Arnold Council reorganization expected to include actions on police chief, city manager

Arnold’s police chief is expected to be out, and its manager is anticipated to return in January.

Council is slated to vote on demoting police Chief Eric Doutt to patrolman and rehiring former City Manager Mario Bellavia during its reorganization meeting beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the public safety building on Drey Street.

Both actions are on the agenda for the meeting, which is available on the city’s website, cityofarnoldpa.org.

The city’s incoming mayor, Shannon Santucci, previously said she intended to do both upon taking office. Santucci, a former Arnold police officer and chief, defeated Mayor Joe Bia II in the May primary and was unchallenged in the November election.

She is expected to have a majority on the five-member council with newly elected member Aaron Moore and returning Councilman Phil McKinley.

Doutt’s demotion from chief to patrolman would be effective Wednesday, Santucci said.

Officer Rob Haus would become the department’s interim chief until further notice. Council will vote on his appointment in a motion separate from Doutt’s demotion.

Arnold officers would have 10 days to apply for the job. Santucci said she hopes to name a replacement chief by the February council meeting.

Doutt did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

If approved by council, Bellavia would resume his job as city manager Jan. 15, Santucci said.

Arnold’s previous council formalized firing Bellavia on a 4-1 vote in October, with McKinley casting the only vote against. Solicitor Jaclyn Shaw said Bellavia had been placed on administrative leave in late September.

The reason for his termination was not disclosed.

An Arnold native, Bellavia was hired as Arnold’s city clerk in June 2018 and was named city administrator in February 2020.

Although other council members said the city would launch a search for a new manager, McKinley hinted at Bellavia’s return, saying at the same meeting Bellavia was fired that he looked forward to working with him again after Jan. 1.

Bellavia did not respond to a request for comment Friday.