3 Horsham Township Councilmen Honored For Service

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —One left last December, and two others are leaving at the end of the year.

With Horsham Township Council recently holding its last meeting of the year, officials honored three councilmen for their service to the township.

The council honored Greg Nesbitt, Mark McCouch, and Junaid Chaudhry with proclamations recognizing their years of dedicated service to Horsham Township.

"Collectively, they had 40 years of public service," Township Manager Bill Walker said. "It's a tremendous legacy that you leave behind. I know not many communities have this kind of vision and leadership."

Walker mentioned the addition of the new municipal building and community center, the library and public works buildings, the trails, and other improvements.

"People want to live in Horsham," Walker said. "And that's because of you."

McCouch, the council president, served 20 years on the council. McCouch lost the Nov. 7 general election to Democrat Ellen Zschunke a week after votes were tabulated by the Montgomery County Board of Elections that included military, provisional, and overseas ballots. (Patch will write a separate story on McCouch in the next few days.)

Nesbitt abruptly resigned at the council's last meeting of 2023after 19 years on the council. He was replaced by Chaudhry, who filled the remaining one-year term but decided not to run for election.

"We were really sad to see you go," said McCouch, who served with Nesbitt throughout his tenure." You're truly missed."

Nesbitt thanked Walker, the council, and township staff.

"Every step of the way, it's the entire team," Nesbitt said. "You have to have the best interests of Horsham. We achieved so much. We faced a level of adversity we never faced. Something always blindsided us but every year we carried forward."

Among the adversity was water contaminated by PFAS chemicals from the nearby Navy base and a tornado that struck the township from Hurricane Idea two years ago.

Chaudhry came on board in January to replace Nesbitt.

"We needed someone to fill the position," McCouch said. "He gave us insight on a lot of things. He's leaving this place better than when he found it."

Chaudhry thanked the council and said that "Horsham Township is amazing."

"We put petty politics aside," he said. "It was all about the interests of Horsham."