Abington Appoints New Commissioner [Video]

The Abington Board of Commissioners appoint Commissioner Richard Gaglianese's replacement.

More Time Needed to Speak at Public Meetings, Resident Says

A resident asks the Abington Board of Commissioners to allow more time for public comment.

Is three minutes enough? Abington resident Paul Morse took to the microphone during last week’s board of commissioners meeting. Setting his own timer, Morse complained about not getting enough time to speak during a meeting in December on the “Wawa ordinance” — a meeting in which he was physically removed by Abington Police. “I’d like to request the current board of commissioners take into account, starting tonight, that everyone be given sufficient time to present their views … After all, you’re elected to represent we, the citizens of Abington township, not to dictate to us,” Morse said. [See the video ... it's about three minutes.] Morse also said that during the December meeting, 10 residents “could have yielded their time” to him, …

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Kathy Adlam

11:17 am on Sunday, March 24, 2013

It's about time you get over this vendetta against Lora Lehman. You are obsessed. Waldo is right. Give her the credit and respect for having the guts to stand up to the board. Every response I've seen thus far has always been you and a few others belittling her. Enough is enough. We are not in 8th grade anymore. And YES, there needs to be more than 3 minutes to state your concerns in these …   more ›

Departing Commissioner: 'It's Really Sad to be Leaving This Ward'

Abington’s Ward 3 commissioner attends his last meeting.

Richard Gaglianese, the commissioner for Ward 3, said his goodbyes at the end of the Abington Board of Commissioners meeting Thursday night. It was the commissioner’s last full board meeting, as he will be resigning Feb. 28 due to personal reasons. "I want to take a little time just to thank a lot of people, it’s really sad to be leaving this ward," he said. He thanked his family, neighbors, the township’s department heads and thanked his fellow commissions, adding that while they didn’t always agree politically, they were always respectful. "This is a great township, with great people," he said. "We wouldn’t have this smooth operation we have without the departments and the people we have. The staff does the work and we sit up here and …

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Meet the New Commish

Abington’s Ward 12 Gets a New Commissioner

  The Abington Board of Commissioners at a special meeting last night elected a commissioner to replace Carol DiJoseph, who retired at the end of last year. The Board elected Thomas John Farren Sr., a Louise Road resident, by a vote of 9-5.  There were two nominations for DiJoseph’s replacement: Commissioner Dennis Zappone nominated Farren and commissioner John Spiegelman nominated Joe Smith. The vote went to Farren first, and he got the majority. The vote went down party lines with all of the Republicans supporting Farren. District Justice Juanita Price swore in the new commissioner, who stood with his wife and children, and then Farren quickly got to work, sitting in on the public works and code enforcement committee meetings. Farren is …

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Abington Board of Commissioners, Tonight

Check out what's on the agenda for tonight's meeting.

  The Abington Board of Commissioners will meet at the township building at 8 p.m.  Of note: The board in June approved a lease agreement with Lubavitch of Abington for a portion of Alverthorpe Manor.  

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Marc L.

9:09 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012

I hope that whatever Republican is forced into place of Dean by the GOP Commissioners who hold the majority doesn't get too comfortable because the constituents are just going to vote him/her out the first chance they get.   more ›

Video: Thursdays Off

Four Abington Commissioners will have to find a new way to spend their respective Thursday nights.

It was the last full board meeting for four Abington Commissioners last night. Commissioners Michael O’Connor, Ernie Peacock, Bill Lynott and John Carlin were honored by the board and received a standing ovation following comments by Abington Board of Commissioners President Carol DiJoseph. See the video. Each of the outgoing commissioners was wearing a red rose on his lapel and had an elementary school-esque gold star next to his nameplate. None of the outgoing commissioners was ousted. O’Connor, Peacock, Lynott and Carlin will be replaced by Richard Gaglianese (Ward 3), Madeleine Dean (Ward 7), John Spiegelman (Ward 11), and Thomas Bowman (Ward 15), respectively. See the election results. O’Connor served since 1996; Carlin served since …

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Video: Meet the Candidates for Ward 11

See what candidates for Abington Commissioner Diane Misko (R) and John Spiegelman (D) have to say with 10 minutes on the clock.

Check out the prior video bios from the candidates: Abington Commissioner, Ward 1 Abington Commissioner, Ward 3 Abington Commissioner, Ward 7 Abington Commissioner, Ward 9   -- Abington residents who live in odd-numbered Wards (1 through 15) will vote for their commissioner in November. Commissioners serve four-year terms and meet monthly on the second Thursday of each month (in addition to committee meetings) to discuss issues pertaining to public safety, public affairs, code enforcement, finance and public works. According to the Pennsylvania First Class Township Code, a commissioner shall have lived in the Ward he or she represents for at least one year continuously before his or her election.

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Marc L.

3:51 pm on Wednesday, October 19, 2011

In my opinion, John Spiegelman IS the perfect candidate. I was not aware that we have to note what is an opinion and what is a factual statement. These are comments, after all. Just messages from the peanut gallery. I think some folks here take this all WAAAAY too seriously, especially when they may not agree with the opinions in the statments made.   more ›