Former Code Enforcement Officer Sues Falls Twp.

Former Falls Township chief code enforcement officer Tom Bennett has filed a lawsuit against the municipality.

Bennett, a Falls Township resident, is suing in Bucks County Common Pleas Court for wrongful discharge in violation of public policy and is seeking in excess of $50,000. The lawsuit was filed in late July.

The lawsuit stated that Bennett was “pressured and threatened” to “improperly and illegally” issue a certificate of occupancy for a home on Martha Drive in Fallsington that had a new owner in June 2019. Bennett said he refused to do so because the home had “substantial violations” and he was suspended for two-and-a-half days without pay and directed to not go near the property, which is near his residence.

The former code enforcer claims the home was in direct violation of township code and posed a serious risk. In addition, he alleged that he was “harassed” by the former township manager, members of the board of supervisors, and lawyers.

After refusing to sign a certificate of occupancy for the residence that he said violated the code, Bennett stated his duties were stripped and his staff ordered not to take direction from him. Instead, the inspectors were ordered to take direction from then-Township Manager Peter Gray, who left the township earlier this year.

Bennett, according to the lawsuit, was called into a meeting with Gray, former Supervisors Chairman Bob Harvie, and township solicitors Lauren Gallagher and Michael Clarke. The code enforcer complained about his suspension from work and he replied he was only attempting to do his job and keep people safe. Clarke said the law had changed, while Bennett said he had followed the law.

The filing claimed that there was confusion in the department due to Bennett’s role being uncertain.

Bennett stated in the lawsuit that he was terminated “for refusing to engage in conduct prohibited by law.”

“We have reviewed the lawsuit filed by Mr. Bennett. The Township looks forward to defending its actions in Court as it did nothing wrong. As the Chief Code Enforcement Officer of the Township Mr. Bennett was charged with knowing the law and following the law. When it became clear that Mr. Bennett was unaware of updates in law and insisted on substituting his judgment and opinions for the law, the Township acted to ensure that the law was followed,” a Tuesday evening statement from the Supervisors said.

Harvie, now a county commissioner, declined comment.

A request for comment from Bennett’s attorney was not immediately returned.

Last summer at a Supervisors meeting, Bennett spoke to the public and said he resigned from his job because he was “being forced to signed a certificate of occupancy for a home that had substantial violations and you guys (the Supervisors) are aware of this.”

Supervisor Jeff Dence, who is now the Board of Supervisors chairman, claimed last year after Bennett spoke at the public meeting that the claims were “nonsense.

Clarke said at the time that Bennett was “wrong on the law” and later stated he was a “disgruntled employee.”

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