March 2025 Issue of #NewtownPA News of Interest

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 New Town Cemetery Association regarding the proposed sidewalk project adjacent to the cemetery on Newtown-Yardley Rd.

Recall that this was proposed to replace the asphalt Newtown Trail that leads into the Borough (read “The Case for a Sidewalk Along Newtown-Yardley Road in #NewtownPA”).

At a previous BOS meeting, this proposed sidewalk was scuttled because one Board member 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.” Listen to Mr. Feuer’s comments on Yiutube...

Furthermore, my research indicates that the cemetery does NOT own the land on which the trail is located (see image above).

At its 9 April 2025 meeting, the Newtown BOS approved Foster Digital Media Productions as its new AV vendor 3-2 (Davis and Calabro voting “Nay”).  I voted “YEA” TWICE because the township has had poor quality of service from its current AV vendor Video Gold – or, as I Iike to call them, Video FOOL’s GOLD!

FDM specializes in providing high-quality AV content management and operates across multiple municipal facilities, including:

• Northampton Township, which “highly recommend Foster Digital for anyone looking to enhance their Board Meetings, capture special moments, or create engaging visual content.”
• Lower Makefield Township, which says that FDM “significantly improved our ability to archive and share important discussions with the community”
• Falls Township

More details...

This is my personal summary of the April 9, 2025, meeting of the #NewtownPA Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary.

AGENDA included:  Consider payment of the April 9, 2025 bills list in the amount of $379,682.15 and transfers in the amount of $579,351.90 (see 9 April 2025 Bills List); Land Development: Durham Investment, LP, 413 Durham Road – Preliminary/Final Land Development (read “Planned Day Care & Medical Buildings on Durham Road in #NewtownPA Raises Traffic Concerns”); Solicitor Report: Consider authorizing Solicitor to sign Real Estate Tax Assessment Appeal Settlement Stipulations for Pembroke Brandywine, LLC, MCD 3, LLC, and 5 settlements for Newtown Vlg Plz Assoc. LP (BRIXMOR SHOPPING CENTER; refer to the 28 March 2025 Settlement MEMO); March 2025 Police Report (highlights presented by Chief Hearn); Appointment of Foster Digital for AV production services (read “#NewtownPA Posts Request For Qualifications (RFQ) for Video Production Services”).

More details...

Peter Jordan - the leader of the Stop the Plant Technical Advisory Committee - commented at the 8 April 2025 Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipality Authority (NBCJMA, aka Sewer Authority) Board meeting.

Mr Jordan asked the Sewer Authority Board to formally respond to the following three related questions.

1. How could a plant with a design capacity of 2.5 MGD be built when the flow rates were above the proposed design capacity approximately 23% of the time between 2016 and 2024, and the average monthly flow rates ni January, March, and April 2024 were 3 MGD?

2. How can you claim that Newtown's rainwater and groundwater inflow/infiltration (I/I) has been taken care of when the flow data indicates that there was no reduction in rainwater and groundwater inflow/infiltration (I/I) between 2018 and 2024?

3. Can you provide any concrete examples that Newtown has been denied EDU permits by BCWSA due to lack of capacity in the Neshaminy Interceptor since the moratorium was lifted?

Mr. Jordan said he looks forward to seeing your responses in the April 2025 Board Meeting Minutes.

At the 9 April 2025 Newtown Board of Supervisors, supervisor Mack asked Police Chief Hearn about installing speed indicator signs in the Woods of Saxony (WOS) and Country Bend (CB) Neighborhoods.

Yorkshire Dr and Davis Ln, respectively, in these neighborhoods, are used as shortcuts from Lower Dolington Rd to Washington Crossing Rd and Linton Hill Rd, respectively. And to be effective as shortcuts, cars must speed through these neighborhoods. Pole-mounted speed indicator signs - such as the ones used in the Borough - would help especially since decoy police cars and the trailer-mounted speed sign cannot be deployed for long periods on these roads.

Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (NBCJMA) is a public utility entity established by Newtown Township and Newtown Borough, Pennsylvania, under the Municipal Authorities Act. NBCJMA is responsible for the construction, maintenance, and operation of critical water and sewer infrastructure, including water supply, wastewater treatment, and disposal facilities.

The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors is currently accepting letters of interest/resumes for an opening on the Joint Municipal Sewer Authority Board of Directors.

The Board consists of three members appointed by Newtown Township and three by Newtown Borough.  Board members serve staggered five-year terms, ensuring stable leadership and balanced representation of community interests. 

