Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Acting city manager named
James Logan, who has served as assistant for two years, hired
The city of Coatesville is saying goodbye to its city manager who’s served in that role for the past five years and hiring from within to fill the position.
On Aug. 10, Coatesville City Council named James Logan acting city manager after the retirement of Michael Trio. Logan has served as Coatesville’s assistant city manager for two years, and he will take over the new position effective immediately.
As Acting city manager, Logan said his responsibilities will include overseeing administrative staff, as well as police, fire, and public works departments.
He will also be involved in implementing and managing legislation, and he will advise City Council.
Logan has previously held positions in the Chester County Economic Development Council, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the
Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry, and the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board.
“Working in all of those different industries provided me with a very good foundation,” said Logan. He added that his tenure as assistant city manager has helped him to better understand how Coatesville’s “ordinances are designed to help the community.”
Logan acknowledged that he is stepping into this position during a challenging year, in part, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He sees helping Coatesville through these unprecedented times as an essential part of his job as acting city manager.
“Our collective goal is to ensure that our residents are informed, that they are protected in the best way that we can protect them,” he said. “During this time, we still want to provide (residents) with the necessary tools, resources, and information.”
The city is also in a unique position in terms of its demographic makeup. Coatesville’s population is 45 percent Black, compared to the total population of Chester County, which is only 6 percent Black. As a result, recent national racial tensions are especially relevant.
Although Logan said, “I have not witnessed any tension in the city of Coatesville in terms of the diversity we have here,” he added that “there’s always been a need to raise awareness and educate people.”
Logan said he’s proud of the diversity of the city and the fact that residents “are always willing to bring their issues to the table.” In turn, as acting city manager, he hopes to provide the “opportunity and transparency for that dialogue to continue.”
Coatesville faces numerous challenges as a growing and evolving city. “As a city and as City Council members,” said Logan, “we are always looking at ways to tackle some of these issues.”
Logan plans to continue with what he describes as “community and business revitalization,” a goal that he and his predecessor shared. In 2017, Coatesville’s median income fell $20,000 short of the Pennsylvania median and $60,000 short of the Chester County median.
“I don’t know if I have a silver bullet for that, but I know one of the things we have to encourage in Coatesville is home ownership,” Logan said. In Coatesville, 60 percent of residents are renters, and Logan hopes to create opportunities for these individuals to purchase quality, affordable homes.
He also sees workforce development as a key aspect of boosting the local economy and median income. Logan wants to determine what tools the city can provide its residents to improve upward mobility.
One such opportunity is an eight-week program for young entrepreneurs from Coatesville that teaches “the nuts and bolts of how to start a business,” Logan said. “We hope that the individuals who went through this program will launch their businesses here in Coatesville.”
Despite the inherent challenges of this job, Logan is energized and excited to start as acting city manager. “My passion comes from being able to interact with people in the community,” he said. “I love this job. I love the work. I love the people here.”
Though Logan said he does not subscribe to a specific philosophy as acting city manager, he cited the following quotation as a guiding message: “‘The sign of a good leader is a leader that empowers others to lead.’”
Said Logan: “I am very grateful, and I appreciate the opportunity to step into this role as acting city manager … I welcome the opportunity to serve this community and its residents.”