During its September 1st meeting, the members of Ambler’s borough council voted to change the council’s leadership. The reorganization portion of the meeting started with Councilmember David Hui (D, Ward 3) nominating Nancy Roecker Coates (D, Ward 3) for council president. The council then voted 8-1 for Coates. Coates replaces Elizabeth M. Iovine (D, Ward 3) who was the lone no vote.

Councilmember Lindsey Morrison-Daku (D, Ward 2) then nominated Jennifer Henderson (D, Ward 2) as vice president, and Karen Sheedy (D, Ward 1) nominated the standing vice president, Lou Orehek (R, Ward 1). The vote was five to four in Henderson’s favor.

Morrison-Daku then nominated Sheedy for president pro tempore and Councilmember Redmond Brubaker (D, Ward 2) Orehek. Sheedy expressed that she would not accept the position, and Orehek won with a unanimous vote.

Brubaker first mentioned the possibility of holding a reorganization meeting during an August council meeting. A majority of the council agreed, and it was added to the agenda for September 1st. No member of the council offered any reason for wanting to consider a change in leadership.

One member of the public thanked Iovine for her service as president and said she found Iovine’s leadership created an orderly and thoughtful council, and that her removal was not honorable.

You can watch the September 1st meeting below.

Photo: Screengrab from Borough of Ambler’s video