The Municipal Authority meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 3:00 P.M. at the Authority office, located onS. Congress St.Interested applicants can send a letter of interest and resume to Olivia Kivenko at:Oliviak@newtownpa.gov

A grassroots protest in Newtown drew large numbers Saturday, April 4, 2025, despite the rain and pressure to cancel the event.

Protesters gathered outside Fitzpatrick's office beside the Newtown Bypass. People of all ages joined the event, including many seniors.

Top concerns included recent cuts at the U.S. Social Security Administration and fears of a constitutional crisis.

The organizers of the "Hands Off!" protests, a series of demonstrations held April 5 against the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump, created an online platform where anyone could sign up to host a protest as part of the nationwide event. The effort was endorsed by more than 150 groups and co-led by Indivisible Project, a progressive organizing group.

• When will this be repaired?
• How will it be repaired?

Highlights from the March 2025 Newtown Township Police Department Report:

• 2,435 Total Incidents (versus 2024 monthly average of 2,475)
• 0 Auto vs Pedestrian incidents (1 YTD versus 4 total in 2024)
• 8 AUTO V. DEER incidents (44 YTD versus 162 in 2024)
• 150 Traffic Citations, 2 DUI arrests, 15 reportable traffic crashes
• 0 Sexual Offense (1 YTD vs 10 in 2024)
• 12 Fraud incidents (41 YTD versus 183 total in 2024 and 162 in 2023)
• 2 Retail Theft (13 YTD versus 53 in 2024)
• 4 Narcotics Possession (10 YTD versus 49 in 2024)
• 0 Non-Fatal Overdose (2 YTD versus 6 in 2024)
• 10 “Safe 2 Say” (22 YTD versus 73 in 2024)
• 309 School Checks (884 YTD versus 2,618 total for 2024)

See the FULL REPORT...

[IMAGE TOP: Signage as of 4/2/25; IMAGE BOTTOM: "Welcome to Newtown" version as specified in agreement with Newtown Twp]

Construction Continues On Newtown Wawa Store And Gas Station - Newtown, PA - A signature red and white sign has sprouted from the site letting the thousands of cars traveling along the bypass know what's coming soon.

This past fall, the new American Customer Satisfaction Index crowned Wawa as the nation's leading convenience store chain.

More...

Upper Makefield residents are suing the pipeline operators after an undetected crack leaked jet fuel into their private wells, contaminating at least 12.

The complaint, which was filed March 27, accuses pipeline operator Sunoco LP and its parent company, Energy Transfer, of negligence. Plaintiffs alleged that the companies failed to properly maintain the 70-year-old pipeline, identify leaks and investigate potential damage.

Following the leak in the Mount Eyre Road neighborhood, which the companies apparently did not detect for at least 16 months, 12 homes have tested positive for chemicals related to jet fuel, including benzene.

Although residents of the Mount Eyre Road neighborhood reported an unusual odor in their water as early as September 2023, the pipeline operators failed to detect a leak, and additional residents reported water taste and smell changes in 2024.

In 2023, the pipeline companies dug just yards away from where the leak was ultimately discovered*, but they didn't find the leak until January 2025 after consulting service records and digging at the location of a 1990s dent repair.

This is the video recording of the 3/25/25 Meet Make Tuesday Zoom meeting. It includes the Powerpoint presentation and the following Q&A and comments from the attendees.

Topics included Newtown Sewer Treatment Plant Decision, UM Sunoco Pipeline Fuel Leak, Meadow Conversion Project, Pedestrian Safety Updates, 2025 Liquid Fuels Road Repaving Program, Why Are Our Electricity (and Gas) Bills So High?, Update on Plan for a Public Mural, more…

Download the PPT notes with more details and links to background and related information: https://rebrand.ly/25Mar2025_MMT_PPT

This is my personal summary of the March 26, 2025, meeting of the #NewtownPA Township Board of Supervisors (BOS).

Agenda Items, Discussions, Decisions, and More

• Firefighter Commendations
• Reports of Board Members
  • Meet Mack Tuesday Summary
  • My “MAKE AMERICA’S CONSTITUTION KING” Hat
• Engineer’s Report
  • Authorize advertisement of the 2025 road bid
  • Newtown-Yardley Road sidewalk project nixed
• Official Video

On 27 March 2025, Newtown Supervisor John Mack, appeared at the famed Comedy Cabaret in Doylestown PA. His routine focused on local Newtown Township politics.

`The NBCJMA recently posted this notice to its website:

"The Newtown, Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (Authority) has decided to halt all work on the proposed wastewater treatment facility. [Listen to the decision here...]

"The Authority had been actively pursuing construction of a brand-new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility on a 17.5-acre parcel between the Newtown Bypass and Lower Silver Lake Road. Gaining control of spiraling sewer rate hikes was the impetus for the Authority’s pursuit of this project.

