Wilson resident appointed vice chair of Niagara Falls Bridge Commission

Mar. 13—The Niagara Falls Bridge Commission recently elected its 2024 slate of officers.

Murna L. Dalton of the Province of Ontario was elected chairperson and Kathleen L. Neville of New York was elected vice-chairperson.

In addition, Lindsay DiCosimo Merani of Ontario was elected secretary and Frank A. Soda of New York was elected treasurer. Harry R. Palladino, who served as chairperson in 2023, completes the current roster of bridge commission board members.

A bi-national entity, the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission owns and operates the Rainbow, Whirlpool Rapids and Lewiston-Queenston bridges between Canada and the U.S.

U.S. commissioners serve at the pleasure of the governor and Canadian commissioners serve at the pleasure of the Premier of the Province of Ontario. All officers hold their respective position for one-year until the next annual meeting, unless the commission deems a change is necessary.

Born and raised in Niagara Falls, Ont., and now a resident of Guelph, Dalton is retired following a 40+ year career in telecommunications at Bell Canada and Rogers Communications, as vice president of sales to the Ontario Public Sector. She is also a past chair of the Ontario Information Technology Association of Canada and Smart Toronto.

Appointed to the commission in March 2012, Neville, a resident of Wilson is a public relations and brand management professional. She previously served as senior vice president at Hill and Knowlton Public Relations International in New York City and as a senior consultant at Ketchum Public Relations in Washington, D.C. She is a former director of Shea's Performing Arts Center in Buffalo and the author of non-fiction books and articles on gender issues and conduct in today's workplaces, schools and sports. She recently served as vice chair of the Board of Trustees of the Miss America Organization. She also serves on Niagara University's Board of Trustees and the Board of Selectors for the National Jefferson Awards Foundation. Formerly serving as vice chair of Humanities New York, she is also a past commissioner of the New York State Women's Suffrage Commission, and a past president and trustee of the Wilson Community Library.

A resident of Niagara-on-the-Lake, DiCosimo Merani was appointed to the commission in February. With extensive experience in the travel and tourism industry, she is the director of marketing at Hilton Niagara Falls/Fallsview Hotel & Suites.

Appointed to the commission in March 2012, Soda retired in 2010 after a 41-year teaching career. He taught at Niagara Falls High School for 23 years and is also an adjunct at Erie Community College and Niagara University. A former Niagara Falls City Council member, three times, he also served on the Love Canal Area Revitalization Agency.

Harry R. Palladino, a resident of Gasport, was appointed to the commission in March 2014, and served as chairperson in 2019 and 2023. He is the business manager of Laborers' Local 91, and has worked in various positions throughout his extensive career with the organization. He is also the owner/operator of Palladino Paving and Construction.