Borough manager of Swarthmore dismissed after only six months in position.
In a significant development within local governance, Sean Halbom has been terminated as the borough manager of Swarthmore after just six months in office. This decision reflects a broader pattern of short tenures that Halbom has experienced in various administrative positions over recent years. The Swarthmore Borough Council voted unanimously for the termination on Monday, although Council President Jill Bennett Gaieski declined to provide specific details regarding the rationale behind the decision.
Prior to his firing, Halbom was placed on administrative leave starting February 17, a situation that generated attention in local media. He assumed the role of borough manager in September, following a tenure that included multiple positions in Montgomery County. Notably, his previous role was within Upper Frederick Township, where he served as township manager for less than a year before resigning in June 2025.
Halbom’s career path includes other brief tenures, such as his position as interim human resources director for Bucks County, where he worked for only two months, and as township manager for Worcester Township, lasting approximately 18 months before his termination from that role in April 2024. His earlier appointment as the director of veterans affairs for Montgomery County spanned six years, from 2012 to 2018. Halbom succeeded William Webb, who vacated the Swarthmore manager role to take an assistant county administrator position in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.
Halbom’s departure coincided with other personnel changes in Swarthmore, including the exit of Scott Schumacher, a longtime public library employee. However, the library board president clarified that Schumacher’s departure was not connected to Halbom’s dismissal.
In his place, the council appointed David Unkovic as the interim borough manager. Unkovic brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as the interim township manager of Upper Providence Township. He is a retired lawyer who practiced with the Harrisburg firm McNees Wallace & Nurick and briefly held the position of state receiver for the City of Harrisburg in 2012.
The borough council has initiated the search for a permanent borough manager, with hopes of appointing someone by June 1. Council President Gaieski emphasized the commitment to finding the right candidate, indicating that the selection process may take time to ensure a suitable match for the community’s needs.
