Approval of a new contract between Emsworth Borough and Ohio Township for police services has been delayed while Emsworth officials review a clause that has been part of the police services contract for many years.

A motion to approve a new contract was tabled at Wednesday’s Emsworth Council meeting after council member Alex Nalevanko questioned a termination clause that, he said, appeared to provide no limit to what Emsworth could be charged if the borough broke the agreement. He suggested limiting the amount to whatever is remaining due in the contract at the time of the breach.

Solicitor Robert McTiernan said that the clause comes into play only if there is an invalid breach of the contract by Emsworth, and Ohio Township would be required to prove that the costs it sought to recover were justified.

McTiernan considered it “very unlikely” that Emsworth would ever have to worry about the clause, but agreed to contact the Ohio Township solicitor about a possible change in language.

The current contract does not expire until the end of the year, Nalevanko said.