Pottsville has begun the search for a new City Administrator.
That position inside City Hall has been vacant since late-August last year after the previous office holder, Ian Mahal, was forced out of the job.
At the beginning of this year, with the seating of the new Republican-majority administration, a head-hunting firm, Templeton Advantage, was hired to help find the next City Administrator.
On Monday, during a series of budget adjustments for 2026, Councilman Scott Price objected to one of those adjustments, that being the salary of the next City Administrator.
The adjustment – which Council members eventually approved by a 4-1 vote – increased the budgeted amount for the City Administrator’s salary from $95,000 to $125,000.
A second adjustment lowered the Administrator’s budgeted expenses by $30,000, from $100,000 to $70,000.
The salary of $95,000 was what Mahal was making in that position, though he was only on the job for about six months. His salary was more than the $70-85,000 the City advertised it would pay to replace longtime Administrator Tom Palamar, who announced he was resigning at the end of 2024.
At that time, then-Mayor Mark Atkinson told Coal Region Canary that the City would consider going outside that range if it found the right candidate. Palamar had been making $112,000 and was on the job for the entire 21st Century to that point.
“I’m just completely not on board with the city administrator salary,” Price told council members as they were considering the 2026 budget adjustments.
He said he realized that the Administrator’s expenses were reduced by $30,000 this year to make up that difference in what had been budgeted and what was being budgeted after the adjustment.
“In the future, they’re going to need that admin expense back,” Price noted.
Council members who voted for all the budget adjustments, including the bump in pay for a City Administrator, said they believe $125,000 is what it’s going to take to find the right person for the job and what the city needs.
“We’re trying to attract the right type of person,” Councilman Jonathan Marsh said. “You can see how valuable that position is. It’s a skill set we need and we have to pay for it.”
Earlier in Monday’s regular monthly meeting, council members heard from Pottsville Area Development Corp. executive director Savas Logothetides. PADCO was charged with examining the adopted 2026 City budget earlier this year and recommending any necessary adjustments. The organization was also charged with finding funding opportunities for the City to consider, such as grant opportunities.
The City Administrator budget changes were among 28 adjustments recommended by PADCO.
Logothetides said PADCO has also identified 18 other action items for Council members to consider along with 70 different grant and low-interest loan opportunities for the City to consider.
PADCO has also submitted a draft 5-year budget analysis, which it presented to Council members, and prompted a proposal – that was ultimately put on hold until next month – to bring in a financial advisor firm.
“A higher-caliber City Administrator would pay for their salary within the first six months,” Mayor Tom Smith said. “I think this is the right way to go to attract the right person. That right person will elevate the whole city and the whole staff here at City Hall.”
Councilman Andy Wollyung said he understood that a higher salary would potentially help find a better candidate for the job but also said that, in the past, the price was negotiable.
Wollyung, along with Price, expressed concerns over the disparity in salaries among employees at City Hall, noting how much more a City Administrator would be making if they’re hired at $125,000.
“We have a lot of people that work in this building for very low salaries and then we’re going to have one individual come in for a high salary,” Wollyung said, who did eventually vote for the budget adjustments.
Price added that he believes there are City Hall employees who could use a “bump in pay” because they’re not making $18 per hour. He said he understood that a $125,000 salary would help attract better candidates but worried what the cost would be if that wasn’t enough.
“What’s the cap? We’re always going to say more money will attract the right person,” Price said.
He suggested a salary that was performance-based and that would increase over time provided that the new City Administrator achieves outlined expectations along the way.
Deadline Nears for City Administrator Applications
Pottsville is currently advertising for a new City Administrator. Prospective candidates have until March 2 to submit their interes to Tom Templeton, of Templeton Advantage, which is helping the City conduct the search.
