PETITION UPDATE: All Briefs Filed in Taxpayer Lawsuit + Recent Media Coverage
Thank you to everyone who continues to sign, share, and support this campaign for taxpayer transparency and municipal accountability!
Here is the latest update on our effort to hold Cheltenham Township accountable to state competitive bidding laws and our Home Rule Charter:
1. All Legal Briefs Have Been Filed
All briefs in our lawsuit challenging the $4.5 million unbid ground lease have officially been submitted to the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. The legal arguments are fully before the judge, and we are awaiting the court's upcoming ruling, which we should expect before 8/26.
Our lawsuit makes a clear point: the Township cannot tell the public it is purchasing a custom-built $4.5 million municipal pool while arguing in court filings that the deal is merely a "real estate lease" exempt from public bidding.
2. Recent Press Coverage
Press attention on this $4.5M unbid deal continues to grow across local news outlets:
Broad & Liberty (August 14th, 2026): "Cheltenham residents question town plans on new pool construction" by Township resident Linda Stine.
Glenside Local (August 19, 2026): "Cheltenham commissioners address residents' concerns regarding Enclave at Melrose Park redevelopment contract" by Ryan Genova
Covers the intense public comment at the recent Board of Commissioners meeting, where residents pushed back on the lack of public discussion, the unbid structure, and the absence of a required formal site plan assessment.
The Philadelphia Inquirer (August 20, 2026): "Cheltenham residents say they felt 'blindsided' by unbid $4.5M pool agreement with private developer" by Jess Rohan
Highlights how local residents were kept in the dark before the July 15 ground lease was executed and examines the ongoing legal challenge.
What You Can Do Next:
Please take a moment to share this petition update on Facebook and Nextdoor. Share it with friends and family who may not yet have seen it. Every new signature sends a message to the Board of Commissioners that Cheltenham taxpayers expect full statutory compliance, fiscal responsibility, and open government.
Thank you for standing up for transparent governance!