Central Bucks School Board Takes Action To Change Legal Counsel

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Meeting in special session on Tuesday, the Central Bucks School Board took steps to replace its general counsel.

The board voted first to appoint attorney Peter Amuso as the district’s interim solicitor.

Amuso, who works for the law firm of Clarke, Gallagher, Barbiero, Amuso & Glassman, will serve until the board hires new legal counsel to represent the district.

In a separate motion, the board voted unanimously to put out a request for proposals for general solicitor services.

The board gave no explanation why it’s replacing Edward Diasio, who has served as the board's legal counsel since November when he was appointed to replace David Conn. Diasio is with the firm Wisler Pearlstein.

“The need to move forward with this action was pressing,” said board president Susan Gibson. "Matters of legal representation do carry privilege between the client and the attorney, so there are not open matters that we would be able to discuss with the public.”

Gibson noted that the board already has a contract with the law firm that Mr. Amuso works for and that he would be providing the district with interim services under a prior contract.

“(The appointment of Mr. Amuso) is just an interim step to allow us an opportunity to issue another request for proposals to replace Mr. Diasio and Wisler as our general solicitor," said Gibson. "We intend to move quickly with that process and we hope and intend to have a new appointment before the public in August.”

Board member James Pepper was the only other board member who spoke publicly about the change in legal representation.

“This is a grave issue. One that I, as an officer of the court, take very, very seriously,” said Pepper. “This has absolutely nothing to do with politics," he said of the decision to change solicitors.

He continued, "On the appointment of Mr. Amuso, I have had a number of interactions with Mr. Amuso. I have found him perfectly fine with me. Nevertheless, I am going to recuse myself due to potential legal implications that we are, at least in part, addressing tonight as a board and it is not a reflection on Mr. Amuso or any type of political statement on my part.”