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Residents, committee press for clarity after claims list shows large legal bills and disputed line items
Summary
The committee approved Claims List 2026-08 after public commenters pointed to apparent misapplied charges on a Mendel property line and two legal bills totaling about $18,000; staff said they will investigate escrow/line-item coding and that a mischarged Bernstein payment has been corrected in finance records.
Hillsborough Township Committee approved Claims List 2026-08 by roll call after members and residents raised questions about several entries, including items a public speaker said appeared to be misapplied to an 'acquisition of Mendel property' line and legal invoices totaling roughly $18,000.
Public commenter Judy Haas told the committee the bill list had been printed on May 8 and that residents needed more time to review packets before meetings. Haas flagged two items listed under 'acquisition of Mendel property' on page 18 that she said did not appear related to that acquisition, questioned Panonia/Panoni Associates charges being coded to a pilot line and asked whether large legal bills were routine.
Committee members and staff agreed to approve payment of the bills but asked finance to investigate the escrow and line-item questions and return with answers at the next meeting. A member of town staff told the committee that the payment to Mr. Bernstein for solar-related legal work had been charged to the incorrect line item and that finance has made a journal entry to correct it.
Committee members suggested closer regular review of monthly legal costs. The transcript record includes references to two DiFrancesco Bateman bills that together were read in the meeting packet as totaling about $18,000; committee members asked whether a 'not to exceed' limit is being exceeded and urged vigilance over legal spending.
The committee did not withhold payment while staff investigates; members voted to approve the claims list and instructed staff to report back on whether specific invoices should be reclassified or require further action.
