[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6301352,"mediaKeyId","2488623-f4919022513c818ad11fc018a989334e","parentId",2488623,"title","Brookhaven council appoints Acting Chief Tim Havoc after split debate; council records multiple routine approvals","audioSeconds",100,"startMs",4850000,"endMs",4950000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2488623-f4919022513c818ad11fc018a989334e&start=4850&end=4950","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2488623-f4919022513c818ad11fc018a989334e/thumbnail_4850000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6301352/Brookhaven/Delaware-County/Pennsylvania/Brookhaven-council-appoints-Acting-Chief-Tim-Havoc-after-split-debate-council-records-multiple-routine-approvals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301352-6d8603a7921f09d39ecd8eac0f826191/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170570&Signature=YOgG4lSlxPuzniaIgksqQzK0Xnw1AOQ2F6476hd2ROKgGnY~8AzLOoC3YVTwRbh0k5KayiUCUc7iRRDDvtWDEAfPj3nPSPS6fBF1eMumo2IEW-nIdLf1m0gM9kz9c7~qsQoe~AmnFHMKuVRmULe5QFOqRUUXpCnvndaGeXnlMFM-UVwqMjznREFttAodW-0ZakgUYZJZeInVmFjd75JP-Wmo6GanDSZkG1JFwXVwiB4PN8C9wdSTu7tcCxk1A4nRyWloGEGFHUq4Ch2FbBIOnNCajtP9d5MP5~EUDLzeKEKGs8zM72qpYUMlOlMnYgFUaFzPsLH4y1V~FZ5b1t92hg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Brookhaven Borough, PA","date","2025-03-04T20:45:01Z","article","Brookhaven Borough Council on March 3 voted to appoint Acting Chief Tim Havoc as chief of police following a contentious debate about whether the borough had adequately advertised and interviewed candidates for the permanent post.

The roll‑call vote to appoint Havoc (the acting chief) carried 4–3. Council members in favor said promoting the department’s senior officer would provide continuity after a turbulent staffing period; members opposed said their “no” votes reflected concerns about process and the absence of an open hiring search and candidate interviews.

Process and objections

Councilwoman [first reference] Miss Fovio said she opposed holding the vote that night because the borough had neither opened the position to outside applicants nor discussed the hiring in executive session. “I don’t think we should be taking a vote on this tonight,” she said, arguing the council should follow a normal hiring process. Several other council members said they were not aware of the appointment before the agenda was released Friday and expressed frustration at the timing.

Supporters of the appointment said Havoc has long service in Brookhaven and local knowledge that would be hard to match from an outside hire. Councilman Joe Pappas (council member) and others said promoting from within was appropriate given Havoc’s tenure, training history and prior investigative work.

Roll call and vote

The council performed a roll‑call vote. The transcript records the following responses: Mr. Heller — aye; Miss Fovio — no; Mrs. Heller — aye; Mr. Duplicky — aye; Miss Suwicki — no; Mr. Pappas — aye; Mr. Burke — no. The council president announced the ayes have it and the motion carried.

Other votes at the meeting

Council approved multiple other routine items during the March meeting. The meeting record shows motions and their outcomes as follows (votes recorded in meeting minutes or roll call where available):

Votes at a glance

- Resolution approving a stipulation to settle a tax assessment appeal for Brookhaven Self Storage (121 E. Brookhaven Rd.): Motion moved, seconded; motion carries (voice vote recorded).
- Motion to authorize advertisement of the 2025 street resurfacing project (list of streets read into record): Motion moved, seconded; motion carries (voice vote recorded).
- Authorization to submit a PennDOT traffic signal review request for the Edgemont and William intersection: Motion moved, seconded; motion carries (voice vote recorded).
- Motion to approve the minutes of the Feb. 3, 2025 council meeting: Motion moved, seconded; motion carries (voice vote recorded).
- Motion to approve the March bill list (general fund $213,321.09; sewer $15,592.99; road $860.50; total $229,774.58): Motion moved, seconded; motion carries (voice vote recorded).
- Motion to extend a conditional offer of employment to civil service commission candidate Adam Viola (police department): Motion moved, seconded; motion carries (voice vote recorded). Offer conditional on medical, psychological and background checks.
- Motion to appoint Timothy (Tim) Havoc to rank of chief of police, conditioned on execution of an employment contract: Motion moved, seconded; roll‑call vote 4–3 (ayes: Heller, Mrs. Heller, Duplicky, Pappas; noes: Fovio, Suwicki, Burke). Motion carries.
- Motion to retain five seasonal public‑works employees for the 120‑day window at $22/hr: Motion moved and seconded; motion carries.
- Motion to hire full‑time public works employee Andrew Guthrie, retroactive start Feb. 26, at $24.72/hr plus benefits after probation: Motion moved and seconded; motion carries.
- Motion to waive the annual Lowe’s seasonal corral permit fee (100‑day period): Motion moved and seconded; motion carries.
- Motion to approve a DCNR grant application and resolution for Garcia Park improvements: Motion moved and seconded; motion carries.
- Motion to retain General Code to codify recent ordinances into the code book at a cost not to exceed $7,340 (includes two hard copies): Motion moved and seconded; motion carries.

What council members said

Council debate repeatedly separated two issues: the candidate’s qualifications and the council’s process for filling a high‑level, highly paid position. Several members who opposed the appointment said their “no” vote reflected concerns about the hiring process rather than the candidate’s competence. “My reason for voting no is not based on the person. It’s more so based on the process,” Councilwoman Fovio said. Supporters emphasized Havoc’s long record in Brookhaven and argued internal promotion would preserve institutional knowledge.

