Montgomery County Board of Commissioners Meeting - July 20, 2026

The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners held a public meeting on July 20, 2026, in Hatfield Township. The meeting featured recognitions, presentations, several resolutions, and public comments on election integrity, retiree benefits, and public safety legislation.

Recognitions & Presentations

• Hatfield Township Recognitions: Commissioner Jamila Winder highlighted nearly $2 million in county investments in Hatfield for affordable housing, roads, trails, and first responder equipment. A short film, "Our Declaration," was shown, produced by the Hatfield 250 committee.
• Community Organizations: Commendations were given to Friendship House Daycare (50 years of service, plans to expand from 40 to 150 children) and Garden of Health (eight-acre community farm in Hatfield, providing fresh, allergen-free food).
• Local Business: Rhodan Group, a family-owned injection molding company since 1956, was recognized.
• Election Sticker Contest: Winners of the "I Voted" sticker design contest were announced: Samuel (age 8, Pennsburg), Genevieve (age 13, North Wales), Ellie (age 11, Abington), and Max (age 42, King of Prussia). The stickers will be available for in-person voters in the upcoming election.
• Bangladeshi American Cultural Festival: Rescheduled to July 25, 2026, at School Road Park, Hatfield.
• Victus Bats: The Commerce Department presented the commissioners with custom-made bats, noting that 28% of all MLB swings use Victus bats made in King of Prussia, used by Phillies players and in the Home Run Derby.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the June 25, 2026, meeting.
• Approved two TEFRA bond resolutions: (1) Waverly Heights – up to $73 million for construction of 36 new apartment units and amenities in Lower Merion Township; (2) New Horizons Montessori School (now The Montessori School) – up to $2.5 million for electrical/HVAC upgrades, farmhouse renovation, playgrounds, and bond refinancing in Upper Dublin Township.
• Approved authorization for the Chief Operating Officer to select volunteer experienced finance professionals for a Finance Working Group (recommended by Commissioner DeBello).
• Approved submission of an Emergency Solutions Grant application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for $600,000, with a required $600,000 local match, to support homeless services.
• Approved a board appointment to the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board.
• Approved the July 15, 2026 personnel list presented by Megan Brown.
• Approved advertisement of bids and RFPs (Exhibit A), including an RFP for mobile outreach to address the opioid crisis using opioid litigation funds.
• Approved awards of contracts, amendments, and renewals for Montgomery County (Exhibit B) and the Southeast PA Regional Task Force (Exhibit C).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sandra Levine (Hatfield): Expressed concern about outdated voter rolls, citing instances of inactive voters remaining on rolls and potential voting by non-residents. She also supported the new finance advisory committee to reduce duplication and tax increases.
• Michelle Ingerto (Lower Salford): Criticized the rollout of electronic poll books in the May primary, citing failures in Lower Salford and Hatfield precincts that caused delays and voter confusion. She urged parallel use of paper poll books and further testing before November.
• Ginger Hoyt (Souderton): Also raised concerns about voter roll cleanliness, noting a neighbor who moved five years ago remained on the rolls.
• Ted Joslyn (retired county employee): Requested a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for county retirees, citing a promise made during an early retirement buyout nearly 20 years ago. He noted Chester and Berks counties have granted COLAs. Commissioners responded that the pension system is below 80% funded due to 2022 investment losses, but they are hopeful after a strong 2023-2024 that the system may exceed the threshold next year, allowing consideration. They acknowledged the retirees' advocacy.
• Kofi Osei (Towamencin Township Supervisor): Urged the county to fix Sumneytown Pike, citing increased development and a major proposal along the corridor. He praised the county's planning assistance and local official orientation, requesting an annual event.
• Representative Donna Sheron (147th District): Called on the commissioners to press the House Judiciary Committee to convene before July 24 to act on Senate Bill 1400, which would create a constitutional sentencing framework for second-degree murder after the state Supreme Court ruling in Commonwealth v. Lee. She warned that without action, 1,165 existing sentences (including an estimated 100 in Montgomery County) would require review, reopening cases and victim wounds. Commissioners agreed to write letters and make calls to Representative Briggs and Majority Leader Bradford.

Key Outcomes

• All resolutions on the consent calendar passed unanimously.
• The commissioners committed to addressing voter roll maintenance per federal law and to continuing paper poll book backups while fixing electronic poll book issues.
• The commissioners will follow up on the retiree COLA after the September actuary report and expressed hope for a future adjustment.
• The commissioners agreed to contact Montgomery County legislative leaders to urge action on Senate Bill 1400 before the July 24 deadline.
• The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:15 PM, followed by a brief Salary Board meeting which approved the salary board list and honored retirees Pat Costello (14 years, Board of Assessments) and Donna Karamenico (46 years, Recycling Department).