Pottsville City Council has unanimously approved the hiring of Robert J. Straebel as the city's next administrator.
Council approved Resolution 116 during its meeting Monday evening, formally appointing Straebel to the position. The resolution passed with the support of all council members and Mayor Tom Smith.
Straebel brings more than 25 years of municipal leadership experience to the role. According to information released by the city, he has served communities in multiple states, including the Village of Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico; the cities of Charlevoix and Petoskey, Michigan; and most recently the Town of St. Michaels, Maryland.
Following the vote, Straebel thanked city officials for the opportunity and expressed his enthusiasm about returning to public service.
"Thank you so much for appointing me as your next city administrator," Straebel said. "This is truly an exciting time. It's an honor to be back into the game and doing some great public service for the city of Pottsville."
Mayor Smith praised the selection, citing Straebel's extensive background in municipal government.
"Mr. Straebel brings an impressive depth of municipal leadership experience and a clear understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing Pottsville," Smith said in a statement. "Throughout the selection process, he demonstrated thoughtful leadership, professionalism, and a commitment to serving here in Pottsville."
The search for a new city administrator began in January when the city retained Templeton Advantage to assist with recruiting and evaluating candidates. During Monday's meeting, Solicitor Gretchen Sterns outlined the extensive hiring process.
"The city in January hired Templeton Advantage to do a search for a city administrator candidate," Sterns said. "The city was very fortunate to have 15 candidates who applied for this position, many of whom were very qualified. There was a lot of interest in people reaching out who wanted to help the city."
Candidates were initially screened and interviewed by the city's Fair Hiring Board before recommendations were forwarded to City Council. Elected officials and department heads then conducted additional interviews and executive sessions before finalizing an offer.
Councilman Andy Wollyung acknowledged that he had reservations about the process when it began but ultimately praised the results.
"I have to say I was the first one to throw judgment at how this was going to work," Wall said. "I will be the first to admit that I had my doubts with how that was going to work, but Templeton Services provided a great report and a great set of candidates."
The city spent approximately $17,000 on consultant services during the search. Discussion during the meeting also touched on legal expenses associated with the process, with some council members questioning whether the city solicitor needed to attend every interview and hiring session. Sterns noted that much of her recent work involved negotiating and finalizing the employment agreement with the successful candidate.
In a city announcement, Straebel said he is eager to become part of the community and work collaboratively with residents, businesses, employees, and elected officials.
"I am grateful for the confidence City Council and the Mayor have placed in me," Straebel said. "I look forward to working collaboratively with residents, businesses, employees, and elected officials to strengthen city services, foster economic vitality, and continue building a community where people are proud to live, work, and invest."
According to city officials, the search attracted 15 applicants, with several highly qualified candidates advancing through multiple rounds of interviews before Straebel was selected.
Mayor Smith indicated he hopes Straebel can begin his duties as soon as possible.