Among 2017 appointments, MCCC board sees shake-up

NORRISTOWN >> Among the many appointments made by Montgomery County Commissioners at the first meeting of 2017, a set of appointments for the Montgomery County Community College Board of Trustees drew some attention.

The appointments replaced four of the five terms on the board that recently expired, with the commissioners reappointing only one of the trustees, Rich Montalbano.

Following the meeting, commissioners’ Chairwoman Val Arkoosh stated that Montalbano and Geoffrey Brandon had both sought to be reappointed, but she said a “number of factors” went into deciding on new board members.

“Longevity of service, increases in diversity on the board, looking at in some cases, participation and degree of participation, and we decided to make changes,” Arkoosh said.

Commissioner Joe Gale stated that he had also received a letter from former Trustee Moon Ahn seeking reappointment. Ahn’s term expired without reappointment in December. Arkoosh said she was not aware Ahn wanted to remain on the board.

Arkoosh insisted that the four new board members “bring specific skill sets to the board” and were not meant to interfere with the upcoming election for board chairman.

The trustees will vote this month on whether to keep Chairman Michael D’Aniello, who had been openly critical of the commissioners’ previous cuts in funding the college, in the role. The nominating committee met in November and came back deadlocked on its recommendation for chairman.

“It’s up to the board to choose their chair and that process will proceed as it does every year,” Arkoosh said.

Gale, the lone Republican commissioner, voted against the appointments for the community college board, along with appointments to the Montgomery County Housing Authority, the SEPTA Citizens Advisory Committee, the Independence Health Group Board of Directors, the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board and the Montgomery County Workforce Development Board.

“No one requested my input,” Gale said. “I found out yesterday who the new appointments were, and I had no input, no consideration. I wasn’t involved in the effort. I would have liked to have been.”

The four new members appointed to the college’s board are President of G2G Associates Lisa Bender, former Montgomery County Director of Communications Frank Custer, speech language pathologist and clinical fellowship supervisor for the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit Michele Jervis-Schultz, and senior vice president of patient care services at Abington Memorial Hospital Terry Reilly.

“The people that were the ultimate final group all bring something to the board that other board members thought would be of great benefit to the board,” Arkoosh said.

To the Montgomery County Agricultural Land Preservation Board, commissioners reappointed Arthur Bustard, John Corkum, Stephen Quigley and Jonathan Rinde.

To the Montgomery County Housing Authority, the board appointed Kathy Pfifer and reappointed the Rev. Dr. John Edward Douglas.

To the SEPTA Citizens Advisory Committee, the board reappointed Sam Adenbaum.

To the Montgomery County Development Authority, the board reappointed Andrew Santacroce.

To the Montgomery County Conservation District Board of Directors, the board reappointed Commissioner Arkoosh.

To the Independence Health Group Board of Directors, the board reappointed Dan Woodall.