As time passes and expenses grow, the Town and Country wanted to brief readers on a chronology of events that have led up to the current status regarding East Greenville officials and the police chief.
-
Sept. 2016 - East Greenville votes to leave the Upper Perk Police District effective June 1, 2017.
-
May 2017 - Keith Gerhart defeats incumbent Ryan Sloyer in Republican Primary for Mayor.
-
June 2017 - Retired Pa. State Police Trooper Andrew Skelton retained as a consultant for the Borough of East Greenville Police Department.
-
July 2017 - Andrew Skelton hired as police chief for the Borough of East Greenville Police Department.
-
July 2017 - Bids to renovate the former Colonial Village Clubhouse opened. Contract awarded for $159,021 exceeding original estimate of between $50,000 and $70,000. The awarded project calls for implementing bullet-proof materials on only the front wall.
-
August 2017 - Construction begins on upgrading former Colonial Village Clubhouse in to headquarters for the police department.
-
Nov. 2017 - Ribbon cutting ceremony for new East Greenville Police headquarters is held.
-
Nov. 2017 - Keith Gerhart wins General Election for mayor of East Greenville to take office in Jan. 2018.
-
Dec. 2017 - Budget for 2018, according to a posted listing, allocates $6,500 for maintaining the clubhouse at 526 Colonial Drive out of the general fund, $1,500 for building repairs, $350 for security for the police department, according to information posted on the borough's website.
-
Jan. 2018 - Keith Gerhart, along with new council members Angie Fegely, Jim Raftery, Lon Brinckman II, Eric Grubb and Joe Rock, take office.
-
Jun 2018 - Borough Council directs its engineer, Cowan Associates, to prepare specifications and a performance analysis for a project identified by Solicitor Michael Peters as Project X.
-
Sept. 2018 - Chief Skelton places himself of a leave of absence citing shock at the decision by Mayor Keith Gerhart to publically disclose details of Project X.
-
Sept. 2018 - An investigation completed by West Chester law firm found no evidence of age discrimination by two council members against Skelton. However, the report issued by Lamb McErlane, PC identifies the appearance of "a toxic work environment because of differing personal, political and professional opinions."
-
Jan. 2019 - Mayor Gerhart recommends that Borough Council dismiss Chief Skelton for professional neglect and violation of his official duties.
-
Jan. 2019 - The termination hearing for Skelton begins.
-
Feb. 2019 - The termination hearing for Skelton concludes.
According to the police chief, borough officials have 20 days from the end of the hearing to file any closing arguments in writing, and that his attorney has another 20 days to file a response. A 10-day rebuttal period is also included.
Melissa Fiala, a Bensalem Township attorney hired by borough council to serve as the hearing officer, will have another 30 to 45 days to evaluate all the presented information and render a decision, according to Skelton.