Jenkintown Council Issue Timeline

This timeline is the result of research gathered from Right to Know filings, interviews with Borough officials, and Council deliberations and votes pertaining to the outsourcing of Jenkintown police services. Sources cited. 

July 10 – 14, 2023

• Council meets with Bellevue (not sure of the date)

Source: Emails between George Locke & Kevin Feely (Bellevue President), obtained via Right to Know request

July 18, 2023

• Bellevue sends over proposal

Source: Emails between George Locke & Kevin Feely, obtained via Right to Know request

July 26, 2023

• Kevin from Bellevue confirms the amended contract for George as “two months at $10k per month, then month to month thereafter”

Source: Emails between George Locke & Kevin Feely, obtained via Right to Know request

• Borough Council meeting (Khalil, MacHaffie, Bartlett, Ballard, Conners, Pancoe, Bruno, Marlowe present)
• Council votes to hire Bellevue, no explanation given, passes unanimously

Source: July 2023 minutes

July 28, 2023

• George met with Abington Township’s manager and confirmed the Borough would have an “answer/offer” in within two weeks

Source: Emails between George Locke & Kevin Feely, obtained via Right to Know request

August 3, 2023

• Bellevue start date

Source: Emails between George Locke & Dianne Conley (Accounts Receivable Manager, Bellevue), obtained via Right to Know request

August 23, 2023

• Borough’s 1st payment to Bellevue ($10,000)

Source: Bellevue invoice, obtained via Right to Know request

• Borough Council meeting (Khalil, MacHaffie, Bartlett, Narva, Ballard, Conners, Soltysiak, Pancoe, Bruno, Marlowe present)

Source: August 2023 minutes

August 25, 2023

• George Locke says to Mike and Kevin at Bellevue that “we had a meeting with our neighbors and the concept we discussed with you is on longer on the table”

Source: Emails between George Locke and Kevin Feely, obtained via Right to Know request

August 26, 2023

• Pennsylvania State FOP reaches out to Mike at Bellevue to ask if they represent Jenkintown Borough
• Mike from Bellevue asks George Locke if he can confirm
• George defers to Mike, saying “council voted publicly to engage your firm”
• George confirms Kevin from Bellevue will join an upcoming strategy meeting with a small group of Council members, Mayor, and Chief to discuss their “immediate future path” and how they will use Bellevue’s expertise moving forward

Source: Emails between George Locke and Mike Neilon, obtained via Right to Know request

September 20, 2023

• Borough’s 2nd payment to Bellevue ($10,000)

Source: Bellevue invoice, obtained via Right to Know request

September 21, 2023

• JPD contract negotiations begin

Source: Interviews with officers

December 31, 2023

• Most recent JPD contract ends

Source: Interviews with officers

February 6, 2024

• JPD contract negotiations reach impasse; police union notifies council they are filing for arbitration

Source: Interviews with officers

February 7, 2024

• Kim Hudson from CBS News Philadelphia reaches out to George Locke saying she was sent the PR firm contract and asked questions about the Borough closing the police department

Source: Emails between George Locke and Kim Hudson, obtained via Right to Know request

• Kevin Feely emails George Locke saying Kim Hudson reached out to him regarding the PR firm contract and with questions about the JPD, proposed a statement to give Kim
• Kevin has a discussion with the Chief and sends everyone a draft press release for the Borough to use in response to questions from the media

Source: Emails between George Locke and Kevin Feely, obtained via Right to Know request

• Borough releases statement to the media
  • Asserts the contract with Bellevue has ended
  • Emphasizes cost of public safety system

Source: Jenkintown press release, obtained via Right to Know request

February 8, 2024

• Ryan Genova (reporter from Glenside Local) emails the Borough Council with follow-up questions to the Feb 7 press release
• Jay Conners forwards Ryan’s inquiry to Kevin Feely & Michael Neilon (Bellevue VP)
• Kevin Feely responds with a statement that Jay sends to Ryan Genova

Source: Emails between Ryan Genova & Borough Council and emails between Jay Conners & Kevin Feely, obtained via Right to Know request

• Glenside Local reports “Future of Jenkintown Police Department uncertain due to financial concerns”

Source: GlensideLocal.com

February 13, 2024

• WHYY reports “Jenkintown considers dissolving its police force” with interview featuring Mayor Lerman

Source: WHYY.org

February 16, 2024

• Mayor Lerman announces two community meetings to discuss the police department issue (to be held 2/21 @ Borough Hall & 2/26 @ JHS auditorium)

Source: Facebook post

February 21, 2024

• Mayor Lerman releases the un-redacted Smeal report

Source: Facebook post

• Council committee workshop meeting, where the Council engaged in the 1st public Q&A on the police issue

Source: Attended meeting

February 26, 2024

• Community meeting at the JHS auditorium, where the Council engaged in the 2nd public Q&A on the police issue

Source: Attended meeting

March 6, 2024

• Council hosts private meeting at Beaver Hill to discuss the police department
• Mayor Lerman, Conners, Soltysiak, Marlowe, Bruno, Ballard, Chief Scott present (nearly was a violation of the PA Sunshine Act)

Source: Attended meeting

March 20, 2024

• Council committee workshop meeting, where the members of the Council chastised residents for “getting special treatment” by seeking meetings with George to get answers on budget questions

Source: Attended meeting

April 11, 2024

• Borough posts “Annual Borough Budget Information and Updates”
• Addresses budget questions raised by Jenkintown Matters and others

Source: Update posted to Borough website