Johnstown hires Maher Dussel for interim accounting services amid questions about bidding

The Johnstown City Council voted to engage Maher Dussel for interim professional accounting services on a one-year contract with renewable options, approving Resolution 10755 on Feb. 11.

City Manager Art Martynuska said staff had interviewed two firms and received a formal proposal from Maher Dussel; he described the arrangement as a fractional controller service to support the finance department without replacing a permanent finance director. "They reached out to the two firms within one day of each other," Martynuska said, and he added the firm was recommended based on its experience with municipal clients.

Council debate focused on the bid process and whether the city had sufficient comparisons. Council member Samuel Barber questioned whether other firms had been contacted; Martynuska said the city did not reach out to additional firms beyond the two and that one of the firms (YPTC) did not follow up with a proposal. Joel Valentine said Wessel & Co., as auditors, could not provide accounting services and that municipal accounting firms are increasingly scarce in Pennsylvania, noting positive past experience between Wessel & Co. and Maher Dussel.

The motion to approve the contract passed with Yeas: Mayor King, Mr. Arnone, Mr. Clark, Mr. Hamacek, Mr. Spinelli, Ms. Brandon-Taylor (6); Nays: Mr. Barber (1). The contract was described as intended to provide a team-based service, with monthly charges scaled to the city’s needs and with an initial focus on making the budgeting process more seamless for the remainder of 2026.

Next steps: City administration will finalize contract terms and begin vendor onboarding.