Catherine Maycock, on far right, addresses City Council Finance Committee (February 13, 2023)

The City of Jamestown is looking for its fifth comptroller in three years.

Catherine Maycock, who was hired as the Deputy Comptroller in Fall 2022, became the interim Comptroller in December 2022 following John Sellstrom‘s resignation.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist confirmed that Maycock departed the interim position at the beginning of March for a job in the private sector.

John Sellstrom had only been City Comptroller for five months. City Council members had criticized 2023 City Budget during his tenure for having around $400,000 worth of mistakes. Sellstrom has returned to the Financial Coordinator position he previously held in the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency prior to being appointed Comptroller.

Sellstorm had replaced Ryan Thompson, who resigned in July 2022 for a job in the private sector as well. Thompson had been preceded by longtime Comptroller Joe Bellitto, who retired in June 2020.

Sundquist said it’s been tough for the city to compete with the private sector, “She (Maycock) received an offer to work for another company that offered her some different flexibility than the city is able to offer. Unfortunately, with city work we just can’t compete with work from home opportunities as well as well as much larger salary opportunities that have been coming along.”

Sundquist said internal staff is helping keep the city’s finances moving along including oversight from the Clerk’s office under Treasurer and City Clerk Jennifer Williams. He said a search for a new comptroller has been underway with interviews being conducted.

Sundquist added that in the meantime former City Comptrollers are assisting with year-end close outs as well as audit preparations.

He hopes to have a new Comptroller in place by April 1.

John Sellstrom

Jamestown City Comptroller John Sellstrom will be resigning less than six months after taking the job.

City Council had approved the appointment of Sellstrom in July following the resignation of Ryan Thompson as Comptroller. Thompson left the position for a new job in the private sector.

Mayor Eddie Sundquist said Sellstrom has been offered another opportunity. He had previously worked in the Jamestown Department of Development for several years.

Sundquist said Sellstrom will remain in the position until the end of December with the position of Comptroller being advertised in the new year, “But we do have to start that process to do a search. Unfortunately, the market for hiring people has changed. As I’ve talked to mayors across both New York and nationwide, everyone is struggling to find and fill positions in city government. City government, unfortunately, just can’t move quick enough to provide the same benefits that private sector is providing.”

Sundquist added a new Deputy Comptroller was hired several months ago, as authorized by City Council, “We’ve been very lucky to have Catherine Maycock, who’s been our Deputy Comptroller, joining us. In particular, she was hired on to help us with ARPA projects, Rescue Plan projects and others. But it’s been really beneficial to have that additional assistance. We also have some of the former comptrollers coming in to provide some technical assistance as needed to those folks, so we will have some continuity as we move forward.”

The proposed 2023 City Budget had been criticized by Finance Chair and Council Member at Large Kim Ecklund for having around $400,000 worth of mistakes. Many of the 27 amendments passed by Council as part of approving the 2023 Budget on November 28 were to deal with correcting those issues.