John Mack Newtown

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Events and Meetings

Upcoming Meetings | Selected Recent Past Meetings | Selected 2025 Meetings | 2021-2025 BOS Chronicales

The following calendar includes Newtown Township public meetings as well as other events of interest to Newtown Township residents. Click on the event to see the time, location, agenda as well as other details including links to related information about items on the agenda.

Selected Upcoming Meetings

Human Relations Commission

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 * 7:00 pm * Newtown Township Meeting Room* 100 Municipal Drive, Newtown, PA 18940

AGENDA

  1. Call to Order
  2. II. Approval of February 18, 2026 meeting minutes
  3. Old Business
    1. Update on community outreach initiatives
    2. Revisions to HRC informational power point presentation
  4. New Business
    1. Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission training session on April 15
    2. Review of draft HRC flyer
    3. Review of HRC webpage on township website
  5. Public Comments
  6. Adjournment
The 2026 Newtown BOS Chronicle

Beginning in 2020, I began preparing detailed notes before attending Board of Supervisors (BOS) meetings. These notes (1) reminded me about the issues and questions I would ask during the meeting, and (2) provide links to background information.

Even though I am no longer a supervisor, I do attend the BOS meetings. I upload my notes to my website as part of my periodic posting of summaries of BOS meetings. I recognize, however, that not everyone who visits my website can find these summaries or put them in chronological order to see the discussions on the same issue from one meeting to another.

Hence, the "Newtown Township BOS Chronicles," which I hope solves that problem by putting all this information - including the BOS voting record for the year, a glossary of terms, an index, and links to documents and data - all in ONE document.

The 2026 Edition

Also see the 2021 BOS Chronicle, the 2022 BOS Chronicle, the 2023 BOS Chronicle, 2024 BPS Chronicle, and the 2025 BOS Chronicle.

Selected Recent Past Meetings

See the Site Index for a list of ALL past meetings…

5 Surprising Takeaways from the March 2026 Newtown Sewer Authority Board Meeting

Most citizens rarely consider the infrastructure beneath their feet until the bill arrives or the toilet doesn't flush. However, the 10 March 2026 meeting of the Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (NBCJMA, aka “Newtown Sewer Authority”) proved that these mundane proceedings are where the most complex civic dramas unfold.

During public comment, resident John Mack offered a poignant observation: while the "price of eggs" eventually dropped after a historic spike, local utility rates rarely follow suit. This curiosity—why municipal costs are so "sticky"—set the stage for a session that balanced technical maintenance with high-level financial maneuvering, revealing how global pharmaceutical trends and local cleaning habits dictate the cost of living in Newtown.

The 100-Hour Work Week and the $25,000 Boiler

Unpacking the Hidden Mathematics of Newtown’s Bills

Meeting: Newtown Township Board of Supervisors — February 25, 2026
Topic: What looks routine on the agenda can carry long-term financial and safety consequences.

To a casual observer, a local Board of Supervisors meeting can feel like procedural motions and minute-approvals. But the February 25, 2026 session in Newtown was a reminder that municipal governance is an iceberg: calm at the surface, with major financial and safety decisions moving below the waterline.

Against the backdrop of repeated winter storms—what Chairman Ed Merriman described as the “harassment” of winter—the Board wrestled with rising professional service costs, inter-municipal friction, and the literal price of keeping Town Hall warm.

Meeting snapshot infographic highlighting key 25 February 2026 Bills List spending items and public-safety notes.

Newtown Township Human Relations Commission Feb. 18, 2026 Meeting — Key Takeaways

The Newtown Township Human Relations Commission (NTHRC) met on February 18, 2026 to address administrative transitions, strengthen outreach, and discuss how technology (including AI) can improve documentation and public transparency. More...

Snow Piles, Growth Projections, and Newtown Sewer Authority’s Infrastructure Hustle

Newtown’s sewer system is mostly invisible—until winter, development pressure, and regulatory reality collide.

