Increased Fire & EMS Tax Millage Survey

Residents of Upper Makefield Township in Bucks County sought answers and accountability on Tuesday (July 15, 2025)  during a town hall meeting that addressed concerns over the town’s drinking water getting contaminated with jet fuel. 

State officials told Upper Makefield residents Tuesday that new testing near a pipeline leak showing “elevated” levels of certain toxic chemicals is surprising and needs to be investigated.

“We are not dealing with a good actor here,” said state Sen. Steve Santarsiero, D-10 of Lower Makefield. “They have not done the right thing from day 1.”

DEP still hasn’t responded to a June letter from Santarsiero and state Rep. Perry Warren, D-31 of Newtown, asking DEP to take more enforcement actions, Santarsiero said.

“I’m irritated,” Santarsiero said. “There needs to be an enforcement action.”

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick called for the EPA to intervene earlier this month, citing the “lack of information” from DEP after months of outreach.

UPDATE (7/17/25): I hand-delivered a letter to a supervisor at the Newtown Post Office requesting that this tree be "rectify" this problem (i.e., remove the tree ASAP). View the letter here...

This dead tree seen on July 14, 2025, along the new Business Commons sidewalk adjacent to the Post Office parking lot on Terry Drive is destined to fall across the sidewalk and into Terry Dr. It won't take much wind or maybe none at all after the contractor shaved the roots to put in the sidewalk! It is clearly a danger to both pedestrians and motorists.

9UPDATE (7/17/25): Residents of Newtown Walk who helped make this crosswalk happen, invite the public to use the crosswalk on Monday, July 21, at 3 PM, when they plan to "inaugurate" this integral Pedestrian, Bicycle and Wheelchair Safety feature as part of The Newtown Trail and The Gateway To Newtown that has taken exactly three years to initiate and complete.

UPDATE (7/16/25): Email from the Township Mgr: "The contractor has indicated that the project will be complete by the end of the week. RVE will be issuing a punch-list shortly thereafter, which will include a fix for the height of the signage that conflicts with the RRFB signals."

Yesterday, July 14, 2025, I drove by the Tara Blvd crosswalk on Newtown-Yardley Road and noticed that the yellow [orange?] "reflective stanchions" on the pedestrian refuge island look like they are a bit too high up the poles - partially blocking the flashing beacons on the pedestrian island IMHO.

The photo above was taken from my car while driving by towards Terry Drive (clearly a traffic offense if the driver took the photo while driving). Seems the diamond shaped yellow signs could be lowered a notch or two and still serve their purpose whatever that may be.

I notified the Township Manager and Township Engineer and Charles Feuer - a resident to Newtown Walk where the crosswalk is located - added this:

"Yes, John, Valerie [Mihalek, candidate for Newtown Twp Supervisor], Don and I were in the crosswalk and on the refuge island on Friday looking at that specific issue. We thought that, perhaps, PENDOT would do their own inspection upon project completion?

Welcome to the VIDEO EDITION of the July 2025 News of Interest to Newtown area residents e-newsletter. You can view all the articles and links to videos and other information via the online version. Use this link: https://rebrand.ly/Jun2025noi

This video includes additional information about the topics included in the newsletter. It also includes my personal comments. So I must mention that the views and opinions expressed here are solely those of John Mack and do not represent the opinions of any other person or entity.

P.S. If you are not already a subscriber, I urge you to subscribe so you can receive the newsletter each month via email. You can easily opt-out at any time with just ONE CLICK! Use this link: https://www.johnmacknewtown.info/news.html

After negotiations failed to produce an agreement, the borough will use eminent domain to acquire Liberty Street property, which is owned by the Newtown Fire Association (NFA).

According to borough solicitor Greg Heleniak, the borough has been in negotiations with the fire association for the past several months but were unable to reach an agreement “to reflect a financially supported rent” for the borough.

According to a source close to the negotiations, after 15 years of leasing the building to the borough for $1500 per month, the fire company asked for an additional $4,000 a month going forward, boosting the rent up to $5,500.

“We’ve been charging Newtown Borough $1500 a month at our own loss,” the source said. “We finally said fair market value based on tax assessment database numbers and square footage price. They said no. And that’s no in the face of they just discontinued their agreement with the township on what they will pay to the fire company (read #NewtownPA Borough Terminates Fire Agreement with Township).”

