Approximate meeting times and agendas are available on the Township Meeting Calendar.

Board of Commissioners

• The Budget Workshop is being held on Wednesday, September 9 at 6:00 pm. More Information.

Boards and Commissions

• The Environmental Advisory Council typically meets the fourth Tuesday of each month. 
• The Shade Tree Commission typically meets the second Tuesday of each month

The Board of Commissioners met on March 25, 2026 to discuss priorities for the upcoming year. watch here

The Board of Commissioners identified the following Sustainability Priorities in recent years (2026 items in bold): 

• Tree Canopy: 
  • Improve community tree canopy through initiatives, ordinances, and policy updates.
  • Develop policies and potentially legislation that would preserve, promote, enhance, curate, and aid the management of the Lower Merion Township tree canopy.
• Energy Transition:
  • Expand Township fleet charging capabilities. Pursue charging infrastructure for public use.
  • Develop and implement a plan and cost estimate for electrification of fleet vehicles and the capital projects needed to support the transition of the fleet to electric vehicles.
  • Develop an ordinance for Board consideration restricting the use of gas-powered leaf blowers and an incentive and education program for residents and commercial landscapers.
  • Solar Site #2: Finalize selection and design of second site solar panel
    installation to ensure we receive federal rebates.
  • Complete planning for upgrading the Koegel Public Works complex including adding electric capacity to allow for more EV charging stations.
• Waste Minimization: 
  • Expand compost drop-off program and create a pilot curbside compost program.
  • Expand Composting: Convert community drop-off sites from "pilot" to
    permanent and expand curbside pickup to 1-2 additional neighborhoods.
  • Develop a more equitable and sustainable structure of fees for the Solid Waste Fund.
• Community Engagement: 
  • Conduct community engagement through sustainability initiatives, Ambassadors program, live events, PR, Annual Report, etc.
  • Pursue LEED for Cities certification and explore operational and regulatory practices to improve LEED score.
• Sustainable Development
  • Conduct a holistic review of zoning density incentives — including but not limited to, affordable housing and building performance standards.
  • Develop and implement strategies to create vibrant, connected, and amenity-rich business districts to meet the needs of residents, workers, and businesses.
  • Expand the Township’s CDBG housing rehabilitation and home purchase programs by securing additional State HOME and PHARE funds to preserve naturally occurring affordable housing.
• Mobility
  • Provide public information regarding standards and accepted protocols for helmets, child seats, and infant equipment, and regarding pedestrian, bicycle and E-bike scooter safety.
  • Enhance walkability to schools, employ crossing guards where needed, and encourage increased uses of busses by students to decrease parking in neighborhoods.
  • Park Linkages: Identify linkages between adjacent and nearby open spaces.

The Adopted 2026 Capitol Improvement Program contains the following sustainability budget items: 

• Construction of solar project at Penn Wynne Library
• Design of solar project at a second location
• Installation of additional Public EV charging stations
• Site feasibility analysis for fleet EV charging infrastructure

The Adopted 2026 Operating Budget contains the following sustainability budget items:

• Composting at Township Administration Building
• Community compost pilot
• Curbside compost pilot
• Electric leaf blower educational events & incentives
• Tree protection code review
• Tree planting & training events
• LEED for Cities and Communities Registration
• Sustainability educational events & incentives
• Go for the Green Awards Ceremony

In 2025, the Township hired a new Sustainability Coordinator to work under the supervision of the Sustainability Manager to advance Township education and engagement efforts,  grant opportunities, and sustainability projects.

 On November 19, 2025, the Board of Commissioners adopted an ordinance phasing out the use of gas powered leaf blowers, making Lower Merion Township the first municipality in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to do so. 

In accordance with Ordinance 4322, the use of gas powered leaf blowers will not be permitted from June 1, 2026 to October 1, 2026.

The Township has a dedicated web page with up-to-date information about the ordinance. Visit www.lowermerion.org/elawns to find:

• Timeline for full phase-out of gas powered leaf blowers
• Information about restricted and permitted equipment
• Resources for communicating the restrictions to landscapers and residents
• Training content on how to transition to electric leaf blowers
• Tips for proper disposal and recycling of lithium-ion batteries
• How and where to report suspected violations

More information can be found here: Electric Lawn Equipment

• Phase 1 - Penn Wynne Library
  • Adopted 2025 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget includes design work 
  • Adopted 2026 CIP budget includes installation work
  • A Federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant of $126,000 was awarded to the Township for this project
  • A County Montco2040 Implementation Grant of $250,000 was awarded to the Township for this project 
  •  Proposals for the project were received on December 18, 2025. The January 14, 2026 Finance Committee recommended to the Board of Commissioners rejecting all bids and re-bidding the project (video). 
  • The project was rebid in February 2026. On April 8, 2026, the Finance Committee voted to recommend awarding bids for the project (video) 
  • Pre-construction work began in June 2026. Construction is expected to begin in August, following completion of the Reading Garden project at Penn Wynne Library.

