Consent Agenda - Efficiency vs Transparency

At the January 28, 2026, Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, supervisors approved $283,438.19 in total checks and transfers. The largest share came from the General Fund ($194K), with additional spending across fire protection, hydrants, highway aid, escrow, and capital projects.

This item was approved as part of the contentious "Consent Agenda" WITHOUT comment!

Key cost drivers this cycle included professional engineering and legal services, utilities (street lights and fire hydrants), and winter operations such as snow plowing and road salt. Police and DPW vehicle repairs were also significant, along with advance deposits for 2026 Adventure Camp recreation programs.

Overall, the bills list reflects seasonal winter costs, steady infrastructure expenses, and ongoing planning for capital projects like the Newtown Creek pedestrian crossing, while escrow-funded reviews helped offset private development costs.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Cleanup and Responsibility Act (ECRA)

• Mandatory Residential Standards: Cleanups would be required to meet residential safety standards rather than looser industrial standards.
• Immediate State Action: The bill empowers the state to take immediate action when hazardous substances are released.
• DEP Authority: The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would have the power to step in if responsible parties fail to act.
• Financial Accountability: The legislation ensures that "the polluter, not the taxpayer, pays" for cleanup efforts.

A request for zoning variances regarding a new wall sign for law firm Stark and Stark at 2 Caufield Place touched a raw nerve at the 28 January 2026 Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting.

Peggy Driscoll - Chair of the Newtown Planning Commission (PC) - recommended that the BOS take no action at the Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) regarding this request due to the sign’s recessed design and the tenant’s occupancy of an empty building.

Supervisor Calabro, however, expressed significant opposition, raising concerns that the proposed sign is nearly double the allowed size. A resident noted that the huge sign serves as advertising rather than simple identification. He also warned of a "slippery slope" that could undermine the township's sign ordinance and grant unfair special treatment to specific businesses.

Ultimately, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to have their solicitor formally oppose the variances during the upcoming ZHB meeting.

Top takeaways:

• Newtown–Yardley Road sidewalk: the project has been approved for a $750,000 grant and would replace the existing path with a concrete sidewalk and curb for safety.
• Liberty Center (Borough): discussion touched on a multi-story apartment and plaza concept, with interest in accelerating the project.
• Open government & process: discussion included signage enforcement challenges and concerns about a Consent Agenda limiting transparency if not used carefully.
• Budget transparency: residents raised concerns about missing monthly reports and the need for clearer budget tracking and oversight.

This "Deep Dive" podcast summarize a "Meet Mack Monday" community meeting held in January 2026 to discuss various infrastructure and governance issues in Newtown Township.

Participants expressed significant concerns over budget transparency, specifically noting the absence of monthly treasurer reports and the potential for deficit spending. The discussion also addressed the controversial use of consent agendas, which some residents believe limits public oversight on expensive items like police vehicles*.

Attendees advocated for a more open government to ensure better communication between the Board of Supervisors and the local community.

Key highlights include the approval of a $750,000 grant for a sidewalk project on Newtown-Yardley Road and updates regarding the proposed Liberty Center development in Newtown Borough.

Additionally, the meeting touched on environmental proposals such as a proposed gas leaf blower ban and the search for locations for new police and fire stations.

This "Deep Dive" podcast focuses on a proposal by MB Vet Management to convert an existing two-story office building at 10 Friends Lane in Newtown, Pennsylvania, into a 24/7 emergency veterinary hospital.

The vacant structure features a unique central courtyard and ample surrounding green space, which the applicants plan to utilize for a small, fenced pet relief area.

At the 20 January 2026 Newtown Planning Commission meeting, the owners explained that the facility will focus strictly on urgent medical care and specialized surgeries rather than standard wellness appointments or boarding.

To facilitate this project, the applicants requested zoning variances related to land use, a reduction in required parking spaces, and the number of loading bays.

The commission ultimately expressed strong support for the business, noting that it fulfills a critical community need for local emergency animal services. This approval marks a significant step toward revitalizing a property that has remained largely unoccupied for over a decade.

For many months Newtown Township residents fought for installing sidewalks and curbing along Newtown-Yardley Road to improve pedestrian safety and connect local trails to Newtown Borough. Local leaders emphasize that these improvements will enhance community walkability and provide better access to nearby small businesses.

State Senator Steve Santarsiero and State Rep. Perry Warren, announced on 22 January 2026 that Newtown Township has been awarded a $750,306 state grant to fund the sidewalk extension project.

Listen to this podcast to learn more about how residents overcame opposition from township leaders.

Sources document a formal push by the Newtown Joint Historic Commission (JHC) to address critical gaps in historic preservation laws.

