CHELTENHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — A resident has filed a lawsuit against the township in response to its $4.5 million Melrose Pool project.
Resident Samuel Thacker said he filed the lawsuit (Thacker v. Cheltenham Township et al.) regarding the township putting out a FAQ on the Melrose Pool project on Aug. 12.
"Residents oppose this unbid contract and the lack of transparency that got us there," said Thacker, adding that he was supported by a change.org petition that has drawn over 330 signatures so far.
Thacker said the FAQ created :a direct contradiction" with its own legal stance in court.
"While telling the public that it is purchasing a $4.5 million municipal pool built to precise township specifications, the township argues in court filings that the deal is merely a 'real estate lease' exempt from public bidding," Thacker said. "Our pending lawsuit in the Court of Common Pleas challenges this legal fiction, while public concern continues to surge — our resident petition raising these legal and fiscal concerns reached 331 signatories in its first 48 hours alone."
The township issued a statement to Patch on Monday regarding the lawsuit.
"The township does not comment on any matters of active litigation," said Lauren Walter, the township's public information officer.
She said the township posted this list of FAQs surrounding the community pool situation in general.
The suit states that the township has a direct contradiction between municipal construction and real estate leases, failed to comply with Home Rule Charter mandates, and has an unfunded $4.5 million financial obligation.
"The township cannot have it both ways," Thacker said. "They cannot tell the public they are acquiring a custom-built $4.5 million municipal pool complex, while telling a judge it is just a routine real estate lease that doesn't need to be competitively bid. You cannot build public infrastructure by setting aside the Home Rule Charter and using legal loopholes to bypass public procurement statutes. Gaining over 330 signatures in two days demonstrates that residents expect full statutory compliance when millions of taxpayer dollars are at stake. Our lawsuit asks the Court of Common Pleas to enforce the law and ensure that public taxpayer dollars are protected."
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