The council plans to introduce a resolution at its July 16 meeting exercising its power of eminent domain to acquire the property for continued use as a police station.

On June 26, 2025, the Newtown Creek Coalition held a public meeting to present plans for the Newtown Creek Pedestrian Bridge. This video was created from audio and photos at that meeting. Not all visuals are available.

In November 2024, Newtown Township, Newtown Borough, and the Newtown Creek Coalition received a $1 million state grant to fund the design and construction of the Newtown Creek Pedestrian Bridge. Spanning the creek between Frost Lane in the Borough and Sycamore Street in the Township, the new bridge will provide safe pedestrian and bicycling circulation between the residential and business districts of Newtown Borough and Newtown Township. The project is expected to be completed in 2027.

View is along Lower Dolington Rd looking south toward the Frost Lane intersection. Just needs new paint for the "fog line" along edge of road. Recently, the township purchased a Striping Machine for $7,228.26. The twp mgr informed me that this is used for lines on roads and parking areas.

UPDATE: The June 27, 2025, Public Works Report says that "joint sealing and fog line painting are scheduled for next week."

UPDATE: On July 10, 2025, it was noticed that the fog line was painted. Thus, the "Dolington Deep Ditch" repair is complete after 2 years since it was first reported.

Some topics included appointment of Newtown Township representative to Sewer Authority Board - Latest Info (the recent Patch article does not have the latest news regarding this issue), Billboards in Newtown? Pedestrian Safety (crosswalks, etc.), Roadwork - Contract Awarded, Newtown Twp/Boro Fire Services Agreement, New Fire Station - Concept Plans, Scope, & Budget, Newtown Creek Bridge Public Meeting, What's Happening with Steeple View Property?, Holy Family Student Housing Project... View the PPT and Notes: https://rebrand.ly/23Jun25_MMM_PPT

At the 24 June 2025 public meeting of the Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipality Authority (aka Newtown Sewer Authority) Advisory Board, several residents in attendance voiced opinions about several issues including making these meetings more accessible to the public. Residents also had questions about the future of the land purchased by the Authority. 

This is my personal summary of the June 11, 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

• John Mack – Attended Juneteenth Celebration
• John Mack – Celebrates “LOVE is LOVE” Month n Newtown!

Consent Agenda

• Consider payment of the June 22, 2025 bills list in the amount of $936,047.79 and transfers in the amount of $693,654.67. BOS approved the Consent Agenda 5-0. Refer to the 2025 BOS Chronicle for details.

Manager’s Report

• Newtown Creek Bridge Project
• May 2025 Police Report
• NFA Volunteer Incentive Program

Other Business

• NBCJMA Board Appointment

My survey asked residents to tell me who I should vote for as a Newtown Township representative on the Sewer Authority Board. For background, read ""#NewtownPA BOS Discuss Sewer Authority Board Appointment".

That vote, however, has been tabled to be dealt with at a future BOS meeting – probably in July 2025.

See the detailed results, including comments from respondents about the applicants....

Are you concerned about over development in Newtown, tax increases, traffic, quality of our roads,  preserving open space or about any issue that has or will come before the Board of Supervisors (BOS) and other township boards and commissions?

Consider attending my "Meet Mack Monday" Zoom meting on 23 June 2025, at 7 PM. The AGENDA includes:

Short PPT Presentation by John Mack - Review of recent Newtown area news/issues followed by discussion. Some topics include appointment of Newtown Township representative to Sewer Authority Board - Latest Info (the recent Patch article does not have the latest news regarding this issue), Billboards in Newtown? Pedestrian Safety (crosswalks, etc.), Roadwork, Newtown Twp/Boro Fire Services Agreement, New Firehouse Plan, Newtown Creek Bridge Update, What's Happening with Steeple View Property?, Holy Family Student Housing Project, more...

Privilege of the Floor - What's on your mind? Fill out the RSVP form to tell me...

