Why can’t Swarthmore hold onto a Borough Manager?
By Bob Small
When I began attending Swarthmore Borough Council meetings, my assumption was that Jane Billings and Swarthmore Borough Manager were synonymous.
She held the post from 1990 until 2022.
Though there were clashes between her and the public, she was known as a dedicated public servant.
She was succeeded by William Webb, who served from 2022 to September 2025, when he left to take a post in Virginia.
Sean Halbourn was next. He was fired in March 2026 by a unanimous Borough Council vote.
They then brought on David Unkovic, who only agreed to take the post until a permanent replacement could be found. He said he wanted to return to the placid shores of retirement.
Council said they would be conducting an extensive search for the next Borough Manager. After this extensive search, they selected Scarlett McHale who had been a Swarthmore Borough Council member.
She was voted in On July 6 with council also creatinga the post of assistant borough manager with Alex Ashcombe being appointed to it.
That comes to four Borough Managers in four years.
Media and Springfield are nearby municipalities.
The last two managers of Media were Jeffrey Smith who served from. to now
The last two Springfield managers are J. Lee Fulton who served from 2010-2024 and Steve Lucas who has served since 2024.
Media and Springfield are both more complex than Swarthmore, with many more businesses among other factors.
Great Britain has had six Prime Ministers since 2016 but that’s a slightly more difficult job than Borough Manager of Swarthmore.
Continuity at the borough manager level would seem to be desired but not attainable in Swarthmore.
Wonder what the odds are at Kalshi Prediction Marke for the longevity of our next one.
