Rogan re-elected as Board president during reflective reorganization in Lower Merion
Seven Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners took the oath of office Tuesday night as some embark on serving their first full four-year terms.
For many of the Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners, the New Year will be a bit fuller.
Tuesday evening marked the 57th biennieal reorganization meeting of the township's Board of Commissioners as well as the start of the first full term for President of the Board Liz Rogan.
Rogan, who was elected in 2003, replaced former Board President Bruce Reed after his resignation in December 2010. Every commissioner with the exception of Lewis Gould, Jr. of Ward 11 re-elected Rogan as well as Vice President of the Board Paul McElhaney of Ward 3. Ward 2 Commissioner Jenny Brown of was not present.
"They say when you want to get something done, you ask a busy person," Commissioner Jane Dellheim of Ward 8 said in a brief speech nominating Rogan for the office of the president. "She is mindful in the need to act in the best interest of the township."
Noting her willingness to develop her own leadership style rather than adopting that of her predecessor, Commissioner Brian McGuire said Rogan reached down to find her own way while dealing with the "13 inflated egos on this Board, including my own."
McGuire replaced Reed as Ward 11 commissioner at the same time Rogan assumed the board presidency. McGuire, along with Commissioner of Ward 1 Daniel Berheim, took the oath of office for their first full four-year terms serving on the board.
Joining McGuire, Bernheim, Gould, McElhaney and Rogan, re-elected Commissioners Cheryl Gelber of Ward 5 and George Manos of Ward 9 stood next to family members as Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Lois Murphy swore them into office.
Encouraging her colleagues to go forth understanding not only what is wanted from the community but what Lower Merion residents need, Rogan noted unpopular and tough decisions are ahead, much like this past year, which notably included passing the contested City Avenue rezoning ordinance.
"We may not exactly enjoy a decision," Rogan said after assuming her seat as president of the board for her new term, "but sometimes it's just what you want, and sometimes it's all that grey in between."
After serving as Rogan's right-hand man during her time as president thus far, McElhaney said he would continue to aid and defend her after being re-elected as vice president.
Looking into the audience where his wife Dolly and children Morgan and Nathan sat, McElhaney thanked them for understanding the constraints being apart of the board put on his time. Gratitude for family and supporters grew to be an apparent theme throughout the night, where for once as Commissioner Manos joked, there were actually smiling faces in the boardroom.
After the reappointment of Chairperson of the Township's Vacancy Board Lita Cohen, Township Engineer Edward Pluciennik and Township Solicitor Gilbert High, Jr., and the ceremony ended, Manos' wife Jane Siegel held a bouquet of flowers.
"If anyone deserves it, it's her, not me," he said.