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Newtown News of Interest
These Scoops are excerpts from articles published in local newspapers and other sources that may be of interest to Newtown area residents. Please click on the "From" link to access the full original article. Any opinions and "insights" appended to these article summaries are solely those of John Mack and do not represent the opinions of any other person or entity. Curated by johnmacknewtown |
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Scooped by
johnmacknewtown
October 24, 2024 11:22 AM
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Scoop.it!
This is my narrated version of the Powerpoint presentation I made at the 21 October 2024 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting.
Topics include:
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johnmacknewtown
October 16, 2024 7:44 AM
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This is my personal summary of the October 9, 2024, meeting of the #NewtownPA Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary.
Access the 2024 BOS Chronicle for detailed summaries of all 2024 BOS meetings to date. Also, access the (UNOFFICIAL) 2024 BOS Voting Record.
The Township Manager said that numerous personnel and capital requests have been eliminated to avoid the need to increase taxes. These requests included:
Essentially, this amounts to a hiring freeze while increasing salaries - especially for administration executes by 9% to 19%!
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johnmacknewtown
October 1, 2024 9:49 AM
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This is my personal summary of the September 25, 2024, meeting of the #NewtownPA Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary.
HARB OK with Revive Hive Signage, Need for Protection of Historic Structures, PennDOT Has Issues with Upgrade Plans for Silo Dr/N Sycamore St Intersection, Fire Services Agreement with Newtown Borough To Be Drafted, Impervious Surface Increases Must Be Mitigated!, more…
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johnmacknewtown
October 1, 2024 9:30 AM
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This Zoom meeting focused on Wawa delay, sewage treatment plant Moves, fire services agreement with Borough, LI/O-LI Overlay “By Right” Zoning, 2025 budget preview, more...
Includes:
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johnmacknewtown
September 24, 2024 9:29 AM
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Welcome to the September 23, 2024, Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting presentation!
The goal of Meet Mack Monday meetings is to inform residents of township issues that impact them and to get feedback and comments from residents about such issues.
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johnmacknewtown
January 26, 2024 9:41 AM
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Sixteen (16) #NewtownPA Twp residents and one Middletown resident attended this Zoom meeting, which focused on a Review of Borscht Belt Neon Sign Zoning Hearing, Revitalization of the Human Relations Commission, Multi-Story Apartment Buildings Coming to the Li/OLI District, Residential Trash Pickup, Pedestrian Bridges Survey Update, and more...
Related Content:
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johnmacknewtown
September 18, 2023 8:41 AM
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Revised LI/OLI Zoning District Ordinance, Sycamore St/Silo Drive RRFB Plan, Corners at Newtown Text Amendment, August 2023 Police Report, more…
This is my personal summary of my notes regarding the September 13, 2023, meeting of the #NewtownPA Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary.
Agenda and Items of Interest:
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johnmacknewtown
June 19, 2023 7:39 AM
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Scoop.it!
This is my personal summary of the June 14, 2023, meeting of the #NewtownPA Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary.
Access the 2023 BOS Chronicle for detailed summaries of all 2023 BOS meetings plus the BOS voting record (UNOFFICIAL) for 2023.
Agenda Items
Related Content:
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johnmacknewtown
May 24, 2023 11:11 AM
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Nine Newtown Twp residents attended this Zoom meeting, which focused on the following topics (view the presentation below...):
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johnmacknewtown
March 23, 2023 3:17 PM
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Arcadia/Mayfield Contract Violations, Single-use Plastics Ban Plans, Bid Awarded for 2023 Road Paving Program, Consortium vs Sale of Public Sewer System, NESD Report, more…
This is my personal summary of the March 22, 2023, meeting of Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary.
Access the 2023 BOS Chronicle for detailed summaries of all 2023 BOS meetings plus the BOS voting record (UNOFFICIAL) for 2023.
Agenda Items
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johnmacknewtown
March 15, 2023 9:21 AM
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Mixed use housing, new apartment building JMZO code, Ardana Food & Drink, single-use plastics ban, Lower Dolington Trail additional costs, new street sweeper approved, more…
This is my personal summary of the March 8, 2023, meeting of Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary. Note that I did not attend this meeting.
Access the 2023 BOS Chronicle for detailed summaries of all 2023 BOS meetings plus the BOS voting record (UNOFFICIAL) for 2023.
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johnmacknewtown
January 28, 2023 10:17 AM
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[Image: Plan for updating signs on Newtown-Yardley Rd to enforce reduced 25 MPH speed limit.]
