Council to debate no-confidence motion in Allentown mayor

City council members in Allentown are scheduled to vote next week on a no confidence motion calling on the mayor to resign in the wake of an FBI probe of government contracting in Pennsylvania’s third-largest city.

A resolution scheduled for a vote Wednesday says council members have concluded that Mayor Ed Pawlowski “is no longer an effective leader and can no longer carry out the duties of the office of mayor.”

It notes that since the federal probe began in July, an assistant city solicitor, the former city finance director and the former city controller have pleaded guilty to federal crimes.

Pawlowski was unavailable for comment and his attorney is reviewing the resolution. He has not been charged and his attorney has denied any wrongoing on his client’s part.