Swarthmore’s borough manager dismissed after only six months in the position.

Swarthmore Borough has made headlines with the recent dismissal of borough manager Sean Halbom, who only held the position for six months. This decision was reached unanimously by the borough council during a meeting held on Monday. Council President Jill Bennett Gaieski has, however, refrained from disclosing the reasons behind this unexpected termination.

Halbom’s short tenure came after a series of brief employments in various managerial roles. Prior to his appointment in Swarthmore, Halbom served as the township manager for Upper Frederick Township, a position he held for less than one year before resigning in June 2025. His professional journey has included multiple roles in Montgomery County, including being an interim human resources director and a township manager in Worcester Township, where his employment was terminated by the local board in April 2024.

Notably, Halbom was placed on administrative leave on February 17, a move first reported by The Swarthmorean. His struggles in maintaining a lasting position have raised eyebrows within the community, especially considering the potential consequences for local governance.

Halbom took over the borough manager role in September, following the departure of his predecessor, William Webb, who left to accept a position as an assistant county administrator in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. In the meantime, a transition period saw additional changes within the borough. Scott Schumacher, a longstanding employee and children’s librarian at the Swarthmore Public Library, vacated his position on February 18. Notably, Elizabeth Brown, president of the library’s board, stated that Schumacher’s departure was unrelated to Halbom’s termination.

In light of these developments, the council announced the appointment of David Unkovic as the interim borough manager. Unkovic comes highly regarded, having previously served as the interim township manager for Upper Providence Township and boasting a decade-long legal career at the Harrisburg-based law firm McNees Wallace & Nurick. He also held the position of state receiver for the City of Harrisburg in 2012.

The Swarthmore council has initiated a search for a permanent borough manager, with hopes of appointing a candidate by June 1. Gaieski emphasized the importance of finding the right fit for the position, assuring that the council will undertake a thorough process to ensure proper governance for Swarthmore.

As the borough navigates through these staffing shifts, community members will be closely observing how these changes will impact local administration and service delivery.

This report is sourced from Media News Source.