Lehigh Township spent another $18,000 in June for a labor lawyer, but supervisors are still not talking about the reason, or results.

During the public comment at the meeting last week, resident Paul Nikisher asked the board, “What is Check #28861 for Campbell Durrant, $18,335.40 for June 2025 legal services?”

Supervisors President Mike Jones via phone, said, “We can’t talk about it. It’s labor related for personnel.”

Residents ask about the bills and the status of Police Chief Scott Fogel at every session.

The board hasn’t answered about the chief.

As for the bills, Solicitor David Backenstoe said, “It’s very private. Totally off limits.”

The township previously spent $13,000 for bills from the law firm. The firm charges $325 per hour.

Vice Chairman Gerald Pritchard said last Tuesday, “This needs to end. That’s a lot of money for a think tank opinion.” Nothing else was said on the topic.

On June 18, the Times News submitted a right-to-know request for itemized bills from Campbell Durrant P.C. from March 2024 to present.

The information released on July 18 showed a report was prepared but other information was heavily redacted. Many of the entries involve the police department.

According to the itemized bill, the township was billed on April 24 for 4.20 hours for drafting and revising an investigative report. The rest of the entry was redacted.

On April 28, the township was billed for 1.5 hours for a total of $487.50. The reason listed was to confer on a police department study. The rest of the information on this entry was redacted.

Some other entries included Sept. 6, 2024, a call with supervisors regarding emails, with the township billed for 30 minutes for a cost of $162.50; six hours on Oct. 7, 2024, regarding a right-to-know appeal at a cost of $2,015; Feb. 10, review of a collective bargaining agreement, billed at 1.6 hours, totaling $520; Feb. 11, review grievance, and draft a response, billed at 30 minutes at a cost of $162.50.

The township successfully fought an appeal by Police Officer Jonathan Roth for emails, to and from Township Manager Alice Rehrig, to and from Sergeant John Henry, Chief Scott Fogel, and any member of the Board of Supervisors, including individual and group emails, between the dates of July 25, 2024, and Aug. 19, 2024, in reference to Roth and Roth’s letter sent on Aug. 9, 2024 and conversation between Rehrig and township police officer Dean Heffelfinger on July 25, 2024.

The township received the request on Aug. 20, and denied the request Aug. 26.

On Sept. 13, Roth appealed to the state Office of Open Records. The township successfully argued that it could withhold employee statements.

Previously, the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board ruled that Lehigh Township committed an unfair labor practice when it altered a veteran police officer’s work schedule in a move found to be motivated by retaliation.

In a decision issued Aug. 11, 2023, Hearing Examiner John Pozniak concluded that the township violated the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Act by interfering with officer Jonathon Roth’s protected union activity.

At the time of the decision, Roth was an 18-year veteran and the township’s only canine officer. Roth also served as the president of the Lehigh Township Police Association.

On Nov. 14, 2022, the union filed a charge with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, claiming the township changed Roth’s platoon assignment in retaliation for his union activities and without proper bargaining, in violation of the collective bargaining agreement.

The board ordered the township to cease and desist from violations.

Police chief

Residents continue to question why the township police chief remains employed following a $1.75 million settlement in a federal lawsuit.

Nickerson asked supervisors at their meeting earlier this month about the employment status of Chief Scott Fogel, citing rumors that he had been placed on administrative leave.

“We want to know if the rumors are true,” Nickerson said. “What is his status?”

Supervisors Chairman Mike Jones responded: “Chief Fogel is still employed by the township. That’s all I have to say.”

The lawsuit, filed by former township police officer Jessica Edwards, alleged that Fogel sexually harassed, physically accosted and retaliated against her during her five-year tenure.

The township paid $275,000 in back wages, while the remainder of the settlement was covered by the township’s

insurance provider.

A petition has also been circulated asking for Fogel’s removal, but supervisors haven consistently said it is a personnel issue and they couldn’t comment.

In April, the Lehigh Township Police Association, the police union, released a statement.

“The members of the Lehigh Township Police Association are committed to providing exceptional police services to the citizens and visitors of Lehigh Township,” the statement said. “Despite any internal challenges we are currently facing, we want to assure the community that we will continue to deliver the highest standard of service.”

In October 2023, the police association said it conducted a survey, which showed a vote of no confidence for Fogel, and requested a meeting with supervisors to discuss the results.

“Our goal was to bring internal issues of the department to the attention of the board of supervisors and to collectively

discuss solutions,” the association said. “We made several attempts to review the results with the board, but they refused to meet with us. Our most recent request was in January 2024, and although a meeting was scheduled, the board later canceled the meeting and has not rescheduled.”

The association said two additional officers have left the department, one citing declining morale.

“Following this, the township retained Safe City Solutions LLC to review the department policies and procedures,” the association said.

A new survey was conducted in the department in January. The Safe City survey included a question regarding confidence in the chief. “Although five new officers have been hired since October 2023, we believe the majority have still expressed no confidence in Chief Fogel. Each officer was subsequently interviewed based on the survey responses.”

The supervisors have not made the survey results public.

A call to the police station last week for information about National Night Out was returned by Sgt. John Henry. Information was then provided by Roth.

Jarrad Hedes contributed to this report.