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Residents press Salem Township supervisors for detailed invoices after $7,000 solicitor bill
Summary
At Sept. 18 meeting several residents asked the board to justify a $7,000 invoice from Solicitor Falatovich and urged publishing invoices and written billing procedures; the planning chair said developers often contact the solicitor directly and recommended updated fee schedules before enacting the SALDO.
Residents at a Sept. 18 Salem Township meeting pressed supervisors for greater transparency after a township solicitor invoice of about $7,000 drew questions.
Resident Tom Ridella asked specifically what the charges covered and said supervisors “should know what they are paying for.” Resident Matt Rebitch asked whether the township might be overbilled for nonessential items. Lisa Segina directed a question to Planning Commission Chair Connie Mattei about whether some solicitor work related to planning matters is not strictly legal in nature. Mattei said developers and surveyors have sometimes gone directly to Solicitor Falatovich rather than to township staff, which has created more solicitor involvement: “Most of the charges were related to complicated plans that came through planning,” Mattei said. Mattei recommended updating fee schedules and procedures before enacting the SALDO so the township can recoup fees.
Resident Ed Rebitch urged posting invoices online and suggested the solicitor’s billing software use 15‑minute increments. At the meeting the supervisors did not provide line‑by‑line invoice detail or adopt a new billing policy; the minutes record no compelled change. The exchange closed with residents asking for written procedures and greater transparency as a follow‑up item.
Next steps noted in the minutes: no immediate ordinance or policy change was adopted at the meeting; the board acknowledged the concerns and indicated staff and the planning commission should work through procedures and fee schedules.
