Allentown Parking Authority executive director leaving in ‘mutually agreed’ upon decision

Allentown Parking Authority Executive Director John Morgan will leave his post with the organization May 1 in a “mutually agreed” upon decision, according to a news release.

Morgan joined the parking authority in 2017 and oversaw several major projects in the city including the financing and construction of the Maple Street parking deck, the introduction of mobile pay stations for downtown street parking and rollout of license plate recognition technology. He also sits on the board of the Pennsylvania Parking Association.

He also led the parking authority through some turmoil last year, when Allentown residents in January began showing up to board meetings in droves to complain that they were unfairly or excessively ticketed. A Morning Call analysis found a 116% increase in the number of tickets issued between January 2022 and February 2023.

“I have served here successfully for over six and a half years, did a lot of great things, and we have agreed to part ways,” Morgan said in a phone interview.

The authority board met in a closed executive session Wednesday afternoon to discuss the departure.

Parking authority board Chair Ted Zeller said the organization and Morgan were “both ready to move in different directions,” and that Morgan originally committed to leading the organization for just five years.

“John has been a valuable part of our organization,” Zeller said.

In response to complaints last year, the parking authority took several steps, including ceasing round-the-clock parking patrols and changing several of the city’s parking laws , which City Council approved last May.

The authority faces a $1.8 million budget shortfall , partially as a result of the rolled back parking enforcement, which brought the authority’s revenue down $1 million compared with economic projections.

Jon Haney, the parking authority’s deputy director, will serve as interim executive director while the authority forms a search committee for its next leader.