Radnor Commissioners Fail To Elect New President After Ahr Resigns

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, PA – As the Radnor Township Board of Commissioners works to keep its stride with commissioner Phil Ahr facing child pornography related charges and him resigning from the presidency role, the commissioners failed to elect a new president at Monday's board meeting.

Two motions were made to elect a new president, but both failed, resulting in Board Vice President Elaine Schaefer maintaining the acting president role.

Schaefer nominated Democrat John Nagle and Republican Luke Clark as president and vice president, respectively until Nov.28. Then, under Schaefer's proposal, Clark would serve as president and Nagle as vice president until the end of the year.

>>RELATED: Radnor Township Commissioner Charged With Child Porn Possession: DA

"This is a compromise that was reached among some of us and we all felt pretty conformable with, she said. "I think it's a fair and bi partisan approach to leadership for the rest of this year."

Don Curley then nominated Clark for president.

Both motions failed on a lack of majority.

>>RELATED: Radnor Commissioner Mentored Kids Before Child Porn Charges

Schaefer said the board would maintain its current structure, with her as acting president.

Many residents spoke at the meeting, calling on the board to find stability during a troubling time for the township and to end what they see as harmful partisanship between commissioners.

Other questioned the board's self professed lack of knowledge on the nature of Ahr's investigation, as well. Some residents allege the board knew Ahr was facing child pornography-related charges and did not act to remove him from his role as president.

Ahr resigned his presidency Monday by issuing a letter to township manager Robert Zienkowski.

Ahr said the responsibilities of the president are demanding and for "personal reasons" he was stepping down from the role.

Ahr said, however, he will continue to serve as the 7th Ward commissioner, even as he is embroiled in legal woes related to child pornography.

Ahr is set to appear in court on Oct. 26 for his preliminary hearing on 10 counts of disseminating child pornography, 50 counts of child pornography possession, 60 counts of criminal use of a communication facility, and 10 counts of attempted dissemination of child pornography.

You can watch Monday's board meeting here.

Image via Radnor Township