ordinance will be first introduced. It is not on the agenda for the first official monthly meeting of 2026 scheduled for Monday.
Also at the reorganization meeting, City Council said it is working on an ordinance or some legislation to offer special downtown parking rates for residents 62 and over.
Change in Legal Team
City Council also announced a change in its legal team. On Monday, Sterns was named Interim Solicitor and Shane Hobbs was named as Interim Assistant Solicitor. Both are accepting $200 per hour as their rate.
Councilman Scott Price said that rate represents the first cost-saving measure from the new administration.
Mayor Tom Smith revealed that the previous Solicitor, Ed Brennan, was reportedly charging $350 per hour. Of the $200 per hour rate, he called it “phenomenal”.
Councilwoman Dottie Botto questioned if both attorneys would ever be getting paid at the same time. Price said that wouldn’t happen and that Hobbs would serve as a “fill-in” for times when Sterns isn’t available.
Council members also directed Sterns to prepare ordinances that outline the qualifications for future City Solicitors, engineers, and the Civil Service Commission.
Sterns said there’s nothing in Pottsville City Code that details the qualifications for a solicitor or the Civil Service Commission, as it’s required by state law. She said there is minimal information on the qualifications for an engineer and assistant solicitor.
The ordinances she’ll prepare will detail the qualifications for these positions and how councils in the future will send out Requests for Proposals to fill those positions.
Pottsville City Council Meeting Notebook
In other business at last week’s reorganization meeting, Council members unanimously approved:
Hiring Templeton Advantage, a recruiting firm, to assist the City in its search for a new Administrator.
The City Administrator’s office has been vacant since August after Ian Mahal, hired earlier last year, was essentially forced to resign by the previous council. Mahal cited differences between he and council members while some board members expressed their disatisfaction with his job performance.
Templeton Advantage is being brought in to find his replacement. Council members put a $17,000 cap on the cost of its services.
Hiring Pottsville Area Development Corp. for grant writing, financial analysis, and strategic planning
PADCO will provide various services to the City Council, the Redevelopment Authority, Lasting Legacy committee, Parking Authority, Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, and Blighted Property Review Committee for a total cost of $12,500 over a 6-month period.
If any grants are secured by PADCO for any of those boards and committees, PADCO executive director Savas Logothetides said it will not charge an administrative fee that’s typically taken from the grant award.
During last year’s campaign, the new Republican majority had been sharply critical of the City’s pursuit, or lack thereof, of grant funding. If it did pursue any grant funding, it would typically use a Pittsburgh-based firm, Mullin & Lonergan Associates.
Hiring Patrolman Ryan Troutman
Council members unanimously approved hiring Ryan Troutman, 27, of Wilburton, as a Patrolman with Pottsville Bureau of Police.
Chief John Morrow said Troutman and another recent hire, Gregory Stevenson, are starting at the police academy through Alvernia University on Monday and are expected to be ready for patrol in a little more than six months.
Troutman is currently employed as an adult probation officer in Schuylkill County.
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