After an approximate four-year stint, Catasauqua Borough Manager Stephen Travers has resigned.

Travers was selected for the manager role in 2018 after a rigorous search and evaluation of his work and personal history. The vetting process explored Travers’ background to determine his suitability for the position.

Travers received a superlative recommendation by the evaluating team from outside the borough, according to former Catasauqua Borough President Vincent Smith, who was council president at the time of Travers’ hire.

A former council member, borough manager, code enforcement official and zoning officer, Travers brought with him to Catasauqua a diverse, broad general knowledge of working in a large municipality in Delaware County, according to Smith.

It will be difficult to replace him, he added.

Travers spoke candidly with The Press off the record weeks before his resignation.

On the record, he told The Press he enjoyed his time in Catasauqua, appreciated the quality staff he worked with and the numerous dedicated volunteers in Catasauqua. However, he said, it was the right time to move on.

It is unclear if Travers was planning to leave Catasauqua before the 2022 apparent turbulence swirling around council or if the departure was directly linked to the new council’s actions.

Catasauqua Mayor Barbara Schlegel hinted at knowing Travers might be considering a departure but said she would reserve further comment.

Councilman Gene Schlegel said he spoke with Travers after learning of his resignation and wished him well in his future endeavors.

Council President Brian Bartholomew, as of press time, did not respond to a request for comment regarding Travers’ departure.

Travers is a seasoned veteran as a borough manager with decades of experience.

This past January, he was informed the newly seated council wanted to reopen the 2022 budget. The reason for the budget reopening was reportedly to examine costs and perhaps find areas where the budget could be cut.

The 2022 budget passed in December 2021 by the previous council was a no-tax-hike budget.

At a February council meeting, with reopening the budget on its agenda, the new council looked at cutting borough contributions to the Catasauqua Main Streets group, Public Library of Catasauqua and the George Taylor House, to name just a few of the programs on the potential list. When numerous leaders and members of borough organizations attended the budget reopening meeting, they requested reasons for the possible cuts.

Council ultimately decided against reopening the budget.

During the first week of June, borough council allowed the sales agreement for the multimillion-dollar Iron Works project - 12 years in the making - to lapse, thereby potentially canceling the project in its present form.

This lapse is controversial in the manner it was done, which has created much consternation on various Catasauqua social media pages. More than 50 residents attended the council meeting June 6, voicing their displeasure at the possible ending of the Iron Works project and lack of transparency of the council, particularly with Bartholomew.

Council last month awarded Travers a two-year contract with a 4% raise each year.

He had asked for a 3% increase.

Travers’ contract reportedly has a three-month notice if he chooses to end his contract. He said he will assist training any new manager council may hire before his official departure, which contractually is the beginning of September.