Here is the job description spelled out in the ads Pottsville is using to find a new City Administrator:
The City of Pottsville is conducting a search for a City Administrator to serve as the City’s chief administrative officer. Reporting to the Mayor and City Council, the City Administrator will provide impartial, ethical, and results-oriented leadership while overseeing day-to-day municipal operations. The successful candidate must possess a bias for action, sound judgment, and the ability to manage change while advancing a renewed vision for Pottsville and operational excellence. The successful candidate will be committed to transparency, accountability, public trust, and collaborative governance, and will possess the skills to guide a working-class, industrial community through ongoing transition and economic revitalization.
Key Responsibilities
- Implement policies, ordinances, and resolutions adopted by City Council
- Advise the Mayor and City Council on policy, legislation, and strategic planning;
- Provide executive oversight of municipal operations and personnel;
- Prepare reports, recommendations, and performance updates;
- Facilitate communication among elected officials, departments, and the public;
- Coordinate intergovernmental relations and external partnerships
- Provide financial stewardship, including budgeting and fiscal oversight, aligned with long-term fiscal stability;
- Advance initiatives related to economic development, infrastructure, public safety, and community revitalization
- Represent the City at meetings, hearings, and forums with professionalism, and;
- Ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and administrative requirements
Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration Preferred, Business, Political Science, or related field (Master’s preferred).
- Minimum 7-10 years of progressive leadership experience in municipal or public-sector administration.
- Proven track record in government operations, budgeting, strategic planning, and personnel leadership.
- Familiarity with Pennsylvania Third-Class City Code, Act 47, public-sector labor relations, and municipal financing tools.
- Strong experience in intergovernmental relations, community revitalization, infrastructure development, or economic policy
2026 Pottsville Budget Adjustments
As noted, the change in budgeted amounts for City Administrator salary and expenses are just 2 of 28 budget adjustments for this year approved by Council members on Monday.
Here is a rundown of all those adjustments:
Adjusted Revenues
| Revenue Source | Old Budget | New Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Taxes- Current | $4,705,925 | $4,673,741 |
| Occupation Tax- Current Year | $201,706 | $151,706 |
| Rental Inspections | $25,000 | $15,000 |
| TV Franchise | $185,000 | $180,000 |
| 3rd Part Inspections | $40,000 | $30,000 |
| Reimburse Conservatorship | $5,000 | $0 |
| Lieu of Taxes | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| Unassigned PPA Lease Funds | $0 | $31,500 |
| TOTALS | $5,187,631 | $5,131,947 |
| -$55,684 |
Adjusted Expenses
| Expenditure Category | Old Budget | New Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Crossing Guards | $45,000 | $60,000 |
| Computers Support | $15,875 | $35,875 |
| Computer Hardware, Maintenance, Finance | $7,500 | $12,500 |
| Engineering | $5,600 | $10,600 |
| Street Lighting | $150,000 | $170,000 |
| Street Signs and Marking | $15,000 | $25,000 |
| Other Streets | $50,000 | $70,000 |
| Street Sweeper Maintenance | $12,000 | $35,000 |
| Mayor Salary | $5,200 | $0 |
| Mayor Admin Expenses | $4,000 | $9,200 |
| City Admin Salary | $95,000 | $125,000 |
| City Admin Expenses | $100,000 | $70,000 |
| Material and Supplies Building | $8,000 | $16,000 |
| Building Repairs | $8,000 | $18,000 |
| Capital Improvements- City Hall | $20,000 | $34,000 |
| Material and Supplies Playground | $20,000 | $70,000 |
| Equipment Repair Parks | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Other Pool | $10,000 | $18,000 |
| Health and Welfare- Parks | $180,713 | $135,713 |
| Capital Expenditures Parks | $50,000 | $0 |
| TOTALS | $806,888 | $924,888 |
| +$118,000 |
Those adjustments – which PADCO says and Council agrees by way of its vote to approve them – more accurately reflect actual expenditures and revenues expected this year.
They also create a $188,919 deficit. To balance the readjusted budget for this year, the City drew out $100,000 of its $350,000 in cash on hand. It also took $88,919 from an Intermodal Fund, which had accumulated approximately $470,000 from rents collected at Union Station.
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 ...