My name is Sam Thacker, and I am a resident and taxpayer in Cheltenham Township, PA. Like hundreds of my neighbors, I believe that our local government works best when it operates with full transparency, respects the public trust, and follows the law.

I am launching this campaign to cover critical legal fees needed as we take our fight to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania to enforce Cheltenham Township’s unwaivable Home Rule Charter requirements for competitive bidding of public construction contracts.

What Is at Stake?

On July 15, 2026, Cheltenham Township’s Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to execute a no-bid “ground lease” contract worth $4.5 million in taxpayer funds with a single-purpose developer LLC (Melrose Pool, LLC) to build a municipal pool on land at the former Melrose Country Club on land that was gifted to the Township (by the same developer) in December 2025.

Worst of all, Township residents were given no say in the plan. There was no public process involving consideration of the privately negotiated project to close the Township’s beloved Conklin Pool and replace it with a much smaller facility in the middle of a dense, privately owned development.

The Township's governing Home Rule Charter establishes mandatory competitive public bidding requirements to ensure that public contracts for construction work and assets are handled fairly, competitively, and openly. When the Township bypasses competitive bidding, Cheltenham's taxpayers lose the opportunity to ensure public assets and funds are managed in the community’s best interest.

When the Township moved forward with this no-bid contract disguised as a "ground lease," I filed a taxpayer lawsuit seeking to halt the project. My lawsuit simply asks a judge to rule that the "ground lease" is void and unenforceable, in hopes that the Township's Board of Commissioners will proceed with any new pool facility in accordance with mandatory bidding requirements and a transparent public process.

Over 680 residents signed our petition calling on the Township to halt the no-bid pool project and restore open government standards. Still, the Board of Commissioners and the developer continue to plow ahead, seeking to break ground as soon as possible.

Where the Legal Fight Stands Now

Following an initial setback in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, we are taking immediate action in the Commonwealth Court after obtaining the advice and counsel of an experienced public contracts attorney.

Retaining Experienced Public Contracts Attorney: Chris McCabe

Taking on a municipality and developer through the appellate process requires formidable legal expertise. I have been battling as many as six corporate attorneys through the proceedings so far, half of whom are funded by your tax dollars. To level the playing field, I have now retained Chris McCabe, an attorney with the law firm

Charlson Braber McCabe & Denmark, P.C. McCabe has more than 30+ years of experience in Pennsylvania municipal law, public contracts and procurement, and competitive bidding litigation.

Having a dedicated and seasoned attorney ensures that our arguments before the Commonwealth Court carry the maximum legal weight necessary to hold the Township accountable to its residents and taxpayers.

How Funds Will Be Used ($15,000 Goal)

Every dollar raised goes directly toward the direct costs of this legal challenge. Here is how the $15,000 target breaks down:

Financial Accountability Note: All donations are deposited into a dedicated account used strictly for legal representation and court fees associated with Thacker v. Cheltenham Township. These funds will ultimately be transferred to the IOLTA account of Charlson Braber McCabe & Denmark, P.C. If any funds remain following the final conclusion of litigation, 100% of the balance will be donated to support Cheltenham Township Parks & Recreation programming.

How You Can Help Today

Donate: Whether it’s $10, $25, or $100, every contribution directly funds our attorney's fees and court filings. If every person who signed our petition contributes just $25, we will hit our target.

Share: Post this campaign link on Facebook, Nextdoor, and email it to your Cheltenham neighbors.

Standing up for open and accountable government isn't easy, but these are our tax dollars, and what happens here matters. Thank you for standing up for the residents and taxpayers of Cheltenham Township!

— Sam Thacker