Summary of 6 December 2023 BOS Meeting
This is my personal summary of my notes regarding the December 6, 2023, meeting of the #NewtownPA Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary.
Access the 2023 BOS Chronicle for detailed summaries of all 2023 BOS meetings plus the BOS voting record (UNOFFICIAL) for 2023.
Agenda Items, Discussions, Decisions, and More
- 2024 Budget Approval
- Tax Rate for 2024
- Exempt Personnel Pay
- Reports of Committees, Boards and Commissions
- Planning Commission – dog grooming home business
- Engineer’s Report
- 2023 Liquid Fuels Road Program – Payment Certificate No. 3 Final
- N. Sycamore Street and Silo Drive Crosswalk Improvements (PBNTT039)
- Solicitor’s Report
- Single-Use Plastics Ban Ordinance Vote
- November 2023 NTPD Report
- Old Business
- Audio Visual Update
- Other Items of Interest
2024 Budget Approval
LINK: https://rebrand.ly/2024Prelim_Budget
Resolution
“In the General fund of the Newtown Township budget total revenues are estimated at $18,447,084 with expenditures estimated to be at $16,601,853. This will provide for a 2024 end year fund balance of $1,845,232.” The revenues number includes the balance of $4,134,661 from 2022. Thus, $14,312,423 (as shown in top slide) + $4,134,661 = $18,447,084, which is the “revenue” in the resolution.
Tax Rate for 2024
Exempt Personnel Pay
The 2024 budget was adopted by a 4-1 vote (Kyle Davis voted nay).
Planning Commission
Ms. Kathleen Donovan, 192 Commonwealth Drive, is seeking a variance to permit a home occupation, dog grooming. Applicant indicated that she has a separate room inside of her garage and grooms only small dogs, no more than four a day.
The Commission members discussed the application at length, with some members having concerns about precedents and upholding our current zoning, which should be communicated to the Zoning Hearing Board. Of particular concern was that the business might disturb the neighbors and might also lead to other residents seeking to work service businesses from their homes. Only one member favored recommending that the Supervisors send a solicitor to oppose the application.
COMMENTS: Other residents have been given variances to run businesses from their homes. Several neighbors have signed a petition supporting this use. While I believe in upholding our zoning laws, I also feel that there are some exceptions and this is one of them.
The BOS took no action regarding this application, which will be decided by the ZHB.
Engineer's Report
2023 Liquid Fuels Road Program – Payment Certificate No. 3 Final
“At this time, Harris Blacktopping, Inc. (hereafter referred to as "Contractor") has completed the project, and the work has been deemed acceptable*. RVE therefor recommends payment to the Contractor, in the amount of $17,883.58. This shall be the final payment made to the Contractor for this project.”
Includes item: Thermoplastic Crosswalk Pavement Markings for a fee of $13,500.00. *However, IMHO, crosswalks are UNFINISHED as previously reported (read “Lower Dolington Road Trail Punch Lists”) and shown in the image below.
The BOS voted 4-1 to approve this payment (Mack voted nay).
N. Sycamore Street and Silo Drive Crosswalk Improvements (PBNTT039)
[The following item was NOT on the agenda and not discussed at the meeting. It is included just as a follow up to previous discussions.]
From the 11/2/2023 Report: “The signal permit was submitted to PennDOT for review on 10/11/2023.”
Inquiry submitted via email (16 Nov 2023) by Charlie Feuer of Newtown Walk:
From review of my notes and video of the Nov. 8 BOS Meeting, there are several other questions still unanswered from Newtown resident owners from this and several past BOS Meetings.
RVE/Engineers
- What is the total cost of the Newtown-Yardley/Tara Crosswalk RRFB project applied for in the PENDOT ARLE Grant Request?
- What is the total cost of the Sycamore/Silo Crosswalk RRFB project applied for in the PENDOT ARLE Grant Request?
- Were funds for the Newtown LED Traffic Light Conversion Project(1 mil tax increase proposal) included in any PENDOT/ARLE Grant Requests for 2023?
Township
- Are the $250,000 Sycamore/Silo RRFB funds budgeted for 2023 still unspent? Or, what is the remaining balance? If unspent as of 12/31/2023 does it carry over to 2024 budget?
- What portion/% of the 1 Mil 2024 tax increase proposal is represented by the 1) Newtown-Yardley/Tara Crosswalk Project, 2) Sycamore/Silo Crosswalk Project, and Newtown LED Traffic Light conversion aggregate projects cost basis?
- What portion/% of the 1 Mil 2024 tax increase proposal is represented by "New Equipment", that Mr. Fisher mentioned, aggregate cost basis?
- What portion/% of the 1 Mil 2024 tax increase proposal is represented by the salaries for 1 police officer and 4 firemen aggregate cost basis?
For the response from the township and engineer, see the detailed notes below.
Solicitor's Report
Consider enacting plastics ordinance
Version 6a: https://rebrand.ly/PlasticsBan_v6a
BOS voted 4-1 (Kyle Davis voting nay) to approve the enactment of this ordinance.
Starting April 9, 2024, Retail Establishments in Newtown Township are only allowed to provide certain types of paper or reusable bags to customers at checkout and must charge a minimum of $0.10 per paper bag and whatever fee you determine for reusable bags. SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED.
Public Comments
Several residents made comments prior to the vote to approve (listen below). Speakers include: Bradley Cooper, John D'Aprile, Elaine McCarron, and Elen Snyder:
Police Report
November 2023 Police Report, NT + Wrightstown
LINK TO FULL REPORT: https://rebrand.ly/Nov2023_NTPD_Report
Highlights:
- Total Incidents: 1,939 (21,335 YTD v.s. 20,620 in 2022; on track to be a 13% year-over-year increase)
- Decoy car deployments: 25 (342 YTD v.s. 239 in 2022)
- Traffic Citations: 100 (1,936 YTD v.s. 1,761 in 2022)
- Fraud: 12 (142 YTD v.s. 212 in 2022)
- School checks: 41 (1,445 YTD v.s. 1,360 in 2022)
- Foot Patrols: 16 (61 YTD v.s. 113 in 2022)
Old Business
Audio Visual Update
Due to unknown factors, this meeting was not simultaneously broadcast on cable TV nor streamed live via Youtube. At the meeting, I demanded that the township determine from the vendor (Video Gold) why this occurred and report back to the Board.
Follow-up: After the meeting Video Gold claimed that the meeting WAS broadcast on cable TV, but multiple sources disputed this! Heaven help us when Video Gold implements the planned upgrade to the current system, which I am sure they will blame for the failure.
Detailed Meeting Notes
I prepare detailed notes before attending BOS meetings. These notes include links to background information and other details related to the items on the agenda. See the meeting notes for this meeting embedded below or download the PDF file here.
Official Video
Transcript
Download the unedited time-stamped transcript of this meeting prepared by Youtube from the video: download PDF file.
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