The man known for being the Pottsville's first city administrator - Richard J. Schuettler - was recently appointed executive director of the Pennsylvania Municipal League.
"I am deeply honored and privileged to lead this 113-year-old venerable organization," Schuettler, 57, of Pottsville, said Monday.
Pottsville's current city administrator, Thomas A. Palamar, is glad Schuettler, a local representative with a keen knowledge of the area and its economic challenges, is at the helm.
"He'll do a great job. I've know Rick for a long time. I think he has a very intimate knowledge of what kind of support municipalities need. He's always had his finger on the pulse of how municipalities need to interact with the state and federal government and with each other," Palamar said.
Schuettler is taking over for John A. Garner Jr., who retired Thursday, according to Debbie Bitting, the League's communications and publications editor.
"Mr. Garner has served the Pennsylvania Municipal League for 35 years, 30 of those years as its executive director," Bitting said in a news release.
With a recommendation from Garner and a transition committee, the league board of directors unanimously voted to appoint Schuettler as executive director, effective June 27, Bitting said.
The league was established in 1900 as an advocate for Pennsylvania's 3rd class cities, but it has become a representative for all of Pennsylvania's cities, townships, towns, boroughs and home rule communities that share the league's municipal policy interests, according to Bitting.
"My challenge will be to transition PML to the dynamics and practices required for any successful entity in the year 2013 and beyond, while maintaining the sound, respected organization I inherit. I am confident with the leadership of our offices and board of directors, the support and endorsement of our members, both municipal and business, and of course the untiring effort of our staff, we will succeed in leading our core communities to a brighter tomorrow," Schuettler said in the news release.
Born in Pottsville Aug. 16, 1955, Schuettler is the son of G. Richard and Rosemarie Schuettler, Pottsville. He has two sisters, Patti Schuettler, Exeter Township, Berks County, and Kathi Charles, Bernville, Berks County.
He graduated from Nativity BVM High School in 1973, then earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Kings College, Wilkes-Barre, in 1977.
He worked as director of the Pottsville Bureau of Economic and Community Development from September 1986 to December 1991, according to Bitting.
In January 1992, Schuettler was named Pottsville's first city administrator.
"It was a movement to create a central management position in the framework of Pottsville's government," Schuettler said.
Schuettler held that post twice. The first stint was from January 1992 to April 1996. He left to become executive director of the Pottsville Housing Authority. He returned to his role as city administrator from June 1998 to June 2001, according to Bitting.
Since June 2001, Schuettler has worked for the league, first as business administrator and assistant to the executive director. In 2004, he became deputy director.
Schuettler resides in Pottsville with his wife, Michelle Ege Schuettler, owner of The Dirty Dog Self-Serve Pet Wash & Boutique, 217 N. Centre St., Pottsville. They have two children, a son, Brendan, 25; and a daughter, Rachael, 29, both of Pottsville.
The league has done numerous things for Pottsville over the years, Palamar said.
"Last year our business privilege tax program was under attack from our state legislature. They wanted to enact some serious changes to it that would have hurt us financially," Palamar said.
That was Senate Bill 405, which was designed to reverse the law that allowed municipalities to continue to levy the business privilege tax on out-of-town contractors working in the city. If passed, the city would have lost $300,000 in tax revenue annually, Palamar said.
"The league organized everybody's thoughts on it and how negatively it would impact municipalities and they made sure to communicate that with our legislature, and it didn't go through," Palamar said.
"To Pottsville's credit on that particular issue, they were very engaged and very helpful to us in making that not happen," Schuettler said.
For more information on the league, log on to its website at pamunicipalleague.org.