Jenkintown Council Issue Timeline Jenkintown Matters, April 28, 2024April 29, 2024 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 Share this:FacebookXLike this:Like Loading... 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