positions for the newly created program. In 2019, he became the Director of Public
Works and as you can see from the Confirmation memo, he had an opportunity to learn
more in-depth about the Public Works Department and this evening he is truly honored
and enthusiastic to step into the role of Director. He looks forward to leading and
working side by side with our talented managers and more importantly our hardworking
employees.
Mr. Ed Zucal stated that he would just like to say that there is no question in his mind
that he is the best person for the job. As long as he has known him he has been a
standup guy and always has taken your job seriously. He is very honored to be able to
vote yes.
Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated that he has known Mark Shahda since he has been on the
job here. He stated that he has been with the city for almost 45 years. He always found
him to be responsible, competent, and has always conducted himself in a professional
manner. He stated that many times that he has reached out to him for information or
things that needed to get done and he was always spot on and very confident about them
and they will get done. He stated that he had a pothole in front of his house and sent Mr.
Shahda an email on a Sunday night and on Monday morning a crew was there taking care
of it. No matter what it is. Just today, he had to get in touch with him. One of the signs
were knocked down at one of our high schools. That was at 2:00 o'clock. Tonight, he
advised me that it is taken care of and replaced. That is the kind of leadership and
professionalism he has been all the time that he has known him. He hoped that and is
pleased that he is the final product as you are. He stated that he is very pleased. He
certainly encouraged his colleagues to vote for him also.
Mr. Joshua Siegel congratulated Mr. Shahda and stated that he intends to vote for him.
He commended the administration for selecting a lifelong Allentonian, born and bread
here. Educated here in the city. You are on the eastside as well which is nice.
Mayor Matt Tuerk stated that if he could add to that, the administration made a
commitment to diversity in the cabinet. That is to geographical diversity. He is very
proud that his cabinet has an eastsider, born and bread eastside in Vicky Kistler, we are
going to add someone from the wards in Mark Shahda, and our Chief Roca is from the
southside. We have people working in our cabinet representing all geographic aspects of
our city. He added that they have been very proud of their ethnic diversity that is present
in our city by cabinet. We have two African Americans members of the cabinet. He
have two members of the cabinet that have Latino heritage. We are proud and he does
not know if this is the case, maybe one of our Council historians can confirm that. He
believes that this is the first Syrian American member of the City of Allentown cabinet
which is a tremendous accomplishment for a community that is so important to this city's
history. You are right to point out the Mark is a born and bread Allentonian and is
somebody that came from the wards and represents a truly importance of our city's
population.
Mr. Joshua Siegel thanked the mayor for stealing some of his thunder. He stated that he
wanted to point some of that out, but the mayor said it very studiously. He stated that he
is glad to see the Syrian community in Allentown has somebody that they could look into,
who came from the ranks and helping out in the summer in the parks and worked their
way to the top of the cabinet. That is an inspiration. It is a testament of what the city
can be for so many of our residents. It is an opportunity to grow our own and provide
family sustaining jobs to our residents, good benefits and an opportunity for professional
advancement, help people fulfill their passion and public service. he stated that he
hopes that they can work with Council and the administration to make that a model of the
department and throughout the city. It affords us an opportunity. He stated that he
dreams of a day when every person in Allentown can fulfill every job in Allentown. We
can be a city that is lead and governed and guided by people who cherish the city and