Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
A recognizable and key figure in Bucks County’s COVID-19 response was abruptly let go.
Bucks County Emergency Management Agency Director Scott Forster, according to sources, was told to return his county equipment on Sunday over the holiday weekend. By that evening, rumors began to swirl that he was no longer leading the emergency services agency. The next morning, county staff and local emergency management officials confirmed the news.
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The reason for Forster’s abrupt removal from his leadership position was not immediately clear.
Several emergency management, local government, and law enforcement sources said there are often times when county emergency management leaders and local officials butt heads and have disagreements during responses, but none were aware of any disagreements that would lead to Forster losing his job.
“Scott Forster has been released from his position with the county effective January 2,” said Bucks County Deputy Director of Public Information James O’Malley.
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O’Malley stated he could not go into the reason for Forster being dismissed because the county “does not comment on personnel matters.”
This news organization was unable to find up-to-date contact information to request comment from Forster.
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Audrey Kenny, the county’s director of emergency communications, will fill Forster’s former job in the interim.
Forster was still listed on the county emergency management webpage as of Tuesday afternoon. He was on a county press conference just two weeks ago with the commissioners and Bucks County Health Department Director Dr. David Damsker, who remains in his position.
The emergency management agency for the county, which is based in Ivyland Borough, oversees the county’s 9-1-1 center, emergency health services, disaster response, fire marshal, public safety, and armed security force. The agency has played a key role in providing supplies for local emergency responders, municipal governments, and preparing medical equipment during the pandemic.
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“We are confident this personnel change will have no negative impact on the county’s COVID response,” O’Malley said.
Forster was hired by the county in 2013 after previous director John Dougherty retired. Forster came to Bucks County with a decade of experience working for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and as an adjunct professor for public safety at Bucks County Community College.
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Public records show Forster was paid over $100,000 a year.
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