Upper Darby Mayor Ed Brown has chosen a new township solicitor over the objection of two Republicans on council.
Upper Darby Mayor Ed Brown
At the most recent council meeting, it was announced the administration had chosen Clarke Gallagher Barbiero Amuso & Glassman Law which has an office in Radnor.
The company was formerly Randolph Clarke LLC based in Bucks and Montgomery counties. The name expansion occurred in November.
According to its website, the firm represents numerous municipal and school district clients in Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Chester and Burlington counties.
Delaware County clients include Collingdale and Aldan. The firm has also been legal advisers for Delcora.
Managing partner Michael Clarke has been a large donor to Montgomery County Democrats.
The new solicitor comes after Kilkenny Law stepped down in January after four years as Upper Darby solicitor.
Sean Kilkenny said the decision to step aside was so that both his firm and Upper Darby could continue to prosper.
He had faced criticism after decisions later led to lawsuits, a couple which have notably gone against the township. Kilkenny denied that the criticism was a factor in his stepping aside.
Also at the council meeting, township Chief Administrative Officer Crandall Jones said the township sent out a request for qualifications to five law firms and three responded.
Those firms were interviewed with the mayor and department heads present, and council members were invited.
Jones said the proposal from Clarke Gallagher was for a monthly retainer of $6,000 per month.
Hourly rates would be $195 for nonland development matters and $135 an hour for paralegals. Work requiring land development would be $245 per hour.
Council will vote on the solicitor at a future meeting.
Council member Brian Andruszko said he is concerned about the firm’s involvement with free speech issues while representing Pennsbury School District during the pandemic.
Andruszko
Residents speaking at board meetings from December 2020 to June 2021 allegedly had their time cut short or their comments were deleted from the meetings minutes or video.
“The issue with Mr. Clarke at Pennsbury Township regarding the free speech case … I think everybody is aware of the issues that we’ve had ourselves here in Upper Darby with recent litigation,” Andruszko said. “I think that’s a concern.”
Andruszko also had issues with statements Clarke has made about the Republican Party and questioned if he could be impartial on political issues he may need to rule on.
He urged the administration to look for a different solicitor.
Meaghan Wagner also questioned the decision.
“This is not political to me. This is a scary road is what I see it as,” Wagner said.
Brown said there is always going to be something that someone questions.
“Whoever we choose there is going to be somebody that has an issue,” Brown said. “I think you just have to make a decision, all things considered.”
“I respect where you are coming from,” he told Andruszko and Wagner.
Originally Published: March 8, 2025 at 7:00 AM EST