The termination hearing for Andrew Skelton, chief of the Borough of East Greenville Police Department, will resume at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 24, according to Mayor Keith Gerhart.

            Gerhart has recommended that Borough Council dismiss Skelton – who took himself off duty at 4 p.m. on Sept. 6 for an undisclosed reason – for professional neglect and violation of his official duties, according to Michael Peters, East Greenville's solicitor. The hearing, which is private at the request of Skelton, started Jan. 8 and was scheduled to reconvene on Monday, Jan. 14.

            Lawyers representing the borough and Skelton will both be permitted to submit evidence, examine and cross-examine witnesses, according to Peters. Melissa Fiala, a Bensalem Township attorney hired by borough council, is officiating the hearing.

            Skelton, a retired Pennsylvania state trooper and Hereford native, was hired in May of 2017 to advise council on the creation of a new police department. He was named the interim chief later in the month. The position was made permanent two months later.

            In September, one day before placing himself on leave, Skelton expressed shock at a decision by Gerhart to publically disclose details of Project X at the borough's police station located in Colonial Village during a Sept. 3 council meeting. Municipal officials had previously attempted to keep that activity secret, citing officer security.

            The police chief described the disclosure as "reckless and negligent," adding that the mayor's words put him and his staff at risk. After the meeting, Gerhart said he made the announcement because a current member of council discussed the details at a public meeting earlier this year.

            Further, the mayor claimed that the proposal to install steel plates at the station was mentioned during meetings in 2017 and that those references are reflected in the corresponding meeting minutes.

            In December, council rehired Randy Morris, a former full-time officer, on a part time basis. Morris is listed as the officer in charge on department's monthly police activity report for the month, according to information provided by the mayor.