Board authorizes conditional payment to Keystone, approves new Keystone contract without legal‑fee indemnity

The board considered two related items involving Keystone Municipal Services: (1) authorization to pay Keystone $7,633.75 for legal services tied to the Sandcastle winery matter and (2) execution of a new professional services agreement naming Keystone as the township’s building‑code official and agent for inspections, plan review, code enforcement and zoning administration.

On the payment item, supervisors said Keystone has a long relationship with the township and that a prior professional services agreement included an indemnification clause and an automatic‑renewal provision. Several members and a member of the public asked to see Keystone’s underlying law‑firm invoices rather than only Keystone’s invoice to the township. The board approved a motion authorizing payment of $7,633.75 to Keystone but conditioned payment on receipt and confirmation of the original law‑firm bills and solicitor satisfaction.

On the contract item, the board approved a new professional services agreement with Keystone that does not include the prior wording obligating the township to pay Keystone’s legal fees and that does not automatically renew; the contract will expire at the January 4, 2027 reorganization meeting unless extended in writing. A taxpayer urged the board to review Keystone’s past charges; board members said the litigation that prompted recent legal bills began in 2025 and that the new contract is intended to correct prior problematic terms.