John Mack Newtown

Meet Mack Monday 18 May 2026

Focus on Open Government

The 18 May 2026 session of Meet Mack Monday focused on local development friction, the launch of the Neighbors for Open Government initiative, and emerging concerns regarding data center infrastructure in the Newtown area.

Executive Brief

John Mack convened community members to address a lack of transparency in township governance, specifically highlighting “underwater” data—such as engineering reports and financial audits—that are withheld from public view. Key updates included the stalled Newtown Creek bridge project, a controversial four-lot subdivision on Lafayette Street, and the potential encroachment of data center fiber optics through the borough and township.

The meeting served as a recruitment drive for NOG, emphasizing a non-partisan push for accessible public documents and interactive work sessions.

Key Decisions & Insights

  • Neighbors for Open Government (NOG) Launch: The group is officially active with 36 members. The core mission is to “lower the water level” of the information iceberg, ensuring residents see the same monthly packets and engineering reports as the Board of Supervisors before votes occur.
  • Lafayette 1 Subdivision Friction: Residents, led by Neil Messina, are opposing the current “by-right” development plan. Primary concerns involve heavy construction traffic on narrow residential streets — Lafayette and Elm — and stormwater management. Residents are pushing for site access via Penn Street instead of Lafayette Street.
  • Bridge Project Re-bid: The pedestrian bridge over Newtown Creek is significantly over budget. The township has discarded existing bids and will re-bid the project in hopes of securing a price under $800,000 to fit within grant constraints. More than $116,000 has already been spent on engineering and legal fees.
  • Data Center Infrastructure: Fiber optic cables are being installed in Newtown Borough, likely connecting to a massive data center in Falls Township. There is concern that these lines will eventually require township easements. The Jointure — Newtown, Wrightstown, and Upper Makefield — is drafting an ordinance to regulate noise, water usage, and zoning for future data centers to avoid “Wawa-style” curative amendment lawsuits.

“We all love AI. Some follow up on last nights conversation about the fiberoptics backbone cables from the Data Centers. Looks like Verizon and other Telecommunication vendors will be routing these cables through new or existing easements. Township review and approval will most likely be needed.” – Al Dufault

Nuance & Friction

  • EAC Quorum Controversy: The Environmental Advisory Council is currently operating with only four members. John Mack highlighted a procedural hurdle: a quorum of four is required to be physically present for any official action, meaning 100% attendance is mandatory until new members are appointed. Mack noted he was denied appointment due to a lack of Supervisor Board votes.
  • Financial Data Void: Significant concern was raised regarding the absence of monthly financial reports since June 2025. The multiple roles of Michael Lewis as Manager, Treasurer, and Right-to-Know Officer were identified as a potential bottleneck for transparency.
  • The “Consent Agenda” Debate: Mack expressed strong opposition to placing major expenditures — such as $110,000 vehicle purchases — on the consent agenda, which allows for approval without public discussion.
  • Developer Leverage: The Lafayette One project is a “by-right” development, meaning the developer has little incentive to grant resident requests, such as the Penn Street access, if it requires seeking new variances or zoning approvals. Messina suggested that the existing bedrock for construction could easily be converted into a permanent road access from Penn Street, but the developer remains resistant because this would require zoning variances.

PowerPoint Notes

Embedded below are the complete PowerPoint presentation notes with links to further information. You may also download the PDF version if you do not see the PDF version embedded below.