Michael P. Daly being sworn in as Commissioner in Ward 2 (Photo Lower Merion Township)
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Michael P. Daly being sworn in as Commissioner in Ward 2 (Photo Lower Merion Township)
LOWER MERION – Lower Merion welcomed five new commissioners, swore in two returning commissioners, and reelected its president of the past four years to a new two-year term.
During Lower Merion’s 64th reorganization meeting, the board elected Commissioner Todd Sinai to another two-year term as president of the board. Following Sinai’s election, they voted to elect Jeremiah Woodring as the board’s new vice president.
Commissioner Sean Whalen nominated Sinai for the position of board president.
“Todd has led us now for four years,” Whalen said as he nominated Sinai. “He has been a stalwart leader of this board. He has led with humility.”
Whalen added that Sinai has led the township through two of its best economic years and two of its “less good economic years.”
“And it is not lost on us how well you have guided us through that and how smoothly that has happened and that transition, and yet we still maintain albeit the greatest township in the state,” he added.
Sinai’s nomination was then seconded by Commissioner Scott Zelov.
“Todd has been on the board of commissioners for eight years. He has served as our president for the last four years, and he deserves our support for another two,” Zelov said.
Following being sworn into the president’s position, Sinai talked about some of the things the township has accomplished over the past few years.
“As you all know, I view the role of the board president to support the board in identifying and achieving its goals,” Sinai said. “I firmly believe that we make better decisions when we work collectively, channeling our different perspectives through collaboration and through compromise. And looking back, as Commissioner Zelov did, the township accomplished a lot over the last two years. We searched for and hired a new police superintendent. We reversed the post-COVID decline in our police staffing levels. We commenced construction of the Ardmore Avenue Community Center and PALM. We delivered on new affordable housing. We renovated and enhanced several playgrounds. We supported 20 nonprofit organizations through our vitality grant program, plus more through CDBG and by our own budget. We installed solar panels and EV chargers. We added traffic calming to several streets. We approved red light and school bus cameras. We started the process of filling in our sidewalk network. We extended the Cynwyd Heritage Trail and created a Pencoyd Trail connection. We adopted a family and parental leave policy. We completed renovations of Ashbridge House, and I could go on.”
District Magisterial Judge Karen Eisner Zucker swore everyone into each position.
Every two years, Lower Merion voters elect 7 members on the 14-member board of commissioners. For the 2025 election season, five new members were elected. As part of the reorganization meeting, those five new members, Michael P. Daly, Charles B. Gregory, Chris McGuire, Craig Timberlake, and Shelby L. Sparrow, were sworn in to their first four-year terms.
Following the swearing in of the new members, the two incumbents, Todd Sinai and Scott Zelov, were also sworn in to new four-year terms.
Along with the commissioner, Jana Lunger was also sworn in as the treasurer for Lower Merion Township. Maryam Phillips was also named for another term as chairperson of the Lower Merion Township Vacancy Board.