This "Deep Dive" podcast documents ongoing efforts in Newtown Township to address what Supervisor Elen Snyder claims are deteriorating and inadequate facilities for emergency services.

Official reports, news articles and memos outline the need for comprehensive building studies to evaluate whether to renovate existing structures or construct entirely new police and fire stations.

Specific proposals from engineering and architectural firms, such as Gorski Engineering and KCBA, provide cost estimates and scope of work for planning modern facilities that meet current safety standards.

While the Board of Supervisors approved these initial assessments, some officials and residents have expressed concerns regarding project costs, timing, and the specific locations of the proposed sites. As one resident put it "FILL THE POTHOLES AND RESURFACE THE ROADS FOR GOD'S SAKE!"

The provided sources for this video consist of a transcript and an audio-based recording of the Newtown Board of Supervisors meeting held on January 14, 2026.

During this session, the Board addressed critical infrastructure needs, specifically emphasizing the urgent requirement for modernized police and fire facilities to ensure employee safety and health.

The supervisors also approved a three-lot residential subdivision on Lower Dolington Road and authorized the advertisement of a cable franchise agreement with Verizon.

Additionally, the Police Chief presented the December 2025 activity report, which covered recent arrests, traffic enforcement, and a warning regarding modern "swatting" incidents.

The meeting concluded with discussions on inter-municipal cooperation and the importance of board members attending Joint Zoning Council (JZC) regional meetings.

Local residents utilized public comment periods to welcome new board members and inquire about pending traffic studies.

This "Deep Dive" podcast outlines the discussion at the Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (NBCJMA, aka "Sewer Authority") Board meeting held on 13 January 2026. The Board addressed administrative necessities, such as approving previous minutes and processing significant financial transfers between authority accounts.

A substantial portion of the meeting involved financial oversight, including the authorization of a large payment for sewer infrastructure improvements and the review of overdue accounts. Professional services and land development agreements for specific local properties were also approved.

Additionally, the session provides a structured forum for public participation alongside technical updates from legal, engineering, and field personnel.

Consent Agendas are being used by the Newtown Township Supervisors to approve many items that should be voted on separately, allowing for more public comment. 

Learn more at the 26 January 2026 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting. Click here for more about the agenda and to RSVP and obtain the login info...

This Deep Dive podcast is focused on the January 2026 Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) reorganization meeting, where members reappointed leadership and address local environmental initiatives. The meeting - as always with EAC meetings - was open to the public.

Key agenda items included managing a native plant project at Robert’s Ridge Park, coordinating a tree giveaway, and exploring solar energy grants for a local 100-acre parcel fo land. The plans for a partial ban on gas leaf blowers was also discussed.

A significant portion of the dialogue focuses on a controversial proposal for a pedestrian bridge over Newtown Creek, highlighting disagreements regarding floodplain protection and the impact on natural resources.

The meeting concluded with tension over the EAC’s authority to issue formal opinions to the Board of Supervisors without further data or consensus.

A consent agenda is a procedural method used by governing bodies, such as the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors, to approve multiple routine and non-controversial items with a single vote.

While this practice promotes administrative efficiency and allows more time for significant policy debates, the source warns that it must not be used to bypass public transparency.

Legitimate uses include approving meeting minutes or standard financial reports, but complex or high-cost items should be removed for individual deliberation to maintain accountability.

To preserve public trust, boards should provide clear documentation in advance and allow officials to pull specific items for separate discussion. Ultimately, the document emphasizes that while bundling tasks saves time, it requires strict guardrails to ensure that significant government spending and decisions are not hidden from the community.

The provided document is a comprehensive bills list for Newtown Township, detailing financial obligations and expenditures scheduled for approval on January 14, 2026.

It categorizes spending across various accounts, including the General Fund, Fire Protection Fund, and Capital Projects, with a total combined expenditure exceeding $631,000.

The records itemize diverse costs such as health insurance premiums, police equipment, public works repairs, and community recreation programs. Additionally, the text outlines significant fund transfers intended for payroll benefits, health savings accounts, and administrative fees.

Collectively, these ledger entries provide a transparent overview of the municipal budget and the operational costs required to maintain township services.

5 Surprising Takeaways from the Newtown Supervisors’ Leadership Shake-up

Local government reorganization meetings are usually predictable—procedural votes, formalities, and little drama. But Newtown’s January 5th 2026 meeting broke that mold, delivering unexpected tension, a major leadership shift, and pointed calls for unity and collaboration. Here are five takeaways from a night that set a new course for Newtown.

More...

At the Newtown Township Reorganization meeting held on January 5, 2026, Elen Snyder voiced her opposition to appointing a newcomer to a Board of Supervisors (BOS) leadership position, specifically addressing the prospect of Ed Merriman becoming the Chair.

Ms. Snyder served as BOS Chair in 2025.

