Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Civil Service topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Norristown civil service commissioners urge investigation after alleged promotional‑test score leaks
Summary
Members of the Norristown Civil Service Commission told council that the borough’s promotional testing process shows irregularities and that the Fraternal Order of Police president has requested an investigation and subpoenas under Rule 2.10; commissioners asked council to halt solicitor appointments until the commission can name its own counsel.
Reverend Elisha Morris, speaking for the Norristown Civil Service Commission, told borough council during public comment that the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) president, Matthew O'Connell, has alleged irregularities in a current promotional testing process for lieutenant, sergeant and corporal. According to the commission, a member of the police department’s command staff received test scores that have not been released to all applicants and those scores were then provided selectively to certain people, leaving other applicants "in the dark," Morris said.
Morris said the commission has the authority under the Norristown civil service rules (cited as Rule 2.10 for investigations and Rule 2.11 for subpoenas) to pursue an inquiry. "We intend to follow these rules and regulations and do our job," Morris said, and added the commission would seek Commonwealth Court enforcement if subpoenas are resisted.
Commissioner Nadine Hitch said the FOP letter demanding an investigation is "very disturbing," that the commission has worked with department leaders over the last three years and that the commission was not previously made aware of the alleged irregularities. The commissioners also told council they were surprised to learn that council planned to appoint solicitors for commissions without the commission first recommending whom it wanted to retain.
Council members and the solicitor discussed procedure. The solicitor read an email from labor counsel noting that some past promotional disputes produced litigation; he advised the commission’s concerns warranted review. Council indicated it would consider tabling related personnel appointments to allow time for the commission and counsel to confer and for council to collect more information.
The commission asked that council "hold off" on appointing solicitors and on making personnel decisions that affect civil service rules until the commission has had the opportunity to consult with its chosen counsel. The commission said it will meet again on Thursday to decide whether to engage or challenge the solicitor in question.
What happens next: councilors signaled willingness to pause actions tied to the commission’s concerns and to provide copies of the FOP letter on record; no formal investigation or subpoena was recorded on the council agenda at the meeting.
Sources: public comment by Reverend Elisha Morris and commissioners Nadine Hitch and Jenna Lyons to Norristown Borough Council; referenced FOP letter from Matthew O'Connell.
