Allentown council confirms Frank Kane as managing director

The Allentown City Council voted unanimously to confirm Frank Kane as the city's managing director, approving Resolution R48 in a special meeting called to consider the appointment.

Mayor Turk, who nominated Kane, told the council that Kane's experience with Lehigh County and the Commonwealth made him well suited to bridge relationships between the administration, department heads and the council. "Frank is a master at relationships," Mayor Turk said, urging the council to confirm him.

Kane, the nominee, thanked the mayor and said his "philosophy of management is one of service," adding that his immediate priorities would include a rapid process assessment to identify where procedures and systems could be improved. "If you think you're just gonna tell people what to do and they're gonna just do it, you're barking up the wrong tree," Kane said, describing his approach as focused on transparency, accountability and getting the budget process on a more consistent schedule.

Council members asked about how the new position would be paid for. A city staff member said the mayor's 2026 budget includes vacancy savings that can cover the managing director in 2026 and that the administration plans to realign positions as part of the 2027 budget to avoid tapping cash reserves. "There is a savings, vacancy savings in the mayor's budget that that would fund" the position, the staff member said.

Council Member Bender said he was glad the position was being filled and pressed Kane on near-term goals, saying accountability and earlier budget planning were priorities. "I think you're using the word accountability; it is crucial," Bender said. Kane pointed to Lehigh County's earlier budget schedule and suggested early engagement with bond raters as a way to improve the city's bond rating.

Mayor Turk also told council members he intends to appoint Kane as deputy mayor once Kane officially joins city staff and said the administration will ask council to consider removing the ordinance residency requirement (which currently requires the managing director to relocate within the city within one year of appointment).

Clerk Hamlin called the roll on Resolution R48; each council member present voted yes and the clerk recorded a unanimous vote in favor (9-0). Council President Napoli welcomed Kane aboard and the meeting was adjourned.

The immediate next steps identified in the meeting record: Kane will begin a process assessment if confirmed, the administration will use vacancy savings to fund the position in 2026, and the mayor will seek a council ordinance change regarding the residency requirement.