• Phase 2
  • Adopted 2026 Capital Improvement Plan budget includes design work  

• Ardmore Avenue Community Center
  • The project budget for the AACC rebuild includes installation of a rooftop solar photovoltaic array

• Renewable Energy Certificates
  • September 18, 2024, the Finance Committee approved the next 3-year contract for energy procurement which includes RECs for 100% of the Township’s electricity usage.

Fleet Vehicles

• There are 10 electric vehicles in the Township fleet
• Three hybrid electric vehicles will replace internal combustion engine vehicles in the Township fleet in 2025
• Lower Merion Township successfully obtained $45,000 in federal rebates to offset the cost of six electric vehicles purchased in 2023.

Fleet Electric Vehicle Service Equipment

• Four dual-port chargers have been installed for fleet fueling at Township facilities

• The public EV charging stations in Municipal Lot #7 (Bryn Mawr Train Station) are now available for public use. Find more information here
  • The Township was awarded a $16,486.00 PECO EVSmart grant to reimburse 50% of the costs of this project.
• Watch the EV Charging PSA
• Installation of EVSE at additional Township-owned facilities was funded in the 2026 Capital Improvement Program. EVSE locations are to be determined

The Montgomery County Planning Commission launched Fully Charged - an EV planning Tool on April 17. Watch the explainer here.  

Pilot Curbside Compost Program 

• The contract to service the program through 2026 was awarded in September 2025. Read more about the proposed program here.
• The Pilot Curbside Compost Program began on November 10. Pick up of organic waste at the curb  will continue for registered participants through December 2026.
• Registration for the program closed on April 1, 2026.
• 63 households are participating in the year-long pilot, representing a 15% opt-in rate.
• To date, the program has resulted in diversion of over 14,000 pounds of organic waste.
• Each household is diverting an average of 34 pounds per month from trash to compost
• The program is on track to divert an average of nearly 14 tons per year. 

Pilot Community Compost Program

• The Pilot Community Compost Program started in June 2024 with the Ardmore Library location and expanded Belmont Hills Library in September 2024 followed by Penn Wynne Library, Ludington Library, and Gladwyne Library in January 2025.
• Over 8 tons of organic materials were diverted in 2024 and over 38 tons were diverted in 2025.

• In the first half of 2026, over 19,000 pounds of organic waste were diverted from trash to compost.

• The Ardmore, Belmont Hills, and Penn Wynne locations at full capacity, while several spaces remain open at the Bryn Mawr and Gladwyne locations. 

Employee Waste and Events Composting

• The Township piloted an employee's organic food waste composting program at the Township Administration Building from May 2024 through August 2025. Over 1,000 pounds of organic waste were diverted during the pilot period.
• On October 22, 2025 the Board of Commissioners voted to approve a new janitorial contract that includes separation of organic waste for composting at several Township facilities. More information is available here.
• Organic waste produced at the Annual Go for the Green Awards Ceremony is composted

• The Sustainability Ambassadors email list has over 1,000 subscribers
• A weekly email bulletin highlighting sustainability-related events and learning opportunities is sent to the email list. Email bulletins have about a 65% open rate and a 7% click rate.
• Township employees and volunteers staffed sustainability tables at 11 community events in 2025, engaging with over 350 community members.
• Township employees gave sustainability presentations at 6 community organization meetings in 2025.
• Past Sustainability Ambassador guest speaker presentations are being shared to the Township's YouTube channel. Visit the Sustainability Playlist to view these, as well as PSAs about the leaf blower ordinance, recordings of composting webinars, and more.

Recycling

• Updates were recently made to what can be accepted for curbside recycling in the Township. Namely, flexible plastics and carton packaging are now accepted. A flyer was mailed to all waste pickup subscribers in the Township to inform them of the change. The What to Recycle page on the Township website was also updated. 
• The Township hosts two "Clean up Weekends" a year to allow residents to dispose of unwanted items for disposal or recycling. Several non-profit organizations attend to collect bicycles, furniture, clothing and more.
• Each year, Lower Merion Township and Narberth Borough, host one or two recycling events known as “Anything with a Plug” at the Township’s Public Works Complex (1300 N Woodbine Avenue, Penn Valley) to allow residents an opportunity for a nominal fee to responsibly recycle obsolete electronics such as televisions, computers and monitors. Check the Township Calendar for upcoming events. 
• The Township partners with Montgomery County to host a Household Hazardous Waste event once a year at the Township’s Public Works Complex (1300 N Woodbine Avenue, Penn Valley). Check the Township Calendar for upcoming events. 
• The Township collects Christmas trees from residents during the first two weeks in January. Trees are mulched and composted at the Township's compost facility.

