City Council approved a separation agreement with former Manager Ken Decker on Monday, then appointed acting Manager Omar Strohm as Decker’s permanent replacement.

Decker will receive six months’ severance pay on his $132,000-a-year salary, health coverage and retirement contributions for that period and compensation for vacation and personal days he has accumulated, according to solicitor Tom Finn.

Strohm will receive a $25,000 raise, bringing his salary to $125,000.

Decker was placed on paid administrative leave in early April for unspecified reasons, although they were not because of any illegal actions, Finn has said.

As they have before, council members declined to say why they let Decker go.

“The parties mutually agreed to part ways,” Decker wrote in an email Monday.

Finn repeated that statement at the meeting.

Strohm will give up his position as finance director and for now will retain his post as human resources director.

He plans to appoint a new finance director from within the staff soon, he said.

“(Strohm) has a lot of institutional knowledge,” including knowledge of the departments he has headed during his many (18) years working for the city, said Mayor Matt Pacifico, when asked why the city chose him as Decker’s replacement.

His work has included two stints as acting manager.

“He has served a long apprenticeship,” said Councilman Bruce Kelley. “With his background and skill set, the city will be well served with him at the helm.”

“He’s earned it,” said Councilman Joe Carper.

Strohm has demonstrated leadership in “good times and rough times,” including the city’s tenure in the state’s Act 47 distressed municipalities program, said Councilman Dave Butterbaugh.

“He’s been solid the whole time,” Butterbaugh said.

Asked whether council considered anyone else besides Strohm, no one answered.

A second major administrative post has gone to a candidate already on staff, according to an announcement made at the meeting:

The city police chief is now Joe Merrill, who has been acting chief since the retirement of Janice Freehling at the beginning of March.

“He was the best fit for that position,” said Strohm, who made the permanent appointment.

“You can tell from the round of applause that council was well-pleased with the decision,” Kelley said.

Like Strohm, Merrill earned the promotion, Kelley said.

The two in-house hires helps show city employees that there is potential for “upward mobility,” Kelley said.

It also shows that “we have capable, qualified people working within the ranks of city government,” Pacifico said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.