Duquesne Manager Leaving, Thanks Community

By Tom Leturgey
The Tube City Almanac
July 22, 2022
Posted in: Duquesne News

When Kelly Robertson spoke at the conclusion of Tuesday’s Duquesne City Council meeting, she said she couldn’t thank the people of the city enough for the opportunity to serve as manager for nearly two years.

A chance to get reconnected with the city was invaluable to her, she said.

Robertson has announced her intention to resign as city manager. On Aug. 12, she will leave to become executive director for the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services with the Department of Community & Economic Development. The job will keep her involved in the Act 47 program for municipalities throughout the Commonwealth.

A search for Robertson’s replacement has not yet been announced.

Robertson said her father Alphonza was a steel worker who lived with his wife, Rosalie, and family in Liberty Borough. The Robertsons attended a Baptist church in Duquesne and Kelly always felt connected to the area.

After graduating from South Allegheny High School and earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Duquesne University, Robertson’s life took her to Greenwich, Conn. That’s where her daughter, Kaly, and son, Justus, were born and still live. “They are the joys of my life,” she said.

Robertson more recently taught ethics and introduction to philosophy classes for two different colleges online. Then one day she saw Duquesne was looking for a city manager, so she applied.

She didn’t get a call right away and the deadline passed, but then after a while, the phone rang. She was looking for something with flexible hours to help her mother and ailing father. Everything worked out so Robertson moved back to Liberty Borough and fell in love with the region all over again.

Alphonza Robertson passed away in October of last year at 90, but Kelly was able to be home for him and her mother. “The job allowed me to stay here,” she said. “I will always be grateful for that.”

Robertson is immensely proud of Duquesne balancing its budget with a surplus and that along with Mayor Scott Adams, communication between residents and the officials is better. “We have been able to make the city financially stable,” she said. “Bills are paid on time. [Duquesne] is no longer seen in a negative light. Duquesne is on the upswing. We are very proud of that.”

As for the new job, it was one she “wasn’t really looking for.” But by going to Act 47 meetings and working in that field, she was introduced to people who thought she would do well on the state level. It’s an increase in responsibility Robertson is looking forward to serving. She will initially work from home, but a move to Harrisburg isn’t out of the question. She will continue to look over her mother.  

She will work with Duquesne’s Act 47 coordinator George Dougherty, but she doesn’t anticipate being in the city’s council meetings. She will travel throughout the Keystone State, helping other communities. “But that doesn’t mean she won’t be around. “I will always be checking in on Duquesne,” she said. “I will always be available to Duquesne.”

Tom Leturgey is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh and the editor of KSWA Digest, the online news and features home of the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance.

Originally published July 22, 2022.

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