Morrisville Borough Friday morning announced it has scheduled a special meeting to give its Chief of Police, George McClay a Loudermill letter.
The meeting is scheduled to take place October 25 7 pm, in council chambers.
Loudermill Letters stem from a United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) finding in 1985 “…that employees with a property interest in their jobs are entitled to certain due process rights prior to termination.”
These rights include oral or written notice of the charges against them, an explanation of the employer’s evidence, and an opportunity to be heard in response to the proposed action. Loudermill rights are applicable in instances when the employee may have a loss of pay, such as suspension, termination, or demotion, the Justices wrote in their 1985 decision.
As recent as 2019, Morrisville went through this process before firing now convicted felon and disgraced Cpl Michael Pitcher.
Rumors in recent months have circulated Morrisville sought to “suspend” McClay but this publication could not substantiate those claims with any credible source on the record. He has passionate supporters and detractors in Morrisville. He is a giant of a man and many like to say his size and stature
McClay was hired just under 10 years ago after a mess that involved a federal judge sealing a report in 2014 about an investigation in to the how the police department operated.
The announcement comes on the heels of now former Mayor Brud Anderson tendering his resignation as of Wednesday.
The man Anderson beat in 2021, Noel Sperry said Friday morning Council vice-president Helen Hlahol encouraged him to apply for the vacancy. Just one problem, he said, “I cannot apply. I moved to Connecticut.”
McClay has battled publicly with borough officials for years about manpower and hiring more full time officers. He is what is referred to as a “working chief.”
To fulfill the remaining due process requirements, a Loudermill letter will also have to inform the employee of his opportunity for a Loudermill hearing, according to the Pennsylvania Relations Board.
McClay did not respond to a request for comment on this story.
Credit: Lower Bucks Source