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Salem Township approves $171,198 in monthly bills as residents demand solicitor billing transparency
Summary
Supervisors approved $171,198.01 in monthly expenditures but residents questioned a $7,000 solicitor invoice and asked for written billing procedures and online invoice access.
Salem Township supervisors unanimously approved monthly expenditures totaling $171,198.01 at their Sept. 18 meeting while residents pressed for clearer solicitor billing and more transparent invoicing.
The board voted to pay across funds including General ($44,476.58), Payroll ($43,615.59), Liquid Fuels ($71,021.88), Sewer Revenue ($11,470.00), Street Lights ($394.96) and Machinery ($219.00). Resident Tom Ridella asked for line‑item detail on Solicitor Falatovich’s $7,000 bill and said supervisors should “know what they are paying for.” He added he “would like to see written procedures and policies in place.”
Other residents echoed concerns. Matt Rebitch asked whether the township was being overbilled; Lisa Segina asked the Planning Commission chair whether non‑legal planning tasks were generating solicitor charges. Planning Commission Chair Connie Mattei said developers and surveyors have sometimes gone directly to the solicitor rather than the township, increasing workload and complicating fee recovery. Resident Ed Rebitch suggested posting invoices online and requested solicitor billing in 15‑minute increments to improve transparency.
The motion to approve the expenditures was made by Ken Trumbetta, seconded by Kerry Jobe and passed unanimously (Bob Zundel, Ken Trumbetta and Kerry Jobe). The board did not change billing procedures at the meeting but recorded the requests for more detailed invoicing and policy updates.
