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Commissioners direct solicitor to draft transparency ordinance to restrict NDAs on land‑development
Summary
Commissioner proposed, and the board authorized, solicitor Leo to draft an ordinance to prohibit township representatives from entering nondisclosure agreements related to land‑development plans (with carve‑outs for personnel and legally permitted confidentiality); the board discussed enforcement options including disclosure and potential censure.
Pocono Township commissioners voted to direct the township solicitor to draft an ordinance aimed at strengthening transparency by generally prohibiting commissioners and township representatives from entering nondisclosure agreements regarding land‑development proposals.
The proposal was prompted by media reports about another municipality where supervisors had signed NDAs related to energy projects. Commissioner (speaker 3) told the board the goal was to remove doubt for the public about potential secrecy in development negotiations. Solicitor Leo (speaker 6) cautioned that the Sunshine Act already permits limited confidentiality for proprietary information and recommended careful drafting; he said he would draft language that balanced transparency with legal exceptions (personnel, proprietary engineering, or financial materials). Commissioners discussed penalties and enforcement mechanisms (disclosure requirements, censure, fines) and asked the solicitor to return with a draft ordinance or resolution for committee review.
The board approved a motion to authorize drafting and indicated a preference for either ordinance or resolution depending on enforceability and advice from counsel.
