25 March 2024 Meet Mack Monday Meeting
Seven #NewtownPA Twp residents and one Middletown resident attended this Zoom meeting, which focused on License Plate Reader cameras, removing PFAS from drinking water, Roberts Ridge Park meadow plan, Comprehensive Plan, LDR Trail guiderail problems, and more...
- Opening Presentation
- Further Discussion and Details
- Links to Important Information
- Detailed Meeting Notes
Opening Presentation
The following is a 9-minute video of the opening presentation:
LDR Trail Guiderail Problem
Attendees learned about the problems with the recently installed Lower Dolington Rd trail guiderail. The guiderail needs to be relocated because it was incorrectly installed, but the contractor - Associated Paving - refuses to respond to the township's requests that it do so! Listen to the discussion...
NOTE: From Township Engineer Dominic Cundai via email:
“We have made many attempts to have the Contractor [Associated Paving] make these repairs immediately. Unfortunately, they are being very non-responsive. Specifically, we sent them a letter on February 12, 2024, with a response required by February 29, 2024. We have yet to hear anything. We can work with Micah and Township staff to see how we can proceed with enforcing this based on our letter.”
At the 27 March 2024 BOS meeting, the Township Engineer said “we have gotten the township solicitor involved to see what steps we can take...” We will need to keep bringing this up otherwise it will just fade away with no action taken at all.
Roberts Ridge Park Lawn to Meadow Conversion
Environmental Advisory Council member Jan Filios discussed the proposed #NewtownPA Roberts Ridge Park meadow conversion plan. Listen to the discussion...
NOTE: On March 19, 2024, the BOS was forwarded an email message from Karen Ogden, a watershed specialist at the PA Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR):
SUBJ: DCNR Lawn to Meadow Conversions - update
PA DCNR is inching closer to advertising your lawn conversions for public bid. The speed bumps have been their own execution of grant funding contracts and legal review of landowner agreements. I’m told they fully expect work to begin – turfgrass kill – later this summer for a fall seeding. Worst case scenario is preparation and seeding spring 2025.
So, as the grass starts to grow, please mow. I cringe just a little bit but if you stop mowing, in invites invasive weeds to grow and seed, exactly what we don’t want to happen. I’ll keep you posted.
Washington Crossing Bridge Replacement
Attendees weighed in on the proposed replacement of the Washington Crossing Bridge. Listen to the discussion…
Nixle Alert Application
An attendee asked how people were notified about a recent "shelter-in-place" alert in #newtownPA and suggested that residents sign up for Nixle to receive such alerts via text to their cell phones. Listen to the discussion…
NOTE: Newtown Township Police Chief John Hearn supplied the following information:
I do recall you inquiring about this several years ago and I am in favor of it if the board wishes to fund this for 2025, although it may be a duplication of efforts. We do not personally send notices to Nixle, and I am attempting to find out if the County has the ability to notify that platform and push out alerts.
Township residents have the opportunity to sign up for two free programs with mobile and email alerts from the PA Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) or "Ready Bucks" through Bucks County Emergency Communications. Nixle is another platform that does the same and there is a fee to activate for the township, and also requires someone not connected to the emergency to enter the information. I have my staff evaluating the cost factor, and will update you accordingly when I have the figures and additional information.
We also encourage residents and businesses to sign up for "Ready Bucks" through our Police Dept social media platforms (Crimewatch, Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram) as it was done most recently on March 19th, with directions on how to sign up. This is the platform where we (Newtown PD) distribute all our department and critical township information when staffing permits, and this is where it was activated for the March 17th incident. On the March 17th incident, we initiated our communications at 8:04am, and updated at 10:11am, and a final one at 12:35pm, as well as notification to the HOA.
Links to Important Information
- Summary of 13 March 2024 #NewtownPA Board of Supervisors Meeting (more details regarding the LDR guiderail problem)
- Supervisors Approve REVISED Pollution Reduction Plan
- PA DCNR is Inching Closer to Advertising #NewtownPA's Roberts Ridge Park Lawn Conversions Plan for Public Bid
- Does Newtown Need a Mobile-Enabled Emergency Notification System?
- Washington Crossing Bridge Request for Proposals (includes Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Documentation)
Detailed Meeting Notes
See the meeting notes embedded below or download the PDF version here.
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