Meeting Briefing
Newtown, Bucks County, Joint Municipal Authority
July 14, 2026 Meeting
Executive Summary
The July 14, 2026, meeting of the Newtown, Bucks County, Joint Municipal Authority (NBCJMA) focused on the finalization of the 2026/2027 fiscal budget, infrastructure maintenance, agreement to sell the Lower Silverlake Rd property, and the resurgence of a significant private telecommunications project. Key takeaways include the approval of a “tight” budget effective August 1, 2026, which lacks major capital projects but continues focus on Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) activity.
Notably, the Authority celebrated a legal victory regarding the Lower Silver Lake Road property, with a court granting a motion to quash a request for damages totaling approximately $690,000. Additionally, the “Amazon/Lightpath” fiber optic project has moved back into the design phase, raising concerns regarding potential impacts on homeowner sewer connections. Operationally, the Authority is managing equipment repairs at the Eagle Road Farms station and monitoring 25 delinquent accounts, which remains within the standard historical range.
Financial Overview and Budgetary Approvals
2026/2027 Fiscal Budget
The Authority officially approved the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, effective August 1, 2026.
- Fiscal Status: The budget is described as “tight.”
- Capital Projects: There are no major capital projects scheduled for the 2026/2027 cycle.
- Operational Focus: The Authority will continue the “steel project” with a focus on I&I activity throughout the township.
- Costs: Management noted increases in service costs and salaries, though the overall financial position remains stable.
Expenditures and Transfers
The Board approved several financial motions to maintain operations:
Revenue and Delinquencies
- Miscellaneous Income: June receipts included a cell tower tax reimbursement and a $75 usage fee from the Board of Elections for use of the building.
- Delinquent Accounts: There are currently 25 delinquent accounts. Three accounts have reached the 10-day shutoff notice stage and will proceed to a three-day shutoff if unpaid by July 20. This volume is consistent with the standard range of 25 to 35 accounts.
Operational and Engineering Reports
Infrastructure and Maintenance
The Authority is managing several active maintenance and replacement projects:
- Flow Monitoring: Seven new portable flow meters have been received to monitor various locations throughout the town. Monthly flow data is tallied by a third-party company, CSL.
- Eagle Road Farms: The control panel for the transfer switch at this station is currently out for repair following a suspected electrical or storm event. The station is being operated manually in the interim.
- Fence Common: The Authority is working toward closing out the silver lining and replacement projects.
- Linton Hill Road: A force main extension is pending construction. The township has issued a road opening permit with specific comments.
Final Paving and Leak Issues
A water service leak was discovered and repaired at a project site on Lower Silver Lake Road following final paving. The Authority is currently:
- Negotiating with the township and the contractor to determine the extent of required repair paving.
- Exploring “seamless repair” options to minimize costs.
- Withholding final payment to the contractor until the issue is resolved, as there was suspicion of the leak prior to the final paving.
Legal & Real Estate
Lower Silver Lake Road: The court granted the Authority’s motion to quash a request by 42 University LLC for approximately $690,000 in related damages. The Board viewed this as a significant victory for ratepayers.
The “legal victory” celebrated by the Authority’s Solicitor was a court decision concerning a financial dispute:
- The Dispute: After the Authority condemned and took the land from 42 University LLC—initially planning a $128 million wastewater treatment facility that was later scrapped—the developer and its financial partners filed a petition seeking roughly $690,000 in statutory delay damages, representing interest accumulated due to delays in the eminent domain compensation payout.
- The Motion: The Authority filed a motion to quash the petition, arguing it should not have to pay those delay damages. The court sided with the Authority and granted the motion. The Solicitor advised that any appeal by the opposing party would be a waste of resources and would negatively impact ratepayers, who apparently would have to pay the bill.
- Deed of Dedication (Wawa): The dedication for a new property owner was tabled because the signed documents have not yet been returned.
- PSA Approval: The Board approved a Professional Services Agreement with LR Acquisition LLC for 532 East Penn Street.
Professional Services and Dedications
- 532 E. Penn Street: The Board approved a Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with SLR Acquisitions LLC for work involving the engineer and manager. The applicant has posted the required escrow.
- Wawa (Provco Pinegood Newtown LLC): The deed of dedication remains pending. While an ownership change caused initial delays, the new owner is expected to sign the deed for the next meeting.
Infrastructure Development: Lightpath/Amazon Project
The Authority noted the resurgence of a private fiber optic installation project by Lightpath, reportedly for the exclusive use of Amazon. For more on that read, “LigthPath #NewtownPA Public Meeting Briefing.”
| Project Type | Large cable installation and vaults for a “database A to B” connection. |
|---|---|
| Current Phase | Preliminary design; “tickets” have been issued for marking existing underground lines. |
| Proposed Route | From the east side of the bypass, up State Street, right on Washington, continuing to Lower Hillington Road. |
| Primary Concern | Potential damage to four-inch homeowner sewer connections due to the depth of the drilling. |
From the transcript of the meeting:
Manager, Mike Medditto: “I don’t think anybody [in the Borough] knows about it, yet. ... It doesn’t feel like they’re going a different route [see figure], but unless they tell me something different on Thursday, as of now the tickets [to go out and mark] look like they’re coming the same route that they were taking the last time it came up. It means they’re designing something, and they need to know what you have in the ground so ... their design doesn’t conflict with what you have in the ground. They need to disrupt some intersections, and they already did one. Center and State.”
The Authority expressed concern that residents may be unhappy with the disruption. A job meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 16, to gather more information on the construction timeline and route specifics.
Agreement to Sell Lower Silver Lake Property
An item under “Old Business” on the agenda—“Agreement to Sell or Letter of Intent re: Sale of Lower Silver Lake Rd Property”—was tabled “for the time being” after an Executive Session to discuss substantive matters regarding the sale.
Recall that this property was purchased by the Authority through eminent domain for $11.5 million for a wastewater treatment plant, a plan that was subsequently abandoned (LINK: XXXX). To cover the cost of the loan used for that purchase, the Authority raised its rates by 26%.
It appears that the Authority has a bid that it is going to accept. The bidder was not identified, but at the same meeting it was announced that a case against the Authority by 42 University LLC—i.e., Jim Worthington, the original owner of the land—for $690,000 in damages related to the purchase was quashed and dismissed. Can it be that 42 University LLC made another, more acceptable offer to purchase the land back? I say “another” because I was previously told that Mr. Worhington made perhaps two unacceptable “low ball” offers previously. Stay tuned!
Note: Since the Authority’s lawyer praised the quashing of the $690,000 damages case because it saved ratepayers money, it should be assumed that, if the land is resold, ratepayers—residents of Newtown Township and Newtown Borough—should also save money through a rate decrease.
There is a possibility that the Board may convene a special meeting before its August meeting. In that event, it promised to advertise the special meeting and make sure the information is available to the public.