Court Opinion

ID: 9703146
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 23:42:46.681284+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:21:46.057484
License: Public Domain

Concurring Opinion by
Judge Kramer:
I concur in the result solely upon the majority’s holding that in view of the obvious adequate remedies *215at law, mentioned in the opinions of the court below, the court sitting in equity did not have jurisdiction. The record clearly discloses that the former chief of police, lieutenant, and sergeant, all have contested their alleged demotions under the civil service laws; and, hopefully, the outcome of those suits will finally determine whether the governing body of O’Hara Township committed an error of law or abused its discretion.
I am concerned, however, that the result of this case may be utilized by other municipalities in the Commonwealth as a means of support for a course of action, following a political election, to circumvent the civil service laws as they apply to municipal employees. From my point of view, we have not passed upon, in this case before us, the methods utilized by the governing body of O’Hara Township as being the proper method for being rid of police officials to the political disliking of a newly elected municipal governing body. I am concurring in the result on the basis stated above, with the firm belief that justice will be done in the other pending suits, and specifically, not on the basis that the change in titles of the police officers, and the realignment of the police department in O’Hara Township was proper, or legally supportable. That issue has yet to be determined.
I believe it equally important to note at this place that this writer has deep reservations on the legality of the O’Hara Township ordinance reorganizing its police department, as was done in this case, in view of the Act of June 24, 1968, P. L. 237, Act No. 111, 43 P.S. §217.1 et seq. To permit the governing body of a municipality to circumvent a binding collective bargaining agreement by such unilateral reorganization appears to defeat the purpose of Act No. 111. Once again, however, I must admit that the pleadings in this case do not support this action in equity by these plaintiffs to determine this possible additional issue. If the com*216plaint had specifically alleged injury to these plaintiffs (none of whom are police officers), it is conceivable that even citizen-taxpayers of such municipality could partake of protection provided by courts of equity. In view of the fact that the court below specifically found that there was no irreparable harm to these plaintiffs, such an equity action for these purposes cannot be justified.