Brookhaven council approves personnel moves, towing ordinance and emergency operations plan
January 17, 2026 | Brookhaven, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
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Brookhaven Borough Council voted on several personnel and policy items at its January 2026 meeting, including steps to fill a full-time police position, adoption of a towing ordinance and formal adoption of the borough's 2026 emergency operations plan.
Solicitor Timothy Ewald told council that lien work on unpaid sewer and trash accounts can be handled by the solicitor's office or by a specialized vendor such as Portnoff Associates; he said outside counsel often bills delinquent homeowners and provides a dedicated hotline for title agents. "There is an organization in Pennsylvania called Portnoff Associates," Ewald said, describing the service as an option for the borough to consider.
Council approved a package of motions: advertising for a code-enforcement officer; approving the January bill list (General Fund $275,201.67; Sewer Fund $1,177,860.39; Trash Fund $25,616.03); a $360 refund to Goshen Global Ventures Inc. for a transfer commercial property/zoning permit; and the reappointments of Lynn McMonagle (recreation committee) and John J. Woolworth Jr. (zoning hearing board administrator).
On public-safety personnel, the council directed the civil-service commission to begin testing to create an eligibility list for a full-time police officer, authorized a promotional exam for sergeant, and extended a conditional offer of employment to Michael P. Irie for a full-time police officer position; all three motions carried. Council also approved a new ordinance governing towing, impoundment and vehicle storage that repeals the prior ordinance referenced as 8-31.
Missus Zimmer announced that Brookhaven was awarded a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) grant of about $158,000 for Garcia Park improvements; the recreation board was asked to begin planning to implement that grant. Council also approved the annual emergency management mutual-aid agreement and put the Brookhaven Borough 2026 Emergency Operations Plan into immediate effect.
The meeting record shows motions were moved, seconded, and approved by voice vote; no roll-call tallies with individual yes/no votes were recorded in the transcript.
The council will proceed with the next steps on hiring and ordinance implementation at future meetings and as grants and county/State approvals (for transportation and grant awards) are finalized.
Solicitor Timothy Ewald told council that lien work on unpaid sewer and trash accounts can be handled by the solicitor's office or by a specialized vendor such as Portnoff Associates; he said outside counsel often bills delinquent homeowners and provides a dedicated hotline for title agents. "There is an organization in Pennsylvania called Portnoff Associates," Ewald said, describing the service as an option for the borough to consider.
Council approved a package of motions: advertising for a code-enforcement officer; approving the January bill list (General Fund $275,201.67; Sewer Fund $1,177,860.39; Trash Fund $25,616.03); a $360 refund to Goshen Global Ventures Inc. for a transfer commercial property/zoning permit; and the reappointments of Lynn McMonagle (recreation committee) and John J. Woolworth Jr. (zoning hearing board administrator).
On public-safety personnel, the council directed the civil-service commission to begin testing to create an eligibility list for a full-time police officer, authorized a promotional exam for sergeant, and extended a conditional offer of employment to Michael P. Irie for a full-time police officer position; all three motions carried. Council also approved a new ordinance governing towing, impoundment and vehicle storage that repeals the prior ordinance referenced as 8-31.
Missus Zimmer announced that Brookhaven was awarded a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) grant of about $158,000 for Garcia Park improvements; the recreation board was asked to begin planning to implement that grant. Council also approved the annual emergency management mutual-aid agreement and put the Brookhaven Borough 2026 Emergency Operations Plan into immediate effect.
The meeting record shows motions were moved, seconded, and approved by voice vote; no roll-call tallies with individual yes/no votes were recorded in the transcript.
The council will proceed with the next steps on hiring and ordinance implementation at future meetings and as grants and county/State approvals (for transportation and grant awards) are finalized.
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