Montgomery County Board of Commissioners from l-r: Chairman Neil Makhija, Vice Chairwoman Jamila Winder and Tom DiBello. (Rachel Ravina/MediaNews Group)
An upcoming Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting will have a different venue as elected officials plan to conduct their business in Abington Township later this month.
The next session will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19 at the Abington School District administration building, 970 Highland Ave., as part of the ongoing “on the road” meeting series.
“This is a great opportunity. We’ve had a few in the past, and it’s great for residents that aren’t able to make our morning meetings to be able to get there at night. We want to hear what’s important to you in your area,” said Montgomery County Commissioner Tom DiBello.
The idea originated from DiBello prior to serving as a county commissioner. DiBello said he’d heard feedback from area residents while on the campaign trail that the meetings — typically held twice a month at 10 a.m. on Thursdays in downtown Norristown — were not convenient for people’s schedules.
While a similar “listening tour” took place from 2013 to 2015 under the commissioners chaired by now-Gov. Josh Shapiro, it’d been some years since formal meetings were held outside the county seat of Norristown.
The initiative was endorsed by his colleagues, Chairwoman Jamila Winder and Vice Chairman Neil Makhija, following their collective win during the 2023 general election and following their swearing in ceremony in early 2024. Several sessions have since taken place across the county, including in Limerick, Lower Merion and Montgomery townships.
DiBello emphasized that it’s been “really informative hearing about their specific issues, concerns, desires within their area.” Winder agreed, adding the three-member board has plans to schedule “meetings on the road quarterly,” and officials have already started planning for the second quarter.
“I know that [it] is important for us to get out,” Winder said.
