New Lansdale Finance Director Jim Lathrop, left, and new Lansdale Public Library Director Mindy Lipsky, right rear, were introduced to council and the public during the June 20, 2024 borough council meeting.
As budget season approaches rapidly, Lansdale will have two new faces taking part in this year’s talks.
Borough council met two new department heads during their June 20 meeting, new Library Director Mindy Lipsky and new Finance Director Jim Lathrop.
“Welcome, officially, to Mindy and Jim. It’s great having a filled-out team,” said council President Mary Fuller.
Council announced in April the departures of library director Shira Pilarski, who took over the library in September 2023, and finance director Glenn Dickerson, who arrived in August 2021, both leaving for similar jobs in other municipalities.
On June 11 Lipsky announced that she was stepping down as the director of the Pottstown Regional Public Library to take over Lansdale’s director position, and borough Director of Community Development Jason Van Dame announced her arrival on June 20.
He also read remarks from borough Manager John Ernst thanking Pilarski on behalf of borough staff for overseeing a revamp of the library’s board of directors, revising and implementing a new policy manual, overseeing a new logo contest, and applying for a $1.5 million grant to renovate and upgrade the library’s interior.
During the June 20 council meeting, Van Dame said he and staff would “all like to wish [Pilarski] and her husband the best, as they embark on new careers” in North Carolina, Van Dame said. “As Shira steps aside, we’re thrilled to welcome another strong and proven leader onto the team.”
Lipsky’s first day in charge of the library was June 18. She comes to Lansdale after six years with the Pottstown library, the last two as executive director, and brings a degree in psychology and a master’s in library sciences, Van Dame told council.
Finance director
Taking over the finance role will be Lathrop, who had previously served as the CFO of the city of Chester, and brings previous experience as a finance director and a town manager in Rhode Island and Connecticut, Van Dame said.
“Jim joins this team at a critical time of year, as we begin discussions about the 2025 budget and long-term capital investment,” he said. “We look forward to working with Jim and allowing him to share his wealth of financial knowledge with staff, elected officials, and the public.”
Fuller added that Troy Spayd, the town’s new public works director who arrived in early June, is no longer the newest arrival.
“I was just teasing Troy: ‘that means his hazing period is over. He is already two rungs higher up on the tenure ladder, so he’s the seasoned guy now.’ Welcome, to all of you. We’re glad to have you on the team,” Fuller said.
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