Borough Employees Earn Accolades

At most Doylestown Borough Council meetings, the elected council members find a moment to recognize the work of the town's administrative leaders, typically borough manager John Davis and assistant manager Phil Ehlinger.

But a new initiative aims to shine a spotlight on front-line employees who do great work but don't always get the recognition they should from the public.

"Department heads are lucky enough to receive pats on the back, and we often recognize police and emergency workers," Davis said at a recent borough council meeting. "I asked for a minute or two each month to recognize some of the folks that we don’t see here every month. We’d like to make this a monthly thing."

Borough employees recognized in March include:

Jack Morgan, assistant water operator. "He was put in charge of the water system for the first time the week of the ice storm when power failed to every well in town for the first time in the recorded history of the borough," Davis said. "It was true baptism by fire, and he did just an amazing job."

Beverly Walton, finance clerk. "During the snowstorm at the beginning of February, we closed the office for one day. But Beverly walked to work that day anyway, because she knew it was payroll day, and if she didn't get the work done, people wouldn't get paid on time - including her, I guess we should point out, but all of us certainly appreciate that action," Davis said.

Rich Pole – "There was a tricky water main break on Ashland, and Rich was just a real force of nature, doing a very unpleasant job very well," Davis said.

Dave Burger, parks foreman. "Besides doing a great job outdoors, he came in here and installed the screens and overheads that you see here," Davis said, referring to the new projectors in the borough council chambers.

Council member Lou White also took a moment to praise Burger for a heroic attempt to rescue a deer.

"A deer got into the borough pond, and after many efforts were made to pull it out, David jumped in the pond and helped to push it out," White said.

Amidst some laughter, code enforcement manager David Cell said the pushing was a last resort after they tried to rope the deer.

Alas, Cell said, "the lassoing did not work."