McKeesport hires new administrator and controller

McKeesport has hired both a new administrator and a controller.

Tom Maglicco will become city administrator and Ryan Sturgess was named controllerat council’s July 5 meeting.

Mr. Maglicco replaces Matthew Gergely, whose resignation was approved at the same meeting. Mr. Gergely had been city administrator for about six years and is taking a job as assistant to the business manager for the McKeesport Area School District.

Mr. Maglicco was formerly chief of staff for state Rep. Marc Gergely, D-White Oak, and had also been serving as city controller in McKeesport since September 2015. Prior to working as city controller, Mr. Maglicco was a member of the McKeesport Area school board for seven years.

Additionally, Mr. Maglicco ran for a council seat in this year’s primary election. Mayor Michael Cherepko said Mr. Maglicco would either take his name off the ballot for the November election or, if he won the seat, would immediately resign. The mayor said it is more likely thatMr. Maglicco will remove his name from consideration and that the city’s Democratic committee would put a new nameon the ballot.

Matthew Gergely attended the council meeting and thanked everyone from the city administration to council.

“Each and every one of you has prepared me for the next step in life,” he said.

Mr. Sturgess is running unopposed for city controller in November and Mr. Cherepko said it made sense to appoint him to the position. Mr. Sturgess works as dean of students at Founder’s Hall Middle School in the McKeesport Area School District.

Also at the July 5 meeting, Mr. Cherepko updated council on PurePenn, a medical marijuana processing plant that will be locating in the city. “We are ecstatic here in the city to welcome PurePenn,” he said.

The CEO of PurePenn, Gabe Perlow, was at the meeting and thanked the mayor and council for their unanimous support of the processing plant.

“Everyone’s been so welcoming and supportive of us,” he said. “We’re here to be members of this community now.”

PurePenn is holding a job fair from 4 to 7 p.m. July 27 at the McKeesport Palisades, at 100 Fifth Ave.

“They’re looking for everything,” Mr. Cherepko said regarding the types of jobs available. He said PurePenn is paying no less than double the minimum wage plus benefits.

The mayor added that McKeesport residents and veterans will be given priority consideration for jobs.