At the 21 May 2025 Newtown Borough Council meeting, Borough Council President Emily Heinz: “I’d like to make a motion to authorize the solicitor to notify Newtown Township of the Borough's election to terminate the Borough's participation in the current fire services agreement.
The following day, Newtown Township received a letter via email from the Newtown Borough Solicitor notifying the Township that the Borough decided to terminate the Agreement with the Township for fire coverage effective December 31, 2025.
Obviously, the Borough does not like the terms of the current agreement. As the history of this agreement reveals, the Borough never did wish to pay what the Township thought was fair. Negotiations will again likely be “difficult.” Keep in mind that the township hired four new full-time firefighters.
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My Comments:
At the 28 May 2025 Newtown BOS meeting, Board Chair Elen Snyder said “Unless something happens, as of January first 2025 they [the Borough] will have no protection.” A distinction must be made between emergency services and fire protection services. Firefighters respond to emergencies when and where needed without regard to who pays them or who does not!
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At the April 9, 2025, Newtown BOS meeting, Newtown Walk resident Charles Feuer reported that he had a conversation with Richard Tomlinson president of the Newtown Cemetery Association regarding the proposed sidewalk project adjacent to the cemetery on Newtown-Yardley Rd.
At a previous BOS meeting, this proposed sidewalk was scuttled because one supervisor claimed that the cemetery did not want a sidewalk or curb and that the cemetery actually owned the land on which the trail was located.
According to Mr. Feuer, Mr. Tomlinson said “I don't know who they talked to but that's no true. I am wholeheartedly in favor of that.”
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At the 14 May 2025 BOS meeting, the supervisors unanimously approved the PBA contract as amended via arbitration after the Township rejected PBA’s initial demands.
Township Manager, Micah Lewis informed the supervisors: “As you're aware the arbitrator issued his decision in the ruling as it relates to the police contract. The contract itself has been amended with the language of the arbitrator's ruling. The union has signed off on the language. Now it's up to the board to approve as well so we can get this contract executed.”
Supervisor Calabro asked: “Just one question: Can you just go over the arbitrator's decision?”
Mr. Lewis responded: “I don't have that decision in front of me at this time. It included increases… It's a six-year term to run through 2029 and it'll include certain fringe benefits that the union was asking for, including things like accreditation pay and certain other allowances. The PBA wanted additional health care coverages that weren't granted to the officers for post-retirement benefits. They wanted certain other pay increases that were not granted”
More about this short 17-minute meeting...
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BOS meeting summaries, BOS voting record for the year, a glossary of terms, an index, and links to documents and data - all in ONE document.
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Will It Have Any Impact on Sale of Sewer Treatment Plant Land?
Steeple View Plan
[As reported in the Newtown Patch] Adding to the layers of speculation surrounding the future of this ambitious project, a rumor has begun to circulate that Allan Smith has sold the Steeple View property to Jim Worthington of the Newtown Athletic Club (NAC).
Such a transfer of ownership, if true, could significantly alter the project's trajectory, either accelerating its completion under new leadership or leading to an entirely different vision for the site, which in turn could further impact the fate of the proposed creek walk and public areas.
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My Opinion:
If it is true that the land was sold to Mr. Worthington, it could also mean that Mr. Worthington is no longer interested in developing a housing project on Lower Silver Lake Rd, which was claimed by the Newtown Sewer Authority via Eminent Domain for a sewer treatment plant. That plan was put on hold (read “Sewer Authority at a "Juncture." Which Road Will It Take in the Future?”) and there are rumors that the Authority has offered to sell the land back to Mr. Worthington for the same price it paid, which is allowable under Eminent Domain rules. If Mr. Worthington refuses to buy the property back the Authority may again pursue the sewer treatment plant idea. Or, it could donate the land to Newtown Township to prevent any future development.
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The #NewtownPA Board of Supervisors (BOS) must appoint a new member of the Sewer Authority Board after Linda Bobrin resigned in April 2025.
At the 28 May 2025 BOS meeting, Board Chair Elen Snyder claimed to have “many letters from people” who want to apply to be appointed to the Sewer Authority Board. However, as Supervisor Mack and other supervisors noted, Board members received only ONE letter (from Mr. Marc Bjorkman).* Ms. Snyder has not revealed from whom she received letters and was chastised for acting independently without sharing information with the Board.
The appointment of a Township representative to the Sewer Authority Board is important because at the time of this discussion the Borough members outnumber the Township members by 3-2. Thus, it is possible that the Authority Board can reverse their decision to halt the sewer treatment plant project.
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My Comments:
* Actually, the supervisors also received a request from Keith Terry, a retired member of the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority.
Unfortunately, the earliest the BOS can appoint a new member is at its 11 June 2025 meeting, which is one day after the next Sewer Authority meeting. As I said, "The Cat's Out of the Bag!".
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This is my personal summary of the May 28, 2025, meeting of the #NewtownPA Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary. See 2025 BOS Chronicle for details.
Reports of Board Members
Conditional Use Hearing: Cava Restaurant - Cava is seeking to open in the now vacant MOD Pizza space in the Village at Newtown.
Manager’s Report: Approval of Fire Building Study Proposal Over Budget! Is it necessary to prepare a 3-D model?
Public Comment: Valerie Mihalek - Ms. Mihalek inquired about the Tara Blvd crosswalk timeline.
Other Business: NBCJMA Board Appointment Discussion - Currently, the Borough outnumbers the Township 3-2 on the Board.
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