Towamencin swears in Amer Barghouth as new supervisor

Nearly four months after going viral, Towamencin’s board of supervisors is now back up to five members — and changes have already begun.

New supervisor Amer Barghouth was formally sworn in on Wednesday night, prompting a reshuffling of the board’s leadership positions almost immediately.

“The first order of business this evening is the oath of office,” said then-chairman Chuck Wilson.

In late January, then-supervisor Laura Smith sparked an uproar by posting a since-deleted TikTok video mimicking an alleged Nazi salute in the manner of Elon Musk at the inauguration of President Donald Trump. The township announced Smith’s pending resignation on Jan. 26, and the board accepted the resignation in a special meeting on Feb. 4, after several days of outcry from residents and outsiders calling for her departure and denunciations from the rest of the board.

In a March 4 special meeting, the board deadlocked on two nominations, both failing on 2-2 tie votes.  Several other candidates including Barghouth made their case to the board that night. He said he’s a resident of Misty Meadow Lane, moved to the township five years before, has two children and said his background is in managing federal contracts, sustainability and renewable energy. Priorities he listed that night included fiscal responsibility, planning for maintenance needs and future costs, maximizing access to federal and state funds for local projects, making sure government is efficient and responsive, reviewing township ordinances, and ensuring neighborhoods are safe and kid-friendly.

“I’m hoping this mix of experience will help me deliver to this township and help move things forward,” he said.

The decision then moved to county court, and in late March the attorney said a court date had been set in early April to discuss the process; and in early April the board said those who applied to the township for the vacant seat would have to reapply to the county.

To start Wednesday night’s meeting, Wilson announced that on April 25, the county court of common pleas president judge had signed an order formally appointing Barghouth “as our new Towamencin Township supervisor,” to fill the rest of what had been Smith’s term through the end of 2025. The new supervisor received his oath from District Judge Ed Levine, after Wilson read a brief biography.       

“He has been a resident of Towamencin for several years. He holds a master’s degree in International Environmental Policy and International Policy and Development, as well as a bachelor’s degree in International Politics and Economics, from Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California, and Middlebury College in Vermont,” Wilson said.

After the new member swore his oath and took his seat came the turnover.

Wilson announced that the next item on the agenda was a board reorganization, then turned the meeting over to solicitor Bob Iannozzi, who asked if there was any interest from the board in doing so. Supervisor Joyce Snyder, the board’s longest-serving Democrat, made a motion to do so, fellow Democrat supervisor Kofi Osei seconded, and Barghouth added a third vote to do so.

“So we will open the floor for nominations for chairman, for the reminder of the term,” Iannozzi said, before asking for nominations.

Republican Kristin Warner nominated Wilson to keep the board chairmanship he had held since 2015, Osei nominated Snyder, and no other nominations were made. Iannozzi then asked how many of the five supervisors voted for Wilson, and he and Warner did so; the attorney then asked for votes for Snyder and the three cast theirs.

“Congratulations, Ms. Snyder, you are the new chairman of the board of supervisors,” Iannozzi said.

Warner asked if the board could nominate a vice chair, to fill a post that had been vacant since Smith’s resignation, and nominated Wilson for that position. No other nominations were made, and all five voted for Wilson to become vice chair. Snyder then noted that she had held the role of board secretary, and nominated Osei to fill that post, which the board approved unanimously, and Osei then nominated Barghouth to take over for him as assistant treasurer and assistant secretary.

No other comments were made on the reorganization or new appointment, and through the rest of the meeting, Barghouth asked questions about two proposed land development projects and a presentation on the township’s sewer rates, before all board action items were approved unanimously. Snyder said afterward on social media that she was “deeply honored by the trust and support” from Osei and Barghouth, then shared lengthy comments about a family health issue and urged residents to talk to doctors and seek treatments of any symptoms as fast as possible. Osei also addressed the new appointee, calling it a “change of pace” on the board and adding thanks to all who applied: “That was not an easy process and I still wish the board could have come to a consensus.”

Voters will have a say again on Tuesday: the seats now held by Barghouth and Wilson are up for election to new six-year terms in the fall, and a total of four Republican candidates will appear on Tuesday’s primary election ballot. Candidates Wilson, Christina Eppolito, Angela Illingworth, and Donald Litman all detailed their backgrounds and spelled out the biggest issues they see facing the township in a Q-and-A published by The Reporter last week; the two who secure the most votes will face off against Democrats Vanessa Gaynor and Courtney Morgan on November 4.

Towamencin’s supervisors next meet at 7 p.m. on May 28 at the township administration building, 1090 Troxel Road. For more information visit www.Towamencin.org.

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