Introducing the 2021 Human Relations Commission

4 Eye-Opening Takeaways from Public Comments Submitted by Email to comments@newtownpa.gov

Behind the scenes of municipal administration, an official public comment inbox such as comments@twp.newtown.pa.us serves as a digital town square.

Residents, community advocates, and township personnel use electronic communications to raise concerns, advocate for policy changes, and communicate information relevant to local government.

A review of these records reveals four particularly interesting themes: pedestrian safety, environmental preservation, fair allocation of municipal service costs, and the sometimes confusing realities of communicating with township officials.

This "Deep Dive" podcast reviews a collection of public correspondence and emails sent to the Newtown Township Comments email inbox between January and August 2026.

Residents raised various local concerns, including requests for crosswalk updates, input regarding a fire services agreement, and proposals to modify sidewalk snow removal ordinances. Additional correspondence addressed community topics such as the preservation of sewer authority land as open space and the addition of a new sidewalk on Eagle Road to improve pedestrian safety.

Six Key Takeaways from the October 27, 2026 Meet Mack Tuesday Zoom Meeting

For many Newtown Township property owners, local government finance becomes real when the annual tax bill arrives.

But where exactly does the money go? Are our roads receiving adequate maintenance? Are outside contractors being properly monitored? And how much opportunity do residents have to question decisions before they are made?\

These questions were central to the October 27, 2026 Meet Mack Tuesday Zoom discussion, which examined Newtown Township's preliminary 2027 budget, municipal spending, public accountability, and other community concerns.

Newtown Township supervisors recently evaluated a proposed 2027 budget featuring a 15% property tax increase, sparking debate over whether to ease the financial pressure on citizens by tapping into township cash reserves.

While the Township Manager advised protecting the established 10% reserve threshold, Supervisor Phil Calabro advocated drawing down roughly $700,000 to lower the upcoming tax burden.

Beyond the property tax adjustments, the financial plan outlines several key expenditures, including capital investments for police gear and vehicles, as well as funding for local park and playground upgrades. Additionally, the proposal establishes a new zoning and code enforcement director role while omitting multiple other personnel requests.

As the board moves toward a final December vote, concerned residents are urging officials to publicize the preliminary draft early to maximize public input.

Takeaways from the October 21, 2026 Newtown Township Human Relations Commission Meeting

The proceedings of the October 21, 2026, public meeting of the Newtown Township Human Relations Commission (NTHRC) reveal eye-opening truths about modern grassroots public service. The conversation between commission members offers an intimate look at the visibility challenges, administrative paradoxes, and quiet dedication that define small-town civil rights governance.

The Bucks County Orphans’ Court approved the $14.9 million sale and transfer of Chandler Hall Health Services’ operations to a for-profit buyer on October 19, following testimony that the longtime nonprofit senior-care community could otherwise face closure.

The meeting covered multiple zoning and land development applications, including residential variance requests on Hillside Road and Taylor Avenue, a residential demolition and rebuild on Washington Crossing Road, a conditional use recommendation for Spread Bagelry, and an extensive preliminary review of additions and site revisions for Newtown Elementary School. The commission also addressed administrative matters, including township budgeting for zoning services and local property updates.

At the 14 October 2026 Newtown Board of Supervisors meeting, John Mack asked where is the estimated $300,000 needed to cover the estimated $1.3 final cost of the project. This was during a motion to approve a $985,850 bid for the construction of the pedestrian bridge.

Mack noted that while the Township Manager mentioned an additional $100,000 grant was received by the Newtown Creek Coalition for the project, the Coalition did not mention such a grant on its website.

In other words, NO grant has yet neen awarded to the NCC and our state representatives seem to expect Newtown Township and Borough to commit to supply additional funding!

• 2027 Budget Presentation: The proposed budget contemplates a net real estate tax increase of 2.635 mills ($103.39 per year / $8.61 per month for the average assessed residential unit). This includes a 3-mill increase for the Fire Protection Fund to support paid personnel as the SAFER grant expires in March 2027, offset by a 0.6-mill tax reduction in Debt Service.
• Capital Investments: Key budget highlights feature $300,000 for replacing the Robert's Ridge playground, $100,000 for a Helen Randle Park master plan to leverage future grant opportunities, and an $850,000 road paving program covering priority segments such as Linton Hill and Wrights Road.
• Newtown Creek Pedestrian Bridge: The Board voted to award the project construction bid to RoadCon, Inc. for $985,850. 

