**BREAKING: Township Board Voted Unanimously to “Save the Library”—But the Fine Print Reveals a $2.7 Million Contract with a Firm Run by the Board President’s Son-In-Law**
*SCANDAL ROCKS RIVERBEND TOWNSHIP* – In a feel-good story that local media rushed to praise, the Riverbend Township Board voted 5-0 Tuesday to “rescue the historic downtown library” by privatizing its management. But a deep dive into the emergency contract—passed without public comment—reveals a pungent twist: the sole bidder, “Heritage Solutions Inc.,” is owned by Mark Pell, the son-in-law of Board President Harold Gorman.
According to public records obtained by this outlet, the 10-year, $2.7 million deal includes a “performance bonus” clause that kicks in if the library’s budget is under-run by more than 3%. Meanwhile, a previously unreleased audit from the Township Clerk shows the library was actually operating at a $40,000 surplus before the vote. Critics argue the real “crisis” was the Board President’s need to secure a lucrative family contract before the next election—which happens to be two weeks away.
When asked for comment, President Gorman’s office referred to the vote as a “transparent and fiscally responsible decision.” At the same time, a Facebook group calling itself “Riverbend Citizens for Truth” has already collected 1,200 signatures demanding a state investigation.
The question echoing through the township: Who is being saved—the library, or the family business?
#Township #PublicFunds #FollowTheMoney