🔥 Fire Services Agreement Showdown
At the October 13, 2025 Board of Supervisors Work Session, debate flared over how much Newtown Borough should pay Newtown Township for professional fire protection services. The discussion exposed deep divisions among supervisors and left open the question of whether the Borough will have guaranteed fire coverage in 2026. Listen to this short “Deep Dive” podcast:
The Core Issue
The Borough’s latest offer to the Township was a three-year contract totaling:
- $267,000 for the first year,
- $275,000 for years two and three.
Supervisor Phil Calabro demanded $330,000 with 5% annual increases, calling it a fair “fee-for-service” rate that prevents Township taxpayers from subsidizing Borough fire protection.
Township Manager Micah Lewis opposed any plan for the Township to assume the Borough’s $34,000/year workers’ compensation costs for volunteer firefighters, warning that it could create legal liability if volunteers were ever classified as Township employees. The Borough currently covers those costs through 2027 under its existing contract with the Newtown Fire Association (NFA).
Supervisors Split Over Terms
- Chair Elen Snyder proposed a one-year deal at $275,000 to allow time for a new cost analysis by the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services.
- John Mack supported the one-year compromise, arguing that the Borough’s 2022 cost study is outdated and lacked Township input. He called for more transparency and public involvement in determining “a fair share.”
- Supervisor Dennis Fisher agreed, saying a short-term agreement would buy time to gather data and avoid rushed commitments.
- Supervisor Calabro strongly objected, saying the Borough should pay $330,000 or “open its own fire department for $5 million.” He accused colleagues of “giving away taxpayer money.”
Lewis confirmed that the Township’s new hires cost roughly $275,000 per firefighter (salary plus benefits), making the Borough’s proposal “not even enough to cover one firefighter.”
Fire Chief Warns of Coverage Gaps
Fire Chief Glen Forsyth told supervisors that between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., response times average 6 minutes, but after-hours coverage—when only volunteers are available—can stretch to 13–17 minutes. “I cannot guarantee a fire truck will arrive after 6 p.m.,” the Chief said, urging the Board to plan for 24-hour staffing.
The Chief estimated that the department needs 10 more full-time firefighters to ensure round-the-clock protection. Without a contract, the Borough would have no guaranteed coverage—only mutual aid “if available.”
Borough’s View: “We’re Paying Our Part”
Josh Phillips of Newtown Borough Council countered that the Borough already contributes roughly $50,000–$55,000 annually to the NFA (Newtown Fire Association, volunteer firefighters) for insurance and equipment and pays for workers’ comp through 2027. He cited a 2022 Governor’s Center report that found the Borough’s fair share closer to $186,000–$200,000, calling the current Borough offer “responsible and proportional.”
Phillips favored a two- or three-year contract to stabilize budgeting, warning that a one-year deal would “kick the can down the road.”
Next Steps
The majority of supervisors—Snyder, Mack, and Fisher—signaled support for the one-year, $275,000 deal and a request for a new state cost study. Calabro remained opposed. The Board plans to vote at its next public meeting to authorize the Township solicitor to draft a contract for the Borough to review.
Takeaway
The debate revealed a fundamental divide in Newtown Township government:
- Snyder, Mack, and Fisher: Seek a fact-based, cooperative approach with data-driven adjustments.
- Calabro: Frames the issue as Borough “free-riding” on Township taxpayers.
The outcome of the next vote will determine whether Newtown Borough retains guaranteed fire protection in 2026—and at what price.
Source: Transcript of the October 13, 2025 Newtown Township Board of Supervisors Work Session. Listen to the discussion via the following Youtube video:
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