• Update (10/16/26): In a September 2, 2026. letter to Mike Sellers (Newtown Creek Coalition) and Julia Waldorf (Newtown Borough Council), PA State Senator Steven J. Santarsiero and House Representative Perry Warren said “While we continue to fully support this project and will wotk together to secure $100,000 in additional state funds to cover most of the increase in construction cost, we look forward to commitments from Newtown Township, Newtown Borough, and/or private funding source(s) to contribute any further funds needed to close the gap behveen the original proposal and the updated plan.”

In other words, NO grant has yet been awarded to the NCC and our state representatives seem to expect Newtown Township and Borough to commit to supply additional funding!

The proposed 2027 draft budget for Newtown Township includes a tax rate increase of approximately 2.6 mills, raising municipal taxes by roughly $103 annually for a typical residential property.

Township manager Micah Lewis explained that this adjustment is primarily driven by a three-mill increase for fire protection and capital investments, which reaches the maximum limit permitted under state regulations.

While the general fund remains steady for now, overall revenues are anticipated to reach $19.1 million alongside specific funding for capital improvements, parks, and local road repairs. These investments encompass architectural plans for public safety facilities, new police vehicles, park equipment upgrades, and infrastructure maintenance.

However, Supervisor Phil Calabro has publicly disagreed with the administration's approach, arguing that the township's substantial financial reserve should be utilized instead to prevent any tax hike for residents.

The Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (NBCJMA), also known as the Newtown Sewer Authority, convened on October 13, 2026.

This summaryoutlines a comprehensive lineup of administrative duties, including the review of financial records, consideration of delinquent accounts, and approval of routine expenditures and fund transfers. Key discussions featured standard reports from the engineer, solicitor, manager, and field staff, alongside updates on ongoing old business regarding property sales.

Newtown Township's October 14, 2026 Bills List includes $1,058,220.77 in disbursements, with the overwhelming majority concentrated in pension obligations, employee health insurance, fire protection, and fuel purchases.

The single largest payment is $592,907.70 to the Newtown Township Police Pension Fund, representing approximately 56% of the entire Bills List. The Delaware Valley Health Insurance Trust (DVHIT) follows with $151,882.88 for employee health insurance across township departments.

At the 23 September 2026 Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, residents continued asking for details regarding an upcoming DeLuca Builders land acquisition on Lower Silver Lake Road (aka, Sewer Authority owned land) despite supervisors clarifying that no formal building proposals have been submitted.

Board leaders noted that the municipal governing body lacks jurisdiction over the ongoing property transaction between the developer and the sewer authority, while also indicating a preference to maintain current zoning rules permitting only five single-family dwellings (1 house per acre).

Citizens remain deeply concerned about potential community impacts, such as increased traffic congestion, strained utility infrastructure, and environmental runoff from potential multi-family housing.

Additionally, community members are questioning the transparency of the legal arrangements and urging officials to investigate potential conflicts of interest among representatives of the township, the utility authority, and the builder.

Ultimately, the public meeting concluded without any official zoning modifications or project approvals, leaving neighborhood stakeholders anxious to obtain clear answers regarding the eventual fate of the tract.

The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) recently learned of a local push to safeguard the foundational practices and services of Chandler Hall, a long-standing senior living community, amid  its prospective sale to an outside investor.

John Mack, a former township supervisor brought forward a June letter from state lawmakers to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, which expressed serious apprehension that a commercial transition could jeopardize the establishment's traditional Quaker values and critical care standards.

Seeking to protect the well-being of elderly occupants, Mack asked the BOS to pass a formal resolution urging state authorities to bind any new buyer to strict operational safeguards.

Although the proposed measure would not block the transaction entirely, it aims to guarantee that healthcare quality, staffing levels, and community-focused leases remain intact.

Unfortunately, crickets were heard and the BOS chose to take no immediate action.

The October 2026 News of Interest examines several important issues shaping Newtown's future, including the ticking 75-day due diligence clock on the Sewer Authority land sale, a revised vision for Liberty Centre in Newtown Borough, and the YMCA's uncertain future following the sale of Chandler Hall. Also featured are highlights from the September 23 Board of Supervisors meeting, residents' efforts to improve pedestrian, bicycle, and wheelchair safety, and disagreements among supervisors over shared funding for fire services and opioid settlement programs. From controversial land deals to public safety and local government disputes, these are issues every Newtown resident should know about!

The Abandoned Sewer Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) Land Sale

During a 75-day "Due Diligence" period, the buyer - DeLuca Newtown LLC - and its employees, agents, and contractors have the right to study and investigate the property — including the survey and title commitment — to determine whether the property is suitable for the buyer’s contemplated use. Meanwhile, the seller (NBCJMA) agrees to keep the property off the market (not advertised for sale) during this period.

