ROCKLAND – The city’s finance director will leave Oct. 13 for a similar job in Pottstown, Pa., not far from his hometown of Roseto.

Robert Armelin announced his resignation this week after serving as finance director since Jan. 18, 1998. Armelin said he is leaving Maine to be closer to his parents and other family.

As finance director in Pottstown, where the population is twice as large as Rockland’s 7,600, he will be responsible for a $25 million budget compared with Rockland’s $14 million municipal budget, he said.

His departure also will leave a vacancy on the SAD 5 board, although he has not yet resigned from that post. Because of the timing of his departure, the opening likely will be filled by appointment by the City Council rather than the November election.