April 8, 2026 Committee Meetings

The Lower Merion Township held committee meetings on April 8, 2026, including the Parks and Recreation Committee and the Finance Committee. The Parks and Recreation Committee approved a resolution to submit a $500,000 grant application to the DCNR for an accessible trail link project, committing to a 50% match. The Finance Committee awarded contracts for financial advisor services to PFM and bond counsel services to Dworth Paxton LLP following a competitive RFP process. Additionally, the committee approved contracts totaling approximately $254,000 for the Penwyn Library photovoltaic solar project, opting for a smaller scope to generate about 86% of the library's electricity usage. The committee also awarded contracts for highway equipment rental and discussed the township's 2025 financial performance. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the sanitary sewer rental rate for 2026, with staff recommending a 17.5% rate increase due to increased sewage disposal costs driven by higher biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids. The committee discussed the challenges of identifying high-strength sewage contributors and potential future rate structures. The board agreed to advertise the ordinance for the rate increase, with ongoing efforts to refine billing processes and explore additional solar projects to leverage tax credits.