Planning Commission Report, Lower Dolington Rd Trail Update, Newtown-Yardley Rd Speed Limit Reduction, More…
This is my personal summary of the January 25, 2023, meeting of Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary.
Access the 2023 BOS Chronicle for detailed summaries of all 2023 BOS meetings plus the BOS voting record (UNOFFICIAL) for 2023.
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johnmacknewtown
December 12, 2022 7:33 AM
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2023 Budget Adopted, Comprehensive Plan "Wish List," Newtown-Yardley Rd Traffic Study, Lower Dolington Rd Trail Update, More…
This is my personal summary of the December 7, 2022, meeting of Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary.
Access the 2022 BOS Chronicle for a more detailed summary of this meeting plus an updated BOS voting record (UNOFFICIAL) for 2022.
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johnmacknewtown
November 12, 2022 8:56 AM
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Joint Comprehensive Plan, Hiring Officers of Color, Toll Bros Land Development, Pedestrian Safety, 2021 Audit, 2023 Budget Discussion, More…
This is my personal summary of the November 9, 2022, meeting of Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary.
Access the 2022 BOS Chronicle for a more detailed summary of this meeting plus an updated BOS voting record (UNOFFICIAL) for 2022.
*This video below shows how the approved Toll Bros plan differs from the previous plan, which was denied: https://youtu.be/SLNIAAEquAY
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johnmacknewtown
July 19, 2022 1:07 PM
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Tax Increase Referendum Approved for NAS, Further Delays for LDR Trail! CRSD Raises Tax, 5G Ordinance Moves Forward, More…
This is my personal summary of the July 13, 2022, meeting of Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary.
Agenda Items
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johnmacknewtown
June 4, 2022 8:34 AM
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A summary of items discussed at the June 6, 2022, Newtown Area Joint Zoning Council Meeting.
Topics include:
5G wireless JMZO ordinance, EV charging stations, Outdoor wood-burning furnaces, Billboard use, Comprehensive Plan review, More...
A suggestion was made that perhaps an ordinance is necessary prohibiting outdoor wood-burning furnaces, which - due to high gas and oil prices - may become more popular. It also was suggested that such a use would have an impact on the climate.
Perhaps this was a joke, hence the cartoon from the June 6, 2022, issue of The New Yorker that that I found and to which I made a slight modification.
Note that Doylestown has an Outdoor Furnace ordinance: https://ecode360.com/15690871
"The Board of Supervisors has determined that air pollution from outdoor wood-fired boilers may be detrimental to the health, comfort, living conditions, welfare and safety of the citizens of Doylestown Township and it is hereby declared to be the policy of Doylestown Township to safeguard the citizens of the Township from air pollution."
This ordinance does not prohibit outdoor furnaces but requires a permit to use one. Perhaps that is a more reasonable approach.
Other Bucks County municipalities have similar ordinances.
Related Content:
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johnmacknewtown
February 17, 2022 8:33 AM
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At the February 16, 2022, “Basics of the Sunshine Act” webinar, George Spiess, Chief of Outreach and Training, PA Office of Open Records, reviewed what constituted a meeting covered by the PennsylvaniaSunshine Act.
In this audio segment from the presentation, Mr. Spiess answers my question about establishing a quorum. In particular, can members of a committee participate remotely – via speaker phone or Zoom – AND be counted as part of the quorum to thereby make it an official meeting? The answer to that question depends upon whether we are talking about committees of a first-class township, second-class township, or borough.
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johnmacknewtown
November 26, 2021 11:13 AM
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Reports from Planning Commission; Engineer's update: DCED Watershed Restoration Fund grant, Lower Dolington Road Multi-Use Trail, Village at Newtown Traffic Study; Solicitor's Report: Legal NAC Expansion Project, Bucks County EMS Chief’s Association Request for ARPA Funds for EMS; Budget Discussion; Hybrid Meetings; Planning Commission to review Arcadia HOP Application; More...
This is my personal summary of the November 23, 2021, meeting of Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary.
Contents
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johnmacknewtown
October 1, 2021 11:34 AM
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Resident Comments on Toll Bros New Plan; Reports from Technology & Communications Committee and Environmental Advisory Council; Council Rock School Busing Issues, Engineer's update: Trails & Traffic, BCPC Proposal for OLI/LI Zoning Districts
This is my personal summary of the September 22, 2021, meeting of Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). See the my notes embedded at the end of this post.
Also see the 2021 BOS Voting Record (UNOFFICIAL) for how supervisors voted on motions (updated after minutes of meetings are officially approved by the BOS).
