John Mack - Newtown Supervisor
Mack's Meeting Notes from the July 14, 2021 BOS Meeting

EAC and Technology Committee updates, Planning Commission Report, Five Guys and Halal Guys E-5/E-6 application approvals, Traffic Committee Resolution, Intergovernmental Fire Service Agreement, Police Report, More...

Disclaimer: The following are my personal notes prepared prior to and after this meeting of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (see notes embedded at the end of this post). My notes are NOT based on the approved OFFICIAL minutes of the meeting.

Some of the issues that were discussed and/or voted on include:

  • Updates from recent Environmental Advisory Council meetings
  • Update from the June 28, 2021, Technology &: Communications Committee (website analytics, hybrid meetings)
  • Approvals of Five Guys & Halal Guys
  • Vote to approve Purdue Pharma Settlement Plan (see below)
  • Newtown Joint Traffic Committee resolution (see below)
  • Intergovernmental Fire Service Agreement with Newtown Borough
  • Wawa ZHB Update
  • June 2021 Police Report (embedded below)
  • Approval of payment of bills totaling $711,859.65 and $467,031.82

Meeting Video

Supervisors Nix Traffic Committee, For Now

At the July 14, 2021, Board of Supervisors meeting there was a long discussion about the makeup of this committee viz-a-viz the Borough vs. the Township. In the end, the BOS decided not to take any action; i.e., a revised resolution will NOT be sent to the Borough Council for their consideration.

“The purpose of the Newtown Joint Traffic Committee shall be to improve the quality of life for Newtown Township and Newtown Borough residents, to improve Newtown Township’s and Newtown Borough’s desirability to visitors, workers, and businesses, and to ensure safe access to multi-modal transportation options that meet the needs of residents, visitors, workers, and businesses in Newtown Township and Newtown Borough by ensuring the ability to safely walk, drive, bike, and use public transportation throughout the Township and Borough in accordance with a consistent and comprehensive approach to pedestrian and vehicular circulation and safety.”

Purdue Pharma Settlement Plan

John Mack moved that the Board approve the Purdue Pharma L.P. settlement/bankruptcy plan by which the Sackler families [owners of Purdue Pharma] have agreed to pay $4.275 billion, in addition to the $225 million previously paid to the United States to resolve civil claims, for a total settlement of $4.5 billion.  The vast majority of proceeds will be used to abate the opioid crisis; these funds cannot be diverted to other purposes.  The Plan will deliver more than $10 billion in value, including providing, at cost, millions of doses of opioid addiction treatment and overdose reversal medicines.

The “Pudue Plan” shields parties associated with the bankrupt company (e.g., Sackler family) from liability [source]:

Purdue will be re-organised as a public-benefit company called Knoa Pharma, and its future profits will go towards alleviating the damage done by opioid addiction. Members of the Sackler family, who own Purdue, will relinquish control of the firm and pay $4.5bn to plaintiffs. But nine states and Washington, DC opposed the final deal and some—Connecticut, Washington state and the District of Columbia —will appeal against it. Their objections stem from a legal arrangement shielding parties associated with bankrupt companies (which have not filed for bankruptcy themselves) from liability, which many people want to change.

Some facts:

  • About 614,000 claims were filed by individuals, municipalities, hospitals, tribes and states. But only 120,301 voted on the bankruptcy plan, with 95 percent in favor.
  • Under the plan, states and municipalities would get funds dedicated to preventing and treating opioid addiction.
  • About 130,485 people who can prove they were harmed by OxyContin will each get between $3,500 and $48,000. Guardians of 6,550 children born with symptoms of opioid withdrawal will receive about $7,000.
  • Several states have said they would appeal, which could delay the bankruptcy plan.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/09/03/health/purdue-opioids-settlement.html 

The motion was passed 3-1 with Kyle Davis voting nay (Dennis Fisher was absent).

June 2021 Police Report

Mack's Meeting Notes

The complete notes are embedded below or you can download the PDF file here. Not all items on the agenda may be covered in these notes.