Summary of the 9 July 2025 BOS Meeting
This is my personal summary of the July 9, 2025, meeting of the #NewtownPA Township Board of Supervisors (BOS). This is not a complete nor an official summary. See 2025 BOS Chronicle for details.
Minor Approval
Newtown Joint Municipal Sewer Authority
Reports of Committees, Boards and Commissions
- John Mack – 3 June 2025 Meet Mack Monday Zoom Meeting
- John Mack – 24 June 2025 NBCJMA Board Meeting
- John Mack – 6 June Newtown Creek Bridge Public Presentation
- John Mack – 8 July 2025 NBCJMA Board Meeting
Consent Agenda
- Payment of “Interim” Bills List and transfers of June 25, 2025. Payment of bills: $202,718.60. Fund transfers in the amount of $1,246.92.
- Payment of Bills List and transfers of July 9, 2025. Payment of bills: $989,558.77. Fund transfers in the amount of $95,522.13.
BOS approved the Consent Agenda 3-1 (Mr. Calabro voted Nay). Refer to the 2025 BOS Chronicle for details.
Manager’s Report
Other Business
Minor Approval
HARB – Consider Certificate of Appropriateness for 255 N. Sycamore Street aka Mélange on Sycamore
The applicant has asked for a second sign on the front and window etchings in four front windows.
- Post hanging panel sign — 57” x 32” wooden panel
- Overhead hanging panel -- 16" x 96" wooden panel
This additional signage would require zoning relief. In addition, the applicant seeks to add etchings of sycamore trees on windows:
The Commission voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve an amended application for exterior painting of the building in Benjamin Moore HC161 Templeton Grey with Benjamin Moore HC 187 Forest Green accent and trim. The BOS voted 4-0 to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness.
Newtown Joint Municipal Sewer Authority
Motion to Make Appointment(s) to the Sewer Authority Board
A motion was made to appoint Dennis Fisher to the NBCJMA (Newtown Sewer Authority) Board. The BOS voted 4-0 after Mr. Mack confirmed that Mr. Fisher opposed the sewer treatment plant and Mr. Calabro mentioned that Mr. Fisher’s term ends December 2026. Mr. Fisher, however, may intend to step down before then. Meanwhile Ms. Snyder said she would not seek to be re-appointed to the Sewer Authority Board after her term ends on December 31, 2025.
Reports of Committees, Boards and Commissions
3 June 2025 Meet Mack Monday Zoom Meeting
Thirty-one people registered to attend the June 23, 2025, Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting. Nine actually attended, including 6 Newtown township and 3 Middletown Township residents. View the video...
Some topics included appointment of Newtown Township representative to Sewer Authority Board, Billboards in Newtown, Pedestrian Safety (crosswalks, etc.), Roadwork, Newtown Twp/Boro Fire Services Agreement, New Fire Station Concept Plans, Scope, & Budget, Newtown Creek Bridge Public Meeting, What's Happening with Steeple View Property, and Holy Family Student Housing Project.
24 June 2025 NBCJMA Board Meeting
At the 24 June 2025 public meeting of the Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipality Authority (aka Newtown Sewer Authority) Advisory Board, several residents in attendance voiced opinions about several issues including making these meetings more accessible to the public. Residents also had questions about the future of the land purchased by the Authority.
At the end of the meeting, the Board discussed a new policy for public comments at meetings as if to say, "We heard you. Now we need to codify/limit(?) how the public can make comments at our meetings." The vote on the resolution, which was not shared with the public, was tabled. Listen to the audio...
26 June 2025 Newtown Creek Bridge Public Presentation
On June 26, 2025, I attended the Newtown Creek Coalition public meeting at which plans for the Newtown Creek Pedestrian Bridge was presented. The following video was made from an audio recording and slides from the meeting...
8 July 2025 NBCJMA Board Meeting
I also attended the July 8, 2025, Authority meeting. At that meeting, two items were discussed/voted on that are of interest to residents: (1) Adoption of Policy for Conduct of Authority Meetings, and (2) Approval of the 2025/2026 Budget. Item (1) actually concerns the intent of the Board to limit public comments. As the Solicitor said the "desire" of the Board is to remove the paragraph in the resolution that says "For ALL (emphasis added) on the agenda, the Board will accept public comment prior to each official action." This may not be acted upon until the August 2025 or September 2025 Authority Board meeting. Regarding the 2025/2026 Budget, of interest is the comments by the Authority Manager Mike Menditto who said there is NO rate increase and there is "no section or category for waste water treatment plant." Listen to the audio...
Manager's Report
LINK: https://rebrand.ly/NTPD_Jun2025rpt
Highlights
- 2,294 Total Incidents (versus 2024 monthly average of 2,475)
- 11 AUTO V. DEER incidents (64 YTD versus 162 in 2024)
- 158 Traffic Citations, 8 DUI arrests, 14 reportable traffic crashes
- 17 Fraud incidents (84 YTD versus 183 total in 2024 and 162 in 2023)
- 2 Retail Theft (25 YTD versus 53 in 2024); e.g., On June 14, 2025, police responded to Ulta Beauty on South Eagle Road around 1:45 pm for the report of a retail theft that occurred the day prior. The total value of loss was $4,150. As I have said before, I suspect the actual “loss” was much less than reported.
- 8 Narcotics Possession (28 YTD versus 49 in 2024)
- 1 Non-Fatal Overdose (5 YTD versus 6 in 2024)
- 148 School Checks (1,532 YTD versus 2,618 total for 2024)
Other Business
2025 DCED Multimodal Transportation Fund Program Grant
The proposed plan for a concrete sidewalk (with curb) from Terry Drive to the end of the Borough sidewalk just past S Elm St was revisited when supervisor Mack moved to apply for a NEW DCED Multimodal Transportation Fund Program Grant.
The motion passed 3-1 with Supervisor Snyder voting against it. Video the video…
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