The city of Johnstown is facing a $600,000 deficit, distressed status and an impending vacancy in its city manager job.

And even though council members have been involved in heated debates -- something onlookers might call all-out yelling matches -- one councilman said they are making progress.

Councilman Red Pinizzotto said the members are working long hours. Pinizzotto said the council can't make things happen overnight, and disputes might look bad in the public eye.

The city does not have an interim city manager to help, because no one applied. Further, the city doesn't anticipate filling that spot until December.

The council is making progress, Pinizzotto said. Its members been able to reduce the council's $600,000 budget shortfall to about $350,000. Still, other disputes remain. For example, some council members want to lay off public safety workers and some don't.

At Wednesday night's council meeting, Finance Director Jack Williams said he wanted to resign. Pinizzotto said Williams did an excellent job for the city and Williams' resignation was not in writing as of Thursday.

Pinizzotto said the council hopes to get a finance committee back together to see if the group can work out a solution to the city's budget problems.

"I know it looks bad on TV, but what can you do in a situation that we're in? Deficit after deficit," Pinizzotto said.

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