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The relative youth of McKeesport's two top officials should be a signal for more young people to get involved in local government, says the city's new administrator.

"I think the mayor and I being young is a very positive thing," says Matt Gergely, 31, who was appointed city administrator Jan. 1. "I think people see that energy as a positive, and I know from my campaign work that people say they want to see more young people involved."

A longtime friend of Mayor Michael Cherepko, Gergely managed his successful election campaign and came with him into office. "Mike knew my work ethic and he knew our dynamic of working together," says Gergely, who joined city government after eight years with the State Workers' Insurance Fund, most recently as supervisor of investigations.

"He doesn't micromanage," Gergely said. "He allows me to do what needs to be done. I think it's important that the mayor and the city administrator have a good working relationship --- it's essential."

A graduate of McKeesport Area High School and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Gergely and his wife, Holly, have a 3-year-old son, and they recently bought a house in Haler Heights.

"I believe in McKeesport," he says. "I would have never brought my family into McKeesport if I didn't believe it would be better."

The city is "not the McKeesport of the past," says Gergely, brother of state Rep. Mark Gergely. "But I also don't believe in the naysayers who speak negatively of McKeesport, and I'd like to change that picture in people's minds."

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Gergely replaced former City Administrator Dennis Pittman, who had served under two mayors and held a variety of posts in McKeesport government and related agencies for three decades. During Mayor Regis McLaughlin's year in office, Pittman and Cherepko, then city council president, had exchanged sharp words several times in public.

Pittman announced his retirement at the end of 2011. Taking his place was a "difficult" situation, Gergely says, but city employees in every department have been welcoming, and Pittman also offered words of encouragement and advice.

"Dennis and I talked about the fact that it will never be the case that I have nothing to do," Gergely says. "You learn very quickly that you cannot manage by crisis. You need to separate every issue, and manage accordingly."

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McKeesport, like the city of Pittsburgh, has a "strong mayor" form of government, in which the top elected official also serves as the chief executive officer, representing the city in negotiations, enforcing ordinances and regulations, and supervising employees. Under the city's home-rule charter, the "director of administration" handles day-to-day functions such as personnel management, budgeting, record-keeping and "other duties as assigned."

That makes Gergely's role more of a behind-the-scenes position, where he intends to focus on making city offices more efficient, and improving the delivery of services to residents.

"Mike knows I'm not a 'yes' man," he says. "I'm not afraid to express my thoughts and opinions. In most cases, I'll try to play devil's advocate so that both sides are viewed."

One issue has been the city's website, long a sore point to younger members of council and some residents. "We are completely overhauling it to make it more friendly and bring it into the present," Gergely says.

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With Cherepko's backing, Gergely is also focused on upgrading the city's computer systems. "The technology needs to be addressed, and I think we will address that," he says. "I've never seen an office that was completely paperless, but I've never seen paper used like it's used here."

Some capital expenditures are going to be necessary to update computers and networks, Gergely says, but already, documents that were once typed, copied multiple times and delivered on paper are being scanned and emailed between officials and departments.

City officials, including members of council, are also pressing for residents to be able to pay bills and apply for permits online. "We're taking baby steps," says Gergely, who, like Cherepko, is rarely seen without his smart-phone.

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Gergely also wants to make himself highly available to residents. "If you have an issue, please come in, and we can deal with it," he says.

That goes for employees, as well. City employees other than those in the fire department are generally represented by Teamsters Local 205. "To get work done efficiently and effectively, you have to want to come to work," Gergely says. "I want to make sure staff morale is high."

The bargaining units have been "very welcoming, and I can honestly say I think we're going to continue to have a very positive relationship," Gergely says, noting that both he and Cherepko (a former teacher) were union members. "We both know the importance of our unions and the need for them, but there's also a need for us to cooperate and work together."

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An avid history buff --- "I drive my wife nuts because I'm always watching documentaries" --- Gergely has an appreciation for McKeesport's historic role as a hub for the Mon Valley. But with his love of technology, Gergely also sees a role for the city to play in a 21st century global economy.

Despite its many challenges, including blighted buildings and pockets of crime, McKeesport has inexpensive land available for prospective businesses, Gergely says. "Look how Pittsburgh has moved to bring in technology companies, to become a more tech-based economy," he says. "I don't see why we can't do that here."

Gergely says he hopes to provide strong support to Cherepko's efforts to attract economic development.

"People say I was crazy to take this job, but I know my heart is in McKeesport," Gergely says. "I love it here. That's such a biased thing to say, I know, but I do."

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