After the sudden departure of Catasauqua Borough’s manager, a search was undertaken to fill the position.

Borough council referred the search to Nicole Beckett at Lafayette College, Easton. Beckett aided the council in a professional search to objectively fill the position, providing council the opportunity to see the best candidates.

Glenn Eckhart was the successful candidate who will now serve as the borough manager of Catasauqua.

Eckhart has more than 22 years of public service experience. His first public service position was in 1994, when he had the opportunity to become a Lehigh County Republican Committee member, just days before the election.

He then spent the next 22 years in various positions, such as a Lehigh County commissioner, Salisbury Township commissioner and Salisbury Township School District board representative. He served two terms as Lehigh County controller.

Eckhart said he shies away from being called a politician. He noted the work he has done is intended as public service.

He will admit to having been, at one time, more politically minded, but his motives are “to play by the rules,” he said.

“What’s good for one is good for another,” he said.

According to Eckhart, he has proudly mediated financial disputes and has a skill set focused on being a problem solver. He understands compromise, he said.

Eckhart noted being semiretired from his lawn care business gave him time to travel and indulge his love of history, but public service kept calling to him.

Aware of the existing issues in Catasauqua, Eckhart knew this job would have its challenges, so he threw his hat in the ring and became one of 13 applicants. After three interviews and a 21-day complete background check, including criminal, financial and references, Eckhart was unanimously chosen by council to be the borough manager.

Catasauqua Borough is facing a tax hike of 33% in 2023 and reportedly has no capital plan, no financial reserves and numerous engineering projects on hold, Eckhart said, adding he has “never seen such bad financials.”

Four years of outside audits reportedly show a steep decline and use of spending reserves, such as water and sewer funds. He noted there is no capital plan, so there are no savings to assist when something breaks or needs to be fixed.

Catasauqua recently slipped to a double B junk bond borrowing status. This is part of a debt the borough will be paying back until 2044, Eckhart said.

“Taxes have been raised; now it’s time to cut government spending,” he added. “[These issues] did not happen overnight and won’t be corrected overnight either.”

Eckhart is set to start work in the borough Oct. 24.