Thursday, March 15, 2012
Commissioner Jenny Brown called for an independent investigation into the matter.
Lower Merion Commissioner Jenny Brown on Wednesday night called for a private investigation into Lower Merion Township’s deferred-compensation plan for township management employees. “I have received a lot—a lot—of inquiries about it,” Brown said during Wednesday evening’s finance committee meeting. “I will say that some of what I am about to say makes me absolutely heartsick.” The issue of deferred compensation was first raised at a Feb. 22 finance committee meeting by Brown, who along with Commissioner Lew Gould expressed concern they had never known the program existed. They also questioned the program's up-to-7 percent contribution by employees and 7 percent employer contribution, regardless of whether the employee defers any …
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Service awards were presented to six firefighters for acts of heroism and to two outgoing presidents and one outgoing chief.
A number of firefighters were honored Wednesday night for their service in a room full of fellow volunteers, family and friends and the Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners. Brad Remick, Andrew Fridley and David Watrous of the Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hills Fire Dept.were honored by the township for rescuing a 99-year-old victim from her bedroom during a Dec. 12 apartment fire at Green Hill Condominium in Wynnewood. James “Chip” McLean, John Remillard and Michael Schwarz of the Gladwyne Fire Co. were honored by the township for their heroic efforts to save four other firefighters and two civilians from floodwaters on Sept. 8. These men also received awards from Whitemarsh Township, where the rescue occurred. Service awards were given…
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Christine Knorr resigned Tuesday, hoping to head off her recommended termination.
At Wednesday evening’s meeting of the Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners, a vote on accepting a recommendation to fire a 15-year veteran of the township police department was once more tabled, just as it was a week prior. The commissioners voted 12-0 to postpone the action, perhaps to give it more time to consider the situation after Officer Christine Knorr submitted her resignation on Tuesday. No date was given for another vote on the matter, which came about as a result of many sick days taken since 2008 due to a host of medical issues, including nervous system disorders and heart surgery, according to FOP Lodge 28 President Sgt. Gavin Goschinski. Police Superintendent Michael McGrath recommended termination at the Jan. 5 Board…
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Bryn Mawr's Ludington Library project remains behind schedule.
The Lower Merion Board of Commissioners Finance Committee postponed its vote on whether to recommend a contract for hiring an owner’s representative for the Bala Cynwyd Library Renovations Project, but the full board approved another contract to provide moving and storage services for the project. The Bala Library Renovation Project will add 6,000 square feet to the building, install a geothermal HVAC System, reorganize interior space for logic and efficiency, and replace old shelving and furnishings as needed. An ancillary project will upgrade the library's book and materials tracking system using Radio Frequency Identification. As noted, the project is anticipated to last one year, with Bala expected to re-open in early 2013. The library…
The Township Police Dept. has 124 current active officers.
The Lower Merion Board of Commissioners on Wednesday night authorized the township manager to make conditional offers to 13 police applicants who have fulfilled all Civil Service requirements, to fill existing vacancies in the ranks of the Lower Merion Police Department. The vote was placed on the board’s consent calendar (it was voted on with other items and not discussed). Earlier in the evening, the board’s Police Committee unanimously recommended the 13 offers. The Police Department has concluded the background investigation process for the top 20 candidates on the Civil Service Eligibility List, said Lower Merion Police Superintendent Michael McGrath. Of those 20, the Civil Service Commission on Dec. 15 certified 15 as meeting …
Commissioners cautioned no increase may not be sustainable.
The Lower Merion Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved the 2012 fiscal year budget by a 12-2 vote, but several commissioners cautioned that the included measure calling for no real estate tax increas may not be sustainable in the future. It is the first time since 2006 that there will be no real estate tax increase in teh township, said Commissioner Scott Zelov. “Finally before me is the proof that a 0 percent tax increase is an achievable event,” said Commissioner Philip Rosenzweig. Rosenzweig said he was “extremely pleased” and hoped that the new budget would set a precedent. Passed shortly before midnight, the approved ordinance sets the 2012 real estate tax rate at 4.19 mills on each dollar of assessed valuation—unchanged from …
Monday, December 19, 2011
The "SIGN Act" would bar the federal government from regulating road signs.
At a noontime announcement at the Lower Merion Township Administration Building, Sen. Pat Toomey (R, Pa.) said he would introduce legislation to eliminate the federal government's power to regulate street sign reflectivity. If passed, Toomey said the legislation—called the Stopping Intrusive Government Now (SIGN) act—would save the township's historic cast-iron street signs and protect municipal governments from "cumbersome regulation" while preventing the federal government from "overstepping its bounds." "It will allow communities to make their own decisions on their own timetable," the senator said, calling street sign mandates a "classic case of a decision that should be made at the local level." Toomey added that he expects broad …
The Villanova winery will be in an 1835 carriage house.
The Lower Merion Board of Commissioners Grants and Community Development Committee on Wednesday night voted unanimously to give Christopher and Ann Papariello permission to operate a limited winery in the carriage house of 1835 Gulph Road, Villanova, as a historic resource home occupation. The Papariello’s 1782 home and carriage house are both listed on the Lower Merion Township Historic Resource Inventory as Class I Historic Resources. The homeowners plan to partition 727 square feet of the 1,645 square-foot carriage house into a room to be used for a home winery, consisting of pallets for storage, a mixing and storage tank, and work desks, according to the committee’s findings of fact, discussion and order on the application. The couple …
Thursday, December 15, 2011
It will take effect April 30. Further revisions are planned.
The Lower Merion Board of Commissioners voted 6-4 on Wednesday night to approve a rezoning plan for the City Avenue corridor of Bala Cynwyd, to take effect April 30—but the Board plans to make further revisions to the plan. The rezoning ordinance, first drafted in 2008 and revised several times since, aims to encourage mixed-use commercial and residential development, permit taller buildings (up to 200 feet in some areas) and create new, stricter setback requirements for new development along City Avenue and its side streets. It would also: Commissioners Richard Churchill, Philip Rosenzweig, Jane Dellheim, board President Liz Rogan, George Manos and C. Brian McGuire voted in favor of the rezoning ordinance. Dissenting were commissioners …
Thursday, December 8, 2011
The Administrative & Human Resources Committee wants more time.
After expressing its concerns, the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners’ Administrative & Human Resources Committee on Wednesday night tabled a vote to recommend that the full board authorize actions to adopt an ordinance promulgating the Human Relations Commission proposed Rules and Regulations, on January 18, 2012. The township’s Human Relations Commission (HRC) was formed last spring to ensure that all persons enjoy the full benefits of citizenship and are afforded equal opportunities for employment, housing, commercial property, and the use of public accommodations. The HRC’s Rules and Regulations Subcommittee worked with township Solicitor Gilbert P. High and William Kerr on the proposed Rules and Regulations, which provide for: The …
Rick Liberatoscioli
12:53 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
"Commissioner Jenny Brown called for an independent investigation into the matter." I and I'm sure the LM community agree with Commissioner Jenny Brown an independent investigation of the Lower Merion Township Commissioners is long past due. With their false promise to even investigate alleged felony crimes committed by their own pubic officials .... do you think they really care about the "… more ›