Radnor Solicitor Debate Ends With Rice Appointed On Interim Basis

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, PA – After shouting, a failed censure vote, amendments to motions, and more, the Radnor Board of Commissioners voted Monday to appoint John Rice as the township solicitor on an interim basis.

The commissioners voted 4 to 3 along party lines to make Rice the interim township solicitor after the board did not vote to accept the engagement letter and rates of the firm of McNichol, Byrne and Matlawski. The firm was voted to be the new solicitors for the township on May 21, but Board President Lisa Borowski ultimately did not sign that agreement.

At Monday's meeting, the solicitor debate began when Vice President Luke Clark introduced a motion to censure Commissioner Sean Farhy over a letter he sent to the firm alleging "pay-to-play" politics between the firm and then-Republican controlled board. Farhy subsequently posted that letter on his commissioner Facebook page.

The move to censure Farhy failed on party lines.

Then the debate moved to accepting the agreement with McNichol, Byrne and Matlawski, of Media.

That motion failed after it did not receive a second, then a motion to appoint an interim solicitor came up from Commissioner John Larkin.

Larkin floated Rice to be the interim solicitor, keeping the same rates and agreement between Rice and the township before the May 21 meeting.

Commissioenr Richard Booker floated Jim Bryne of the firm to be the interim solicitor.

That vote failed along party lines and Larkin's motion was approved along party lines.

Watch Monday's meeting online here.

Image via Radnor Township