Next steps and contract conditions

The council’s appointment is conditioned on the successful execution of an employment contract and the usual pre‑employment checks for other hires. Council also discussed budget implications: one member noted the acting chief could be earning more as acting chief than as chief on the approved budget line; the council indicated they would manage budget impacts by not backfilling positions or by other internal budget adjustments.

Ending

The appointment closed a chapter of debate that several speakers said had been building since late 2024. The council’s 4–3 vote to promote from within underscores the political divisions on council about process and communication, even as the body continued with routine administrative votes and hiring approvals at the March meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 2025 Brookhaven Borough Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Brookhaven Borough Council voted 4–3 to appoint Acting Chief Tim Havoc as chief of police after a contentious debate about process and outreach. Council also approved a number of routine administrative motions, including a county lease increase, a Delco Greenways grant disbursement and multiple hiring and procurement items.","taxTitle","Brookhaven, Delaware County, Pennsylvania","taxId",71900,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6301357,"Residents and inspectors press Brookhaven officials over safety, code gaps at new Brookhaven Glen development",1247,166000,1413000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2488623-f4919022513c818ad11fc018a989334e&start=166&end=1413","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2488623-f4919022513c818ad11fc018a989334e/thumbnail_166000.jpg","/articles/6301357/Brookhaven/Delaware-County/Pennsylvania/Residents-and-inspectors-press-Brookhaven-officials-over-safety-code-gaps-at-new-Brookhaven-Glen-development","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301357-e14dc476fa1fcbbcbd0887722c8d6e4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170570&Signature=oQK99ehpuYGFRPX5v33ibsY2k1w~dKp9GX-bjO76pywze8VULkH50aypWBfbbdCWvtxw5HzTaRrnortWUGMpDBN78NYGNtPWKzD-48R48xajPZVgjZNmWEERXxFSsB5z-7025VVbhSDbFZs8lVmK5E6UNDxzDzCKMDrsLOMykjIkiBwcu-z-MF8zw5JH1C8WYXnixKRPWX9RZGkrwOsZXhOJkksrzDkFiHKSvmeaa7wayzEMo9ctdpfpr7IjPPJzqim7uT2lvsxocqiL~il2OME6Xr2QlN~Xj6zaZazG9~NprHFysZPB9jpSRLWvg9XX-SzFI9bSHkdJudxkjzOk6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Paul Pedrick, vice president of the Brookhaven Glen Association, told Brookhaven Borough Council on March 3 that inspections of a new multi‑building development found multiple safety and security problems he called “serious” and said residents — many of them older adults — were at risk.

Pedrick said the buildings, a cluster of seven similar structures opened about two years ago, showed what he described as missing fireproof caulking, taped‑over ceiling penetrations, masking tape over overhead lights, electrical boxes without covers, expired sprinkler testing tags, missing wrenches in sprinkler valve boxes, fire extinguishers without tags, and storage of construction materials in common‑area closets. He also said several building access doors do not latch, allowing easy entry.

The concerns, Pedrick said, prompted a walk‑through with borough staff and the fire marshal and led to questions about whether the developer had ever received a permanent certificate of occupancy. “My name is Paul Pedrick … I’m the vice president of the Brookhaven Glen Association,” Pedrick said. “There was no fireproof caulking.”

Why it matters

Council members and borough staff said the items raised are enforcement matters under state code and the borough’s authority and that they can result in citations or withholding permanent certificate of occupancy (C of O) approvals. Borough officials told residents the process for formal dedication or acceptance of the project would be advertised and that the borough secretary could begin direct communications with the homeowners’ association leadership.

“I can tell you, number one, it would be advertised on the agenda, here in Borough Hall, [and] advertised on the borough website,” Borough Secretary Jay Wilwert said, describing how residents would be notified if a dedication or a formal council action were scheduled.

What the council and staff said they will do

Council members and staff described a mix of immediate enforcement and longer‑term steps. The fire inspector who spoke at the meeting said he had documented multiple inspections and said the paperwork shows the issues have been noted repeatedly. He told council, “I have every inspection paper and every time that I was there documented and everything that I saw.”

Officials told the room they would pursue enforcement under the fire code and Pennsylvania borough law. Council members said the borough could issue daily citations for continuing violations and agreed not to issue additional certificates of occupancy for units or buildings until outstanding common‑area and life‑safety items are corrected. Council asked borough staff to set up follow‑up inspections with a team including the fire inspector, the borough engineer and building‑code staff.

Council members and staff also discussed practical limits: the borough engineer said the escrow held for unfinished work likely would not cover the full cost of completing common‑area corrections across several buildings, and that any borough‑led remediation would likely be expensive and require legal steps to recover costs.

Resident concerns and next steps

Pedrick and other residents raised the prospect that the developer was using occupied units and common areas to store materials and asked how residents would be informed about the schedule for final inspections and the issuance or withholding of C of Os. The borough secretary agreed to collect contact information and to start direct correspondence with association leaders.

Council indicated it would schedule follow‑up site visits; the fire inspector offered to return with a team for another walkthrough. Officials also said they would explore issuing citations daily until defects are remedied and would refuse to sign off on any additional certificates of occupancy for buildings until common‑area fire‑safety, egress and security items are corrected.

Ending

Residents asked the council to act quickly because they said some of the defects — exposed glass shards, unlocked doors and stored flammable materials — presented an immediate hazard. Borough staff and the fire inspector agreed to coordinate inspections and to communicate timelines and findings to the association’s board and management company.

","Residents of the Brookhaven Glen community and borough inspectors reported multiple fire-safety and security problems at a recently built multi-building complex, prompting borough officials to say they will pursue daily citations and withhold new certificates of occupancy until defects are fixed.","actionData","errors"]

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Brookhaven council appoints Acting Chief Tim Havoc after split debate; council records multiple routine approvals

Residents and inspectors press Brookhaven officials over safety, code gaps at new Brookhaven Glen development