Several former and current Lower Merion commissioners and community members came out to wish an online goodbye for the four decades of service Bob Duncan gave to Lower Merion Township.
“After 40 years of service, our assistant manager has finally found the keys to the back door, and he plans to leave to retire,” Dan Bernheim, president of the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners, said.
Duncan, who most recently served as the township’s assist manager, announced a few weeks ago he would be retiring. The township has already hired Jim Smith, who most recently was the senior manager in Sarasota, Florida, and also served as borough manager in Media, Delaware County, for 20 years.
“So we are all sad about this, and we have recognized that while we are very lucky to have yanked up from Sarasota, Florida Jim Smith to fill the position that having Bob Duncan retire from the township after all that he has done in as many positions will be a loss that we will all feel but also equally a gratitude that we will all feel,” Bernheim said.
Due to the pandemic, Lower Merion continues to hold its meetings through Zoom rather than having a large crowd in the boardroom of the township administration building. Many former commissioners stepped in to give online well-wishes to Duncan and his wife, Anne.
“I guess I would commend the board by filling one of the three vacancies created by Bob’s departure,” said Bruce Reed, who was president and served as a member of the board of commissioners until 2011.
George Manos, who served as a Lower Merion Commissioner from Bala Cynwyd until 2019, commented on how Duncan could explain complex ideas.
