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Tinicum supervisors authorize conditional payment to Keystone, approve new service contract without fee indemnification
Summary
After public questioning, the board authorized payment of $7,633.75 to Keystone Municipal Services contingent on receipt of underlying attorney invoices and approved a new professional services contract that removes the town's prior obligation to pay Keystone's legal fees.
The Tinicum Township Board of Supervisors voted to authorize payment of $7,633.75 to Keystone Municipal Services for legal fees connected to the Sandcastle winery matter, but only after the township receives and confirms the original invoices from the law firm, a supervisor said.
"I would make a motion that we authorize the payment of the $7,633.75 upon receipt and confirmation of the outstanding bills from the law firm," a committee member said during the meeting; the motion was seconded and approved. Township staff and several supervisors emphasized they want the underlying attorney invoices before releasing taxpayer funds.
The payment request prompted broader scrutiny of Keystone's long-standing contract with the township. A public commenter noted the franchise agreement included an indemnification clause that previously required the township to cover Keystone's legal costs. "Without any accountability or disclosure to the board about what those services are, as a taxpayer I'm delighted you're questioning it," the commenter said.
Following the discussion, supervisors approved a new professional services agreement with Keystone for building-code official, inspection, plan review, code enforcement, accessibility plan review and zoning administration services. The updated contract removes the earlier language that automatically obligated the township to pay Keystone's legal fees and does not automatically renew; it is set to expire at the reorganization meeting on Jan. 4, 2027.
Township officials said the new agreement gives the board annual oversight of the arrangement. Officials also told the meeting they will post documents and post the contractor's flyer materials on the township bulletin board and website when appropriate.
The board's conditional payment authorization and new contract follow several supervisors' requests for clearer documentation and tighter contract terms; the invoices that will trigger payment were not available to the board at the time of the vote.
