2025 Township Reorganization Meeting
LOWER SALFORD, Pa., Jan. 6, 2025 – Township supervisors re-elected their leadership and welcomed a new rescue chief at Monday's annual reorganization meeting.
The supervisors reaffirmed Keith Bergman as chairman and Christopher Canavan as vice chairman while approving several reappointments, including Joseph Czajkowski as township manager, secretary and treasurer. The board also debated its meeting schedule, discussed plans to reorganize the Communications Committee and welcomed long-time first responder Colleen Haines of Gilbertsville as the new chief of Freedom Valley Medical Rescue (FVMR).
The board approved routine agenda items including appointments to township commissions and staff reappointments. Under Pennsylvania's Second-Class Township Codee, every board of supervisors is required to convene on the first Monday in January for its annual organization meeting. By law the date is fixed but after appointing new leadership it can be treated as a regular monthly meeting.
Supervisors also passed the first three resolutions of the year, amending and reestablishing the fee schedule for township services, setting the police department’s pension fund contributions for 2025 and authorizing the disposal of township property valued under $2,000.
Supervisor Kevin Shelly raised concerns about the township’s 7:30 a.m. public work session meetings, arguing they may limit public participation. He shared his observations that out of 38 Montgomery County townships, none hold regular public meetings in the morning. The only exception he found was Upper Dublin Township, which holds an 8:30 a.m. meeting — but on a Saturday.
Shelly, a parent with several children in the Souderton Area School District, emphasized that early morning meetings could disproportionately affect working-class residents, parents with young children and individuals with mobility challenges. “It’s before school,” Shelly said, “Parents are juggling childcare and getting children ready for the day.”
Despite the concerns, the board voted to retain the existing meeting schedule, which Canavan noted includes both a morning work session and an evening business meeting.
During committee reports, FVMR President Matt Frankel introduced Haines as the organization’s new chief of EMS. Supervisors welcomed Haines and thanked FVMR staff for their service, particularly during the busy holiday season.
Haines shared her background which includes 34 years of first responder experience, 17 years in EMS and a long history in firefighting leadership. “I was born and raised in the fire company; I am a first responder at heart, through and through,” she said, noting that her father served as chief of the Perkiomen Township Fire Company for 23 years.
Haines emphasized her commitment to community service and expressed enthusiasm about her new role. “We’re trending towards great things,” she said, noting that Advanced Life Support call coverage increased by 9% in December. ALS coverage means an ambulance is staffed by a paramedic or an EMT trained in advanced techniques.
The township’s Communications Committee was also on the agenda, with potential plans to reorganize in 2025. Shelly noted that a new member is joining the committee, and the township is seeking fresh ideas to improve public engagement. The Communication Committee’s first meeting of the year is scheduled for Jan.15 at 7:30 p.m., both in person and via Zoom.
The next township meeting is scheduled for Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m.
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