In light of the recent situation involving the arrest of Mayor Chad Carr and the appointment of a new mayor, it is reasonable for the public to question what vetting and oversight exist for those placed in positions of authority within our borough.
In the most recent mayoral election, a key distinction between incumbent Rita Frealing and Chad Carr was the proposal to shift police oversight away from the mayor and toward Borough Council, with day-to-day authority resting with the Borough Manager—an unelected position. That proposal now deserves renewed scrutiny.
What vetting process does a Borough Manager undergo before being placed in a role that could include oversight of a Police Chief? Are those standards comparable to the rigorous screening required of law enforcement leadership?
Police chiefs and officers undergo extensive vetting, including comprehensive background investigations, financial reviews, psychological evaluations, drug testing, polygraph examinations, and reviews of personal conduct and social media. These are not one-time checks. In many professions, including law enforcement, federal service, education, and finance, background reviews are repeated regularly to ensure continued eligibility and public trust.
This raises an important question: how often is the Borough Manager subject to updated background checks or formal review? Given that this position has been held for over a decade, has there been any recurring vetting to reflect changes in conduct, legal standing, or financial stability? If Council intends for the Manager to have oversight of police operations, should that position not meet a comparable standard?
Additionally, what assurances can Borough Council provide that expanding the authority of an unelected manager will not lead to conflicts of interest, unnecessary consolidation of power, or compensation structures that incentivize increased control over departments such as the police?
A Police Chief is already a trained leader with specific expertise in law enforcement operations. Why, then, would that role require oversight by another manager who may not possess the same level of specialized training or direct accountability to the public?
At a time when trust in leadership is already strained, Borough Council should adopt clear policies requiring comprehensive and recurring background checks for all high-level appointed officials and the Borough Manager. These standards should mirror, as closely as possible, those applied to law enforcement leadership. Any proposal to shift police oversight to an unelected position must also include full transparency, defined limits of authority, and enforceable accountability measures.
The residents of Gettysburg deserve nothing less than consistent standards and continued public trust.
Sincerely,
Shelley Knouse