Upper Gwynedd names Moodie board president, Hull VP for 2026

A new year has brought another change in leadership posts in Upper Gwynedd.

The township’s commissioners voted unanimously to name member Rebecca Moodie as board president and Denise Hull as vice president for 2026 in their reorganization meeting Monday night.

“All those in favor of Rebecca’s election to president? Motion carries unanimously — I’ll pass the gavel, you’re in charge now,” said township Manager Sandra Brookley Zadell.

Last November, voters reelected Hull and fellow commissioner Liz McNaney to their third four-year terms on the board of commissioners, joining fellow commissioners Katherine Carter, Moodie and Greg Moll who were all last elected in 2023. Heading into 2024 that board had named Moodie to be vice president, and Monday’s reorganization meeting brought a move for her to the center seat, alongside Hull’s return to the vice president seat she held for 2020 and 21.

After Hull and reelected township tax collector Erica Koebert swore their oaths, the commissioners unanimously approved their new leaders for the upcoming year, then Moodie announced new liaison assignments: she will be responsible for finance, personnel and administration matters, while public works will remain Moll’s responsibility. Parks and recreation and zoning and planning go to Carter, public safety will go to Hull, and wastewater treatment matters to Moodie.

    Upper Gwynedd commissioner Denise Hull receives her oath from township Administrative Assistant Deanna Logan during the board’s reorganization meeting on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (Photo via Facebook: Upper Gwynedd Township)
  

Several other unanimous votes followed, reappointing resident Barbara McHale to the township’s zoning hearing board, reappointing Jonathan West as chairperson of the Environmental Advisory Commission, and appointing various township staff and consultants to positions they’ve held in prior years. A separate motion also approved a new contract for Zadell to return to the manager position she has held since 2019, one where Hull said Zadell has been “the glue that holds Upper Gwynedd Township together.”

“She was taking over for a manager who had gradually stopped coming to work. He eventually quit via text message to our board president at the time. As you can imagine, our staff were rudderless, and trying their best to keep ‘the ship’ afloat,” Hull said.

“Sandra immediately knew what to do,” based on her years in other municipalities and professional training, Hull said, and Zadell has since opened lines of communications between department heads and the board, expanded staff and training where needed, and “mentored, inspired and promoted” where needed.             

“She created a term for a new approach to all we did: ‘Culture of excellence,’ a striving to be the best, to ensure we are all trying our best, no matter the scenario,” Hull said. “We are a far better township because of her.”

Specific terms of the new contract for Zadell were not posted publicly, but four of the five commissioners voted in favor. Moll cast the only vote against, and said his vote “was not one of no confidence or a reflection on her performance or her commitment to the township, but rather economic in nature.”

The board also approved a new employee manual, and Zadell summarized the changes, saying the new version grants employees more flexibility with vacation and personal time off, along with changes to their defined contribution benefit plans.

“We do feel strongly that these are good changes for our employees,” Zadell said, and the board then approved the update unanimously.              

Upper Gwynedd’s commissioners next meet at 7 p.m. on Jan. 12 at the township administrator building, 1 Parkside Place. For more information or meeting agendas and materials visit www.UpperGwynedd.org.

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