Ferguson Township supervisor set to resign after nearly two terms serving on the board
Ferguson Township will be looking to replace another supervisor in the coming months as a longtime board member submitted their resignation.
Laura Dininni, Ferguson Township Supervisor representing Ward 1, submitted her resignation, which was unanimously accepted without discussion during Tuesday’s board meeting. Dininni has been on the board since 2016. Her term was up this year and was not seeking reelection, as she is term limited.
In a phone interview Monday, Dininni said a variety of factors contributed to her decision to resign. Throughout her time as supervisor, she said it was important for her to move the township in a direction where its actions aligned with what residents wanted to see. To do so, she relied on things such as surveys and plans, she said.
“When I campaigned in 2015, I promised that I would be a strong voice for a government that is responsible, responsive and accessible to residents. And I felt that to this point — although it sometimes was one step forward, two steps back — I felt to this point I was able to make progress on that item. And that was very important to me as a member of the board,” Dininni said.
Now, she said, the work is still important but she feels she’ll be more effective on the sidelines.
Although the board accepted her resignation on Tuesday, it’s not effective until July 4. She offered two reasons for that timeline: one, the “poetic value” of it, as it is Independence Day, and two, it is after the township’s Capital Improvement Plan meetings, which she wanted to be involved in.
Dininni named two highlights from her several years on the board, including the Pine Grove Mills Small Area Plan.
“One of the reasons I’m so thankful for that, is that that really grew out of a lot of residents’ voices that came to me in that first election cycle that we’re saying, ‘you know, we’re an older part of the township, ... we feel that our voices aren’t being heard. We have so many issues that really need to be addressed.’ And I really kept voicing that and voicing that,” Dininni said. It gave the township staff an opportunity to create the plan, which had robust public participation, she said.
With that was a recommendation to create a committee to implement the plan.
“They really have just leaps and bounds for Pine Grove Mills. ... There’s development happening there. Obviously, that’s significantly related to individual investment. ... However, there’s just a real appetite for that kind of a community investment and vibrancy that was really expressed in the plan and it is now being implemented by the committee,” Dininni said.
Another significant highlight she mentioned was a process that allowed any board member to add an item to the agenda. That way, each board member has an equal opportunity to have an agenda item heard.
Prior to her time as an elected official, Dininni was an activist and has long been an advocate for agriculture. Her time on the board was not without involvement in controversial issues, having been outspoken about projects such as increased spending for the Whitehall Road Regional Park.
Looking ahead, Dininni said she no longer has any interest in serving in a political capacity. But she does plan to stay involved with the community and particularly is excited to enjoy “the many wonderful community efforts” in Pine Grove Mills and spending time with her granddaughter.
She hopes to see residents engaged with their local governments and encouraged residents to use the processes in place for any resident to add an item to the agenda, which include submitting the request during a board or public meeting, or directly to the board and/or board chair.
“Please use it and spice things up in local government,” Dininni said.
There has been some turnover on the Ferguson board of supervisors in the past year or so. In July 2022, Ward 2 Supervisor Hilary Caldwell resigned and in November 2022, At-Large Supervisor Tierra Williams resigned, both due to moving outside of the township. Jeremie Thompson and Corey Gracie-Griffin were appointed to fill those seats, respectively.
Township manager Centrice Martin wrote in an email that the board will advertise the vacancy and will fill it within 45 days after the vacancy occurs by appointing a resident to serve. That person will serve for the remainder of the term, Dec. 31, 2023.
Once the appointment for Dininni’s seat is done, the majority of the board will be appointed by board members, rather than elected by the voters.