"However, the Authority, during its Tuesday, March 11 board meeting, voted to stop all work on the proposed project. The vote came on the heels of opposition from community members, as well as the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors. [Read the what the BOS demanded...]

"At this juncture, the Authority has no plans to advance this project. In the interim, the Authority retains ownership of the land where the plant had been proposed and will keep the public apprised of any next steps or updates in that regard as they become available. The Authority thanks the public, as well as our customers, for their interest and feedback as it relates to this project."

***********

[As reported 3/25/25 in BCCT]:

A group of locals from the nearby Swan Point neighborhood have been protesting the project for months, speaking at public meetings and imploring local officials to intervene.

While the most recent decision is 'progress,' according to Bill Everett, one of the group's leaders, they haven't crossed the finish line yet.

'We're basically still full steam ahead,' Everett said.

Group members will be readjusting their strategy to focus on securing an official, ironclad cancellation of the project, Everett said.

Once complete, he added, they'll keep an eye on any future development proposals on the land.

'It's all about getting it officially canceled and then we can all go back to our regular lives,' Everett said.

Why your electricity bill is so high, Sewer plant plan scrapped but rate hike remains, Will jet fuel pipeline leak reach Newtown Artesian wells?, Firefighters to be honored, Why I support Ukraine, more…

TD Bank Closing Dozens Of Locations, Including 3 In PA - Across Pennsylvania, PA - These locations will be closed as of early June as the company seeks to re-evaluate its network of branches.

This announcement also comes after the bank pleaded guilty in a federal money laundering scheme and agreed to a $3 billion fine back in October — making it the first national bank to do so.

Meanwhile, at the 12 March 2025 BOS meeting, the supervisors voted 5-0 to switch Newtown's banking provider to Penn Community Bank.

 Each year in March, news media organizations across the country take this time to highlight the importance of transparency in our government, and we underscore the vital work our journalists do to fight for access to records that shed light on government activity.

One thing I have learned from being involved in local government is that here are forces that work to weaken public access to the nooks and crannies of government operations. For example, when a resident recently asked to see a pedestrian study done by Newtown Twp, which she requested and which was paid for by Newtown residents, she was told to submit an official Right-to-Know request. Sure, that's just a minor hurdle, but why is it needed? It just delays access and even may be denied! BTW, you find that report here.

Don’t miss these Sunshine Week training opportunities:

• Monday, March 17 @ 11 a.m. – Sunshine Week: Getting to Know PA’s Transparency Law – PA State Archives Building, Harrisburg or virtual
• Wednesday, March 19 @ noon – The Sunshine Act: Pennsylvania’s Open Meetings Law – virtual

If you want more sunshine regarding transparency in #NewtownPA government, then join my Improve Newtown Communications for Better Government Facebook Group:

After pledging allegiance to the U.S. flag, I turned and focused on the Ukrainian Army logo T-shirt that I wore at the Newtown 12 March 2025 Board of Supervisors (BOS) in support of Ukraine. The pin above the logo is a combined U.S. and Ukrainian flag reminiscent of the time that the U.S. officially supported Ukraine.

In my comments later (view on Youtube), I reminded the audience that on April 13, 2022, the Newtown BOS unanimously voted to divest Twp pension funds of Aberdeen (ABEMX) holdings, which includes Russian & Chinese securities, in protest against the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the apparent war crimes being committed by Russia in Ukraine. My survey at the time revealed that 78% of Newtown Residents approved this decision.

As reported in the NewtownPA Now, "The Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority Board of Directors voted Tuesday, 11 March 2025, to halt work on a proposed wastewater treatment plant in Newtown Township.

The 3-2 decision does not cancel the project, but stops planning for the Newtown Township facility at a 17.5-acre site off Lower Silver Lake Road and University Drive near the Newtown Bypass, which is close to the Middletown Township border.

Board Member Elen Snyder, who is also a Newtown Township Supervisor, introduced the motion, which was supported by Board Chairperson Jerry Schenkman and Board Member Linda Bobrin. Board members Christopher Gusty and Robert Walker voted against it.

[Before the decision was made I suggested that the Sewer Authority - after voting to "abandon" the project - look for a way to donate the land to Newtown to preserve it as open space. Ms. Snyder's motion actually included this suggestion. Fore more on that, read my BLOG POST..."What Happens to the Land If Sewer Plant Plan is Abandoned?"]

Snyder, when pressed by Newtown Township Supervisor John Mack, who was in the audience, said the motion to “stop” work means, in her view, ending the authority’s effort to develop at the site.