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Residents press supervisors for clearer solicitor invoices; solicitor cites attorney-client privilege
Summary
Residents at the Salem Township meeting urged transparency after redacted solicitor invoices were produced under Right-to-Know requests; Solicitor Muscante said redactions reflect attorney-client privilege but pledged to minimize them and provide a less-redacted January invoice.
Several residents raised concerns March 18 about redactions in solicitor invoices produced under Right-to-Know (RTK) requests and asked how to obtain more specific billing information.
Resident Tom Ridella said the invoices were so heavily redacted he "can't tell what the Township is being charged for," and asked that the board require more disclosure. Solicitor Muscante responded that the redactions are grounded in "attorney client privilege" but agreed to minimize redactions where possible and provide a revised January invoice with fewer redactions.
Resident Eric Hageder asked for consistent redaction practices after noticing some names were redacted while others were not. Board members explained that some charges this month reflect transition work as the township changed firms and that several large items are one-time review charges that should decline as the new solicitor becomes familiar with township records.
