Briefing: Newtown Township Board of Supervisors — October 8, 2025
Executive Summary
- Newtown Creek Pedestrian Bridge moves ahead via a Township–Borough Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA); ~$1M grant-backed.
- Newtown Gate parking enforcement triggers resident outcry; Police cite safety hazards.
- Crosswalk safety upgrades at Chandler Hall/Sycamore authorized for cost estimate.
- Fire services: two new career firefighters sworn in; Borough–Township agreement talks delayed.
- Budget ’26 underway; bills, transfers, and park repairs approved.
Listen to this “Deep Dive” Podcast summary:
Contents
- IGA: Newtown Creek Pedestrian Bridge
- Newtown Gate Parking & Traffic
- Pedestrian & Vehicle Safety Initiatives
- Fire Department Personnel & Fire Agreement
- Police Report — September 2025
- Administration, Finance & Operations
Intergovernment Agreement: Newtown Creek Pedestrian Bridge
What was approved
- IGA with Newtown Borough adopted unanimously to build a pedestrian bridge over Newtown Creek.
- Funding: $999,979 Commonwealth grant intended to cover design through construction.
- Roles: Township administers grant & construction; Borough has joint change-order approval and 3rd-party beneficiary rights.
Why it matters
“The budget is more than sufficient and includes contingency… the missing puzzle piece for the new town trail system.” — Newtown Creek Coalition
Benefits include safer interconnection, economic uplift, and potential traffic relief.
Cost Allocation at a Glance
| Cost Category | Who Pays |
|---|---|
| Grant-covered costs | Paid via $999,979 grant administered by the Township |
| Costs exceeding grant caps | Shared equally (Township & Borough) |
| Grant administration (if not reimbursable) | Shared equally |
| Municipality-specific engineering reviews | Requesting municipality |
| Additional inspections beyond design contract | Requesting party |
| Contractor dispute resolution | Shared equally |
Disputes under the IGA go to a binding three-person arbitration panel.
Newtown Gate Parking & Traffic
Context: After decades of informal tolerance, police began ticketing on Fountain Farm Lane. Residents cited a visitor-parking shortage and unequal enforcement; Police cited public safety.
Resident Perspectives
- Policy shift: HOA leadership: “After 35 years, ticketing suddenly began.”
- Visitor parking: Analysis presented: 0.54 spaces per home — “I can invite half a person to Thanksgiving.”
- Speeding/cut-through: Reports of chronic speeding and unsafe passing.
- Proposed remedies: Evaluate removing edge (“fog”) lines where safe to create legal parking; consider “local traffic only.”
Township & Police Response
“Bottom line… this is a public safety hazard… Citations will continue until there’s a game plan for where to park the cars.” — Chief Hearn
The parking issue first came up at the September 10, 2025, BOS meeting when I asked Police Chief Hearn about getting more data regarding speeding along Fountain Farm Lane (FFL). I heard complaints from residents about this via email. Thanks to BOS Chair Elen Snyder’s remarks, this discussion also got into parking along FFL and the Chief’s now famous (or infamous) remark: “If you own a property within that Fountain Farm development, do not park on Fountain Farm in the fog line. You will be ticketed.” You can hear this discussion on YouTube starting here… or read the transcript (PDF).
Supervisors committed to pursue solutions, potentially via traffic engineering review.
Pedestrian & Vehicle Safety Initiatives
- Chandler Hall & Sycamore Street Crosswalk: 5-0 authorization for engineer to prepare a cost estimate for safety upgrades; residents voiced strong support.
- E-Bike Safety: Ongoing “education-first” enforcement, with an emphasis on parental guidance.
Fire Department Personnel & Fire Agreement
New Career Firefighters
- Chris Pinowski — 9 years’ service (most recently Bensalem Fire Rescue)
- Ryan Thomas — 10 years’ service (Warminster VFD), Army National Guard veteran (2019–2023)
Rationale: Necessary staffing given a decline in volunteers.
Borough–Township Fire Agreement
Agenda item to authorize drafting a new agreement was removed. Discussion deferred to a future work session following Borough notice of terminating the current pact effective December 31, 2025.
Police Report — September 2025
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Notable Arrests | Indecent assault of a juvenile; fleeing police; three DUIs |
| Public Advisories | Lock vehicles & remove key fobs; watch for deer collisions |
| Drug Take Back | Saturday, October 25, 2025, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (Township Building) |
Administration, Finance & Operations
2026 Budget Timeline
- Now: Departments prioritizing expenditures & capital projects.
- Oct 22, 2025: Draft budget presentation; Board may vote to “hang” budget for 20-day public review.
- Earliest Adoption: Nov 25, 2025 meeting.
Consent Agenda
- Bills: $718,658.59
- Transfers: $34,245.67
- Parks: $23,000 for backstop & fence repairs (Helen Randle & Chandler)
Discussion noted Barrett Associates’ YTD spend > $200k (building inspections largely permit-funded; zoning officer ~ $5–7k/mo).
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