For the average Newtown resident, the local sewer system is the ultimate “out of sight, out of mind” utility. It’s a silent, subterranean world that only enters public consciousness when something goes wrong. But for those charged with its stewardship, the system is a high-stakes puzzle of environmental compliance, civil engineering, and long-term urban survival. 

The February 10, 2026 meeting of the Newtown, Bucks County, Joint Municipal Authority (NBCJMA) made that reality plain: Pennsylvania winter isn’t just a commute-killer—it can be a million-dollar schedule-breaker. Between “crazy” snow dumps and delicate negotiations over historic properties, the session showed that even when the ground is frozen, planning for a town’s future never stops. Read more here...

Key Takeaways from the February 11, 2026 Newtown BOS Meeting

At the February 11, 2026, Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, the board addressed several infrastructure projects, including authorizing bids for the 2026 road paving program and presenting plans for a new pedestrian bridge over Newtown Creek. Public and board discussion highlighted a funding dispute regarding fire services with the neighboring borough and concerns over a reduction in the total miles of roadway being resurfaced. Additionally, the meeting included a comprehensive police report covering recent criminal activity and emergency responses, such as a significant snow event. Final administrative actions involved approving a new labor contract for non-uniformed employees and enacting ordinances related to Verizon’s franchise agreement and municipal lien fees. Read more here...

Frederick Douglass Returns To Newtown: The Architecture Of The Self-Made Man

A modern theatrical performance by Darius Wallace, who portrays the legendary abolitionist Frederick Douglass, explored the concept of the "self-made man." Historical records within the text confirm that Douglass originally spoke at the Newtown Theatre in 1864 to support the Freedmen’s Association and advocate for national reconstruction. The performance highlighted Douglass’s intellectual evolution, specifically his complex relationship with Abraham Lincoln and his advocacy for women’s suffrage. Through powerful storytelling, the sources emphasize how education and conviction serve as the primary tools for escaping oppression. Ultimately, the narrative honors the resilience of the human spirit and the collective duty to pursue justice and equality. Read more here...

28 January 2026 BOS Meeting Summary

A Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting that touched on funding priorities, zoning integrity, fire protection, and the Township’s true fiscal position.

The January 28, 2026 meeting of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors covered a wide range of consequential issues—from whether the Township should financially support the historic Newtown Library, to how strictly local zoning ordinances should be defended, to a growing inter-municipal dispute with Newtown Borough over fire services.

Several discussions also raised broader questions about transparency, precedent, and how healthy the Township’s finances really are. See the details here...

26 January 2026 Meet Mack Monday Meeting Recap

A community conversation via Zoom covering infrastructure updates, borough development, signage & zoning, and ongoing concerns about transparency and financial reporting. View the video of the presentation made at the meeting:

Top takeaways

  • Newtown–Yardley Road sidewalk: the project has been approved for a $750,000 grant and would replace the existing path with a concrete sidewalk and curb for safety.
  • Liberty Center (Borough): discussion touched on a multi-story apartment and plaza concept, with interest in accelerating the project.
  • Open government & process: discussion included signage enforcement challenges and concerns about a Consent Agenda limiting transparency if not used carefully. 
  • Budget transparency: residents raised concerns about missing monthly reports and the need for clearer budget tracking and oversight.

See the detailed summary/recap...

Newtown Board of Supervisors Meeting Briefing: January 14, 2026

A quick, reader-friendly recap of the night’s biggest decisions and takeaways — from emergency services facilities to land development and ordinance updates. More details...

A Contentious 2026 BOS Reorganization

The January 5th, 2026 Newtown Township Board of Supervisors reorganization meeting broke the mold. The evening began with unexpected tension, led to a significant leadership shake-up, and culminated in powerful calls for unity and collaboration. It was a meeting that revealed deep divisions but also a clear desire to bridge them. Here are the five most surprising takeaways from a night that set a new course for Newtown..

Selected 2025 Meetings

See the Site Index for a list of ALL past meetings…