Neighbors for Open Goverment | John Mack

Our Mission

Bringing Sunlight to Newtown Township Government.

Neighbors for Open Government is a nonpartisan group of Newtown Township residents who believe that local government works best when its decisions are made in the open, with informed public participation.

We focus on practical, concrete improvements—like ensuring that agenda packets, ordinances, development plans, and budget documents are posted online before public meetings so residents can review them and offer informed input.

Our role is not to fight partisan battles. Our role is to make sure everyone, regardless of party or viewpoint, has access to the same information and the same opