Here are my issues with this.

1) John Nagle was one of the executive members of the Radnor Conservancy. John Fischer is the current President of The Conservancy. Since Nagle was an executive member, I find it troubling that one of the first meetings as BOC President is to try and sign a lease that is completely beneficial to The Conservancy.

2) The amendment of the renewal terms of the lease are for two, five year terms. The original lease agreement would renew on a year-to-year basis. This allows The Conservancy long-term control of the Willows Cottage at unprecedented levels. I would be curious to know if any other lease that the township has entered into, allows for this type of renewal term. And, as Jeff Heil stated below, a shorter renewal period ensures that each BOC is not bound by the actions of the group preceeding it (thanks, Jeff!)

3) The amendment would like to allow for The Radnor Conservancy to have a farmer / and intern live at the Cottage. The original lease states that The Conservancy will pay $1 for the Cottage, but did not allow for a tenant. My questions are this: would the farmer paying rent to The Conservancy? In the amendment, it states that, “The Tenant may retain all rents and other income derived by Tenant from any of the Permitted Uses; provided, however, that Tenant agrees that all such income shall be used either for the operation, maintenance, repair or improvement of the Premises or to provide any of the Permitted Uses.” So, Radnor Township leases out its property for $1 a year, and The Conservancy can sublease it out, to a farmer and intern, and make a profit from it? Why do I feel like Radnor Township is subsidizing The Conservancy, who’s BOC President has a vested interest in The Conservancy?

4) The idea of products/items being sold out of the Willows Cottage was contested last year by members of the Radnor BOC, specifically from Kevin Higgins, who thought that this endeavor would start to compete with local businesses. In the original lease, the Cottage is meant to be a distribution center for the produce grown at the CSA. In the amendment, products can now be sold out of there? Would they follow the same rules for taxation, as the businesses they are getting the items from are from third party entities? Kevin Higgins, one of the BOC, was sternly against the idea of selling items out of the Cottage.

5) The amendment also states that the “Premises” under the agreement shall include the portion of the Willows Park surrounding the Cottage as shown on Exhibit B --- well, there is nothing displayed under Exhibit B --- I am really curious as to what that is. How much of Radnor Township park land will be leased away to The Conservancy? In addition, what is under Exhibit A, also classified as Additional Premises?

Sorry if this isn’t making too much sense, but I think this whole thing is too self-serving to The Conservancy, and is blurring the lines between The Conservancy and the BOC. If I were Elaine Shaefer or John Nagle, I would think they would have to recuse themselves from voting on this entirely.

Well, this explains the timing of the muzzle resolution...

Alternative speculation: The Conservancy-supported lease issue might "help" explain the timing of the muzzle resolution, as a contributing, tipping point factor.