Related Content:
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johnmacknewtown
August 5, 2021 10:49 AM
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Scoop.it!
Now that emergency measures are no longer mandatory but with COVID variants emerging, the Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) meetings and other public meetings are exclusively live in-person events. Residents, regardless of their age, disability, or susceptibility to COVID, must attend to make their views known.
There is no need to put the public at risk. Many residents overwhelmingly support "hybrid" public meetings that make it easier for them to attend important public meetings such as BOS meetings by giving them the option to not only attend in person but also to attend virtually via Zoom or some other remote technology.
As a Newtown Supervisor, I strongly believe that hybrid meetings will allow more residents to attend meetings and participate in local government. If you agree, I urge you to sign my Petition to the Board of Supervisors.
Residents Can't Hear Supervisors at Meeting!
At least 2 residents complained at the August 11, 2021, Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) in-person meeting that they could not hear the supervisors even when seated in the middle - not the back - of the room!
Many people had to stand at the side or at the back of the room because of limited seating. One resident who is vision-impaired had to stand with his guide dog for a lack of a seat! Disgraceful! He had to leave early as he needed to arrange an Uber while there were still available drivers on the road.
Other PA townships that are doing hybrid meetings:
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johnmacknewtown
August 4, 2021 7:22 AM
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Can the public comment during public meetings?
Yes. The Sunshine Act gives the public the right to comment on issues "that are or may be before the board." Agencies must provide a reasonable opportunity for residents and/or taxpayers to comment on an issue before a decision takes place.
Can the public ask questions during the comment period?
Yes. Although members of the agency are not required to provide an answer, it is a good practice to do so whenever possible. Answering questions can demonstrate a commitment to helping constituents and, in many cases, answering questions informally at a public meeting can reduce future requests under the Right-to-Know Law, which saves time and money for both the agency and the commenter / requester.
Can public meetings be recorded?
Yes. The Sunshine Act allows meetings to be recorded with an audio recorder or a video recorder. It also allows agencies to issue reasonable rules concerning the use of recording devices in order to avoid any disruptions. However, such rules cannot be an attempt to prevent a member of the public from recording a meeting.
The law does not require the recording of a public meeting to be announced in advance; however, it may be helpful for the chairperson in the opening statements to alert the public that the meeting might be recorded.
You might have attended a Newtown Township public meeting where the chairperson has said that the public may make comments but cannot ask questions. I know I have heard that more than once at Board of Supervisors meetings. The law, however, allows questions to be asked, but the board, commission (i.e., agency covered by the Sunshine Law) is not required to answer questions.
Also, it is not required that you announce that you will be recording public meetings. If you are asked to do so, you may remain silent or cite the law.
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johnmacknewtown
June 22, 2021 1:10 PM
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ON June 21, 2021, Newtown Township supervisor John Mack met with several township residents via Zoom to update them on the following:
View the Zoom video archive, including notes from the meeting.
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johnmacknewtown
June 14, 2021 6:45 AM
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Suppose you wish to attend an upcoming public meeting such as the next meeting of the Board of Supervisors. But you want to make sure you know what’s on the agenda so that you don’t waste your time going to a meeting that won’t cover any issue you care about. This video-enhanced step-by-step lesson tells you how to do that. I included some useful "secrets" to make your life less of a hassle when using the website.
View the video with detailed instructions...
Related Content:
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Scooped by
johnmacknewtown
June 8, 2021 1:06 PM
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Local governments and organizations were forced to transition in-person meetings to online, seemingly overnight, due COVID-19 restrictions and stay-at-home orders. Many people learned new tools and technologies in order to continue to work and support their constituents.
As COVID-19 restrictions are being eased or lifted entirely and as more people are fully vaccinated, townships are planning to return to live in-person meetings. Some townships are already hosting hybrid in-person/online public meetings (see "Related Content" below).
WHAT DO YOU THINK? TAKE MY SURVEY!
Survey asks: Do you favor the implementation of hybrid in-person/online township public meetings where officials meet in person as before COVID-19 but the public has the option to participate remotely via Zoom (or other technology) or in person?
Your open-end comments are also welcome.
No identifying information is collected via this survey unless you opt-in to provide such information for purposes of follow-up by subscribing to John Mack's email newsletter. After completing the survey, you will be able to see a de-identified summary of the results to date.
DISCLAIMER: This is not an official Newtown Township approved survey. Its purpose is solely to inform John Mack – a Newtown Supervisor – of the public’s opinion regarding this issue.
Related Content:
