With the assistance of the Law Firm of DiOrio & Sereni, LLP, a Kennett Township taxpayer has filed a Sunshine Act lawsuit against Kennett Township and its three Supervisors.
Mark A. Sereni, Esquire, the taxpayer’s lead attorney, explains that, “When our lawmakers enacted the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, they explicitly found that the right of the public to be present at all meetings of governmental agencies and to witness the deliberation and decision-making of governmental agencies is vital to the enhancement and proper functioning of the democratic process, and that secrecy in public affairs undermines the faith of the public in government and the public’s effectiveness in fulfilling its role in a democratic society.”
This lawsuit alleges that the township or one or more of its Supervisors violated the state Sunshine Act by entering into a secret retirement agreement with an ex-township official that will cost the township taxpayers well in excess of $45,000.00. This lawsuit asserts that at no time during any public meeting that took place on or between the dates of April 15, 2015 through July 15, 2015 did the township or its Supervisors invite or receive public comment on, discuss, deliberate upon, vote upon or approve any retirement agreement with this ex-township official.
This lawsuit points out that this alleged secret retirement agreement contained a secrecy provision that generally prohibited the township from disclosing even the existence of this alleged secret retirement agreement, and that it was only after the Law Firm of DiOrio & Sereni, LLP had made a Right-to-Know request about any retirement agreement that the township was forced to disclose it.
Click on the link provided below to read more.
Suit questions “secret” McCarthy deal
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