The agreement also anticipates possible Township involvement during the due diligence period.

At the 23 September 2026 Board of Supervisors meeting, John Mack urged the Board to adopt a formal resolution supporting concerns raised by State Senator Steve Santarsiero and State Representative Perry Warren regarding the proposed sale of Chandler Hall. The request focuses on ensuring that any new owner is legally bound to preserve Chandler Hall’s longstanding quality of healthcare, staffing and continuity of care, resident financial protections, and Quaker-based mission of dignity and compassion.

The proposed resolution would not oppose the sale itself. Rather, it would ask the Township to use its public voice to advocate for protections ensuring that a change in ownership does not diminish services or community benefits.

The September 23, 2026, Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting focused heavily on public concern regarding two major local developments:

1. Preserving Chandler Hall's Mission
2. The potential residential development of the Newtown Water and Sewer Authority property on Lower Silver Lake Road
3. Bills List Approval
4. Conflict of Interest Allegation
5. Conditional Use Approval of La Scala Fire restaurant
6. Engineering & Infrastructure regarding the Linton Hill Road paving project
7. Environmental Afvisory Council Reorg?

The NAACP Bucks County Branch is deeply concerned by recent reports of threatening communications directed toward a church leader in Bucks County that allegedly included threats of violence, anti-Muslim rhetoric, and racist language and threats directed toward Black Americans.

Acts like these are not okay.

Threats of violence are not okay. Racial hatred is not okay. Targeting people because of their faith is not okay.

Language that dehumanizes entire groups of people or calls for their harm is not something we can dismiss, normalize, or simply scroll past.

Whether directed toward Black people, Muslims, members of a faith community, or any of our neighbors, hate and intimidation affect more than the person who is directly targeted. They create fear, undermine people’s sense of safety, and damage the fabric of our entire community.

But our position on hate is clear. There is no place in Bucks County for racism, religious hatred, threats, or intimidation.

We cannot become so accustomed to hateful rhetoric that we stop recognizing its seriousness. We each have a responsibility to speak up when our neighbors are targeted and to make clear that hatred directed at one community should concern all of us.

The NAACP Bucks County Branch stands against hate in all its forms and remains committed to helping build a Bucks County where every person can live, work, worship, raise their family, and participate in their community without fear.

Hate is not acceptable here. Not against one of us. Not against any of us.

5 Surprising Ways Liberty Centre is Redefining Newtown's Future

Four Key Takeaways from Public Comments Submitted to the Pennsylvania Attorney General

Residents, families, healthcare professionals, and local elected officials have raised concerns about Chandler Hall's proposed transition from nonprofit to for-profit ownership, including its potential effects on resident care, staffing, fees, and community services.

This short audio podcast is a quick review of letters, emails, and handwritten notes sent to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (OAG) regarding the sale of Chandler Hall. The letters were received via a Right-to-Know Law request filed by John Mack.

While the OAG granted the request in part by providing the relevant communications, it also redacted specific details to protect the personal privacy of individual citizens.

However, a 22 June 2026 letter from PA Senate member Steve Santarsiero and PA House member Perry Warren was NOT redacted. These local leaders "requested" that the OAG "take great care reviewing this sale to ensure the public interest, and specifically that of the residents and their families, is maintained through this transaction and under the new management and ownership."

The Newtown Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Wheelchair Safety Initiative is bringing residents together to address dangerous crossings, gaps in sidewalks and pedestrian infrastructure, bicycle safety, wheelchair accessibility, and opportunities to obtain state funding for safety improvements.

Key Takeaways

• Infrastructure deficiencies: Several high-risk areas have been identified, including Silo Drive, Chandler Hall, and the Newtown Bypass.
• Funding opportunities: Advocates are urging Newtown Township to take greater advantage of PennDOT grants that can fund traffic and pedestrian safety improvements.
• Administrative concerns: Residents expressed frustration over delays in engineering work, project preparation, and access to information.
• A permanent safety committee: Participants discussed re-establishing a standing Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Committee to provide a formal mechanism for resident input and professional oversight.

The River Crossing YMCA’s Newtown Branch has been more than a gym; it has been the heartbeat of the community at 190 S Sycamore Street for many years. But as the “transition of seasons” arrived this September 2026, members were met with a chilling blast of reality that far outweighs the typical autumn chill.

A sudden real estate deal - i.e., the sale of its landlord, Chandler Hall - has left this local staple scrambling for survival, turning a routine facility update into a high-stakes race for a new home.