While Snyder acknowledged that Merriman would likely be "worthy in time," she maintained that appointing a beginner was not the "proper course of action". Consequently, she stated she would not nominate him for the chair, leaving that motion to be made by another member of the Board.

Listen to her remarks....

This "Deep Dive" into Newtown Township's 2025 plans and 2026 budget has uncovered several surprising, counter-intuitive, and impactful stories that every resident should know.

This article breaks down the top five most significant takeaways into a clear, accessible list, revealing the critical details hiding in plain sight.

These stories unfolded in one township, but they raise a universal question: Do you really know what decisions are being made in your name, and where your tax dollars are going?

More...

This "Deep Dive" podcast details the professional background and civic involvement of John Mack, a long-time Newtown Township resident, former Supervisor, and "Bulldog" when it comes to keeping residents informed.

Legal testimony and other documents highlight Mack's transition from the pharmaceutical marketing industry to local governance, where he manages a private social media presence focused on community issues.

The records cover critical municipal concerns, including pedestrian safety on Sycamore Street, infrastructure funding for road maintenance, and the mitigation of PFAS chemicals in the local water supply.

Additionally, meeting minutes track zoning approvals for various local businesses and the recruitment of emergency services personnel. Together, these sources provide a comprehensive look at the administrative challenges and public debates currently shaping the Newtown area.

John Mack and Dennis Fisher attended their final board meeting this month, where their years of service to the township were recognized.

This short video focuses on a detailed accountability report from Newtown Supervisor John Mack reflecting on his final year of an eight-year tenure in 2025.

The report utilizes various data charts to illustrate his time allocation by month, day of the week, and specific activity type, while clarifying that personal outreach efforts like blogs and podcasts are excluded from these official totals.

Additionally, Mack evaluates his financial compensation, calculating an hourly rate based on his stipend to argue that the role is driven by community service rather than profit. He concludes by emphasizing transparency through his commitment to keeping a public record of board decisions and member voting histories.

This summary serves as both a personal legacy statement and a call for continued civic engagement and governance integrity.

Where do local tax dollars actually go? A close look at Newtown Township’s 2025 Bills Lists pulls back the curtain on spending details residents rarely see unless they file a Right-to-Know request. The review highlights six eye-opening categories—from massive, long-term obligations like police pensions and road programs to the everyday costs of keeping municipal operations running—offering a clearer picture of the township’s real financial priorities.

Beyond six-figure payments for engineering, legal, and utility services, the analysis also surfaces smaller but telling line items: recreation programs, community events, employee support gestures, and even pizza for meetings. Together, these expenses tell a broader story about transparency, accountability, and why routine public access to Bills Lists matters if residents are to fully understand—and weigh in on—how their tax dollars are spent.

A Right-to-Know request has revealed a stunning twist in Newtown’s abandoned wastewater treatment plant saga: land taken through eminent domain is now being offered back to the original owner for $11.5 million, the exact amount paid by the sewer authority. The documents show the property on Lower Silver Lake Road was condemned for a proposed WWTP that was later scrapped—after the land was acquired and sewer rates were raised by 47% to help finance the purchase.

Under Pennsylvania’s Eminent Domain Code, when a public use is abandoned, the condemning authority must offer the property back to the condemnee—a little-known provision that turns this case into what can only be described as “eminent domain in reverse.” The situation is further complicated by uncertainty over ownership and notice, with multiple entities potentially entitled to respond to the buyback offer, raising fresh questions about process, accountability, and risk to taxpayers.

.

The bigger issue remains unresolved: what happens next?

If the land is sold back, will sewer rates ever come down? If it isn’t, should the property be preserved as undeveloped open space rather than returned to the development pipeline? With millions already spent and a major public project abandoned midstream, this single RTK document exposes how costly—and consequential—opaque decision-making can be for a community.

An “Office Research” district sounds like it would be limited to office buildings and labs—but the zoning code tells a very different story. A close reading shows that uses like farms, single-family homes, and even roadside stands are permitted by right, while other unexpected uses can be approved through special exceptions. In other words, the district name alone doesn’t come close to capturing what’s actually allowed.

The code also opens the door to more intense uses, including gas stations with convenience stores and limited manufacturing, provided strict conditions are met. Large minimum lot sizes, deep setbacks, and caps on impervious coverage signal that these uses are expected to be spread out in a campus-style setting, not tightly packed development.

The takeaway is simple but important: zoning labels can be misleading. What really matters is the fine print—because that’s where the true development possibilities, and community impacts, are hiding.

Learn more about the OR District, what's allowed and what's not, by participating in this "workshop." It includes a quiz at the end to test your knowledge plus links to decisions made by the BOS regarding development proposals for the OR District. Visit the workshop now...