A divided Johnstown City Council on Wednesday fired its legal adviser, appointed a new finance committee leader and instituted a hiring freeze for most city departments.
The shakeup came as controversial Councilman Jack Williams, a consistent critic of City Hall administrators, declared that the city’s elected officials will attempt to take greater control of Johnstown’s expenditures.
“We’re going to take the initiative to try and limit or minimize the city’s deficit,” Williams said after three hours of meetings in council chambers.
The removal of city Solicitor Joseph R. Green was a surprise to many, including Green himself.
In a 5-4 vote, council members hired attorney Nicholas Banda as their new solicitor.
Green had served as solicitor since January 2005, when he took over for his deceased father, Richard J. Green Jr. The elder Green had worked as the city’s attorney for more than a quarter-century.
Green was asked to leave the meeting immediately, and he declined to comment when reached later by phone.
Councilman Bill Neatrour walked out of the meeting after Green’s dismissal, and Councilman Nunzio Johncola called the firing “ridiculous.”
But some officials, including Councilwoman Ann Wilson, said they have been unhappy with Green’s job performance.
Williams said Banda “can provide some valuable assistance,” noting that he is solicitor of Franklin Borough and has experience working with state officials. Franklin, like Johnstown, has been a longtime member of the state’s Act 47 program for financially distressed municipalities.
Changes did not end with the solicitor’s post, as Williams was installed on a 5-2 vote as council’s new finance committee chairman. That came less than two months after Councilman Frank Janakovic had been appointed to that post.
Williams is known for dissecting the city’s budget and, in the process, quarreling with City Manager Curt Davis and Finance Director Mary Lou Johnston.
But Williams contends he has “no intention to fight with Curt or Mary Lou,” while also saying he intends to work with other council members who often oppose his initiatives.
“I’m hopeful that, whatever financial problems we have right now or will have, we can address them together,” he said.
Later in the meeting, all seven remaining council members backed Williams’ proposal to freeze city hiring for the remainder of the year. The fire and police departments, along with police-records positions, are exempt from that order.
Williams said positions in other departments should not be filled “until we make sure we’re on firm financial footing.”
Wednesday’s meeting agenda was filled with Williams’ initiatives, some of which had failed before. It is clear that last month’s appointment of new Councilman Frank Kiefer Jr. has shifted the balance of power on the board, giving Williams a five-vote majority that often had not existed before.
“But that’s not to infer that there’s a lock of five votes (on all issues),” Williams said.
“Because there’s not.”
In other business Wednesday, Mayor Tom Trigona swore in four new city police officers as officials attempt to fill vacancies created by a wave of retirements.
The new officers are Mark Britton, Brad Christ, Scott Conahan and William Slisz.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Tribune-Democrat File Photo
Discussion
City undergoes shakeup
- Local News
-
-
Mild winter speeds work: Entertainment venue may be complete by end of May
An unusually mild winter has accelerated construction of a new outdoor entertainment venue in Johnstown.
-
Man jailed on rash of charges
A Patton man is being held on $100,000 bond after police said he threatened to kill a woman, her family and himself unless she talked to him about a protection-from-abuse order.
-
Cambria abolishes 16 jobs
Following through on promises to cut budget costs, the Cambria County commissioners voted Thursday to abolish 16 positions, including nine full-time jobs.
-
Blogging with heart
Anyone else have this issue: The more I know, the more I want to learn.
As I am writing my heart month stories for this week’s packages, I occasionally come across a term or description unfamiliar to me. So I look it up. And then the definition or article has something else that sounds important, so I look that up. -
Wozniak defends his support of drilling bill
State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, one of only seven Democrats to support the Marcellus Shale legislation adopted this week, said the bill protects the environment and provides help to local communities impacted by the natural gas drilling.
-
Businessman hoping to unseat Wozniak
Tim Houser uses two words – “challenging opportunity” – to describe his goal in this year’s elections.
-
Judge tosses evidence in robbery
A Cambria County prosecutor said he’ll have to drop robbery charges against a Twin Rocks woman after much of his evidence was suppressed by a judge.
-
Shooting defendant pleads to attempted murder
A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Thursday in county court to attempted murder and theft in a Nov. 18 home invasion in which the homeowner was shot.
-
Garrett man sought in Somerset crime
An arrest warrant has been issued for Samuel McFarland Jr., 33, of Berlin Street in Garrett in connection with Saturday’s robbery of two boys outside Dollar General on East Main Street in Somerset.
-
City man shot during alleged burglary
A Johnstown man was shot during a burglary attempt in Indiana County and then burglarized a home in Armstrong County before he was arrested, authorities said Thursday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
