Introducing the item for a vote, Lauchle said that the board was “seeking clarification from the developer regarding tenant commitments associated with the proposed development.”

“This includes any available documentation of executed agreements, letters of intent or other commitments with proposed or reported tenants, including, but not limited to Bass Pro Shops, Wawa, Hilton or other identified occupants,” Lauchle explained.

“This information would assist the township in understanding the project scope, coordination and planning considerations as a part of its land development review responsibilities,” she said.

Artley then made a motion that “the township requests documentation from the developer regarding tenant commitments associated with the proposed development, including any executive agreements, letters of intent or other commitment documentation for information purposes to assist the township in evaluating prior scope and planning considerations,” Artley said.

Lauchle seconded the motion and noted that the township “will prepare and send correspondence consistent with the request.”

The township is currently in litigation with FAMvest, developers of the former Lycoming Mall, now known as The District at Lycoming Valley.

The developers are seeking to have township officials sign preliminary plans that had been approved by the former board, but not signed, so that construction on the projected Bass Pro Shops Outpost site can begin.

The current board has sought to delay signing the documents.

FAMvest is suing both the township and the township supervisors, which sparked a question from a township resident during public comment about whether the township tax dollars should be used to pay legal fees for the supervisors, when they are the ones who are obstructing the process.

Joseph F. Orso III, a Williamsport attorney with Rudinski, Orso and Lynch, who was approved as the township’s solicitor at the meeting, acknowledged that “there will be litigation expenses.”

“I haven’t formed, I said, as soon as I took the job, I haven’t formed an opinion on the litigation, so can I at least form an opinion before I decide where we’re going to go,” Orso said.

“Muncy Township has been sued. I’ve been hired as a solicitor. I will be representing Muncy Township in that litigation,” he offered as an explanation.

Although the motion to hire Orso did not include his fees, he stated that the township would be charged $250 per hour and, for litigation, $325 per hour.

It was revealed at the meeting that Orso is also representing the Bush family in their litigation against FAMvest in trying to halt the possible razing of the Bush House which was sold to the developers. Orso indicated that he felt that his representation of both the Bush’s and the township did not constitute a conflict of interest.

Citing a lack of transparency by the board for not making information, such as treasurer’s reports available to the public, Don Reese, a resident of the township, said there’s “a lot of things out there that we don’t know and we should know.”

“I think you have failed the people that voted you in. You have failed us as taxpayers and residents of Muncy Township. There is no transparency in this group up there at all,” he added, referring to the supervisors.

Although the business portion of the meeting was fairly short, the venting of frustrations by residents during the public comment portion was loud and at times chaotic culminating in an altercation when the meeting ended.

The State Police were called when a verbal interaction between Charlie Bush, former owner of the Bush House, and Jason Fink, CEO/president of the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, became heated. A third man made a comment, at which point Bushe physically accosted that man. Others who had been watching then stepped in and told Bush to leave.