Fill out the RSVP form to let me know if you are interested in attending this Zoom meeting. It will take only 1 minute to complete. Also, let me know other issues that should be discussed at this meeting. Upon completion of this form you will have access to the login information. If you cannot attend or miss the meeting, I will send you links to the presentation and discussion. Just fill out the form so I know where to send the information.

This is not an official Newtown Township meeting. It is hosted by Newtown Supervisor John Mack to learn more about issues of concern to Newtown Township residents and to share ideas on important issues.

After more than 18 months of discussion and planning, Lower Makefield Township officials have approved a 47-home development on the former Wright Farm.

Local homebuilder DeLuca Homes bought the 49-acre parcel in 2024. Construction is expected to take between two and three years.

Approximately 12.67 acres of preserved open space around the homes was originally intended to remain active farmland*, but after discussion with township officials, more than 1,000 trees are to be planted instead.

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

• John Mack – Mack Participation in Police Memorial
• Mack Participation in Memorial Day Parade

Conditional Use Hearing

• Cava, 2938 S. Eagle Road

Consent Agenda

• Consider payment of the May 28, 2025 bills list in the amount of $616,739.51 and transfers in the amount of $680,287.44. Refer ro the 2025 BOS Chronicle for details. BOS approved the Consent Agenda 5-0.

Manager’s Report

• Approval of Fire Building Study Proposal

Public Comment

• Valerie Mihalek

Other Business

• NBCJMA Board Appointment

[UPDATE (6/4/25): After the BOS meeting, 2 additional applications were received from (1) Mr. Keith Terry and (2) Mr. Craig Deutsch who is also a member of the Planning Commission.]

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 Mack and other Board members 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 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.

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 Mr. Mack said, "The Cat's Out of the Bag!"

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. In 2023, the township was awarded a FEMA “Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response” (SAFER) Grant of $1,556,953 to cover most of the expense of hiring and paying the salaries and benefits these firefighters but ONLY FOR 3 YEARS! Given the current FEMA situation, it is unlikely that the township will see further funding from the agency to pay for these additional firefighters.

Read more...

Update (7/6/25): I accessed the ownership record of PARID: 28-001-020 using the Bucks County Parcel Map. This is part of the Steeple View property and former site of the Newtown liquor store. The own is CENTER OFF STATE LLC located at 120 PHESANT RUN, NEWTOWN, AP !8940. This is the address of Worthington's NAC. Thus, the rumor is true.

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). [See 7/6/25 UPDATE above.]

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.

[Now that Mr. Worthington owns the land, it could amean 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. - my opinion]

The Steeple View project aims to redevelop a nine-acre parcel stretching from Centre Avenue to the former Stockburger property, incorporating residential, retail, and restaurant spaces across seven new buildings. Smith, a seasoned developer in Newtown with projects like the Stocking Works to his name, has seen his plans evolve considerably since their initial conception.

Proposed Pedestrian Creek Bridge

One of the most persistent difficulties has revolved around parking and traffic circulation. Another key point of contention has been the proposed pedestrian bridge connecting Newtown Borough to Newtown Township's Carl Sedia Park. While integral to Smith's vision of a connected community, the bridge project requires separate approval from the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors.

[My survey says the majority of Newtown Township residents are not fans of this bridge; read “Proposed Steeple View Pedestrian Bridge: Is It a Bridge Too Far?”]

This dual-jurisdiction requirement adds a layer of complexity, with the borough expressing concerns about the project's viability if the township doesn't approve the bridge. This isn't just a matter of waiting; it means engaging a whole new set of stakeholders, facing potentially different concerns, and incurring additional costs for separate applications and presentations. Should the township deny the bridge, the entire project's appeal and functionality could be significantly diminished, potentially rendering years of effort moot for that specific, crucial component.

More...

This is my personal summary of the May 14, 2025, meeting of the #NewtownPA Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary.

Reports of Committees, Boards and Commissions

• John Mack – My Vacation
• Planning Commission Synopsis

Consent Agenda

• Consider approval of minutes of April 23, 2025 meeting
• Consider payment of the May 14, 2025 bills list in the amount of $ $307,119.92 and transfers in the amount of $554,300.51. See 2025 BOS Chronicle for details.
• BOS approved the Consent Agenda 4-0.

Manager’s Report

• April 2025 Police Report
• Approval of Amended PBA Contract