• Lower Merion Township served as a Secondary Host Site for the PA Plants Native tree giveaways in April 2025 and October 2025, making it more accessible for community members to receive free trees through this program, at no cost to the Township. Staff and volunteers distributed a total of 515 native trees and shrubs to community members across the two events.
• The Township supports bi-annual Tree Tenders tree planting events by supplying materials, picking up and delivering trees to be planted
• The Township completed a Tree Canopy Management Plan in 2025
• The Township is engaging with a consultant to develop a Tree Protection Code Review in 2026.
  • The Township was awarded a $10,000 Municipalities Assistance Program (MAP) grant to partially fund the Tree Protection Code Review

English Ivy

• This winter, Township staff and Sustainability Ambassadors teamed up to help residents learn about the impacts of English Ivy on the tree canopy, and how to safely and effectively remove it from trees. 
• www.lowermerion.org/EnglishIvy contains resources and information.
• LMTV produced an English Ivy PSA.
• An English Ivy Removal Kit was added to the Ardmore Free Library’s new Tool Library.
• Hands-on Demonstration Days and Volunteer Removal Workdays introduced residents to proper English Ivy removal techniques, highlighted the importance of managing this invasive species, and gave residents hands-on opportunities to remove it in public parks and arboretums.

• Participation in the DVRPC's commercial energy benchmarking program was authorized by the Board of Commissioners following the February 5, 2025 Sustainability Committee meeting and February 19, 2025 Board of Commissioners meeting.

• June 24, 2026:  Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Workshop (Recording)
• June 17, 2026: Gas Powered Leaf Blower Ordinance amendments adopted by the Board of Commissioners. Adopted Amendments. Meeting Recording.
• May 20, 2026: Gas Powered Leaf Blower Ordinance amendments authorized for advertisement by the Board of Commissioners. Proposed Amendments. Meeting Recording.
• May 6, 2026: Proposed Gas Powered Leaf Blower Ordinance amendments considered by the Board of Commissioners Sustainability Committee. Staff Memo and Proposed Amendments. Meeting Recording.
• April 8, 2026 - Finance Committee. Penn Wynne Library Photovoltaic Solar Project - Award of Contracts (recording) 
• March 25, 2026 - Board of Commissioners Workshop.  Board Priorities (recording)
• January 14, 2026 -  Finance Committee. Recommendation to the Board of Commissioners to reject all bids for the Penn Wynne Library Photovoltaic Solar Project and re-bidding the project (recording).
• November 19, 2025 - Board of Commissioners. Gas Powered Leaf Blower Ordinance. (recording). 
• October 22, 2025  - Board of Commissioners. Gas Powered Leaf Blower Ordinance. (recording)
• October 22, 2025 - Finance Committee. Organic waste separation atTownship buildings. (recording)
• October 8, 2025 - Sustainability Committee. Proposed gas-powered leaf blower ordinance. (recording)
• September 30, 2025 - Proposed Gas Powered Leaf Blower Ordinance Information Session. (recording) 
• September  17, 2025 - Finance Committee. Curbside Compost Pilot Program. (recording)
• September 3, 2025 - 2026 Budget Workshop (recording)
• June 25, 2025 - Capital Improvement Plan Workshop (recording)
• May 7, 2025 - Police Committee and Sustainability Committee. Recommendations regarding Public Electric Vehicle Parking Regulations and Fueling Fees. (recording)
• March 19, 2025 - Board of Commissioners Meeting. Several public comments and Board response regarding gas-powered leaf blowers. (recording)
• March 5, 2025 - Board of Commissioners Workshop. Board Priorities (recording) 
• February 5, 2025 - Sustainability Committee Meeting. Participation in DVRPC's Regional Commercial Energy Benchmarking Program (Recording)
• February 12, 2025 - Finance Committee Meeting. 2025 Equipment List (Recording)
• November 13, 2024 - Finance Committee Meeting. 2025 Proposed Budget (recording)
• October 1, 2024 Building & Planning Committee meeting. Schauffele Plaza public comment (recording)
• September 18, 2024 - Public Works Committee meeting. High-priority sidewalks (recording)
• September 11, 2024 Building & Planning Committee Meeting. Schauffele Plaza
• July 31, 2024 - Sustainability Committee meeting. Food Waste Compost Pilot Program (recording) 
• May 1, 2024 - Sustainability Committee meeting. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations for Public Use (recording)
• April 10, 2024 - Parks & Recreation Committee meeting. Geothermal HVAC at Ardmore Avenue Community Center (recording)
• April 3, 2024 - Board of Commissioners Workshop .  Board Priorities (recording)
• March 6, 2024 - Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting. Ashbridge House sustainability features (recording) 
• March 6, 2024  - Sustainability Committee Meeting. Community Solar Letter of Support (recording)
• February 7, 2024 - Sustainability Committee meeting. Solar Photovoltaics at Ludington Library (recording)
• January 10, 2024 - Finance Committee meeting. Tree Canopy Management Plan (recording) 
• November 1, 2023 - Sustainability Committee meeting. Solar Photovoltaics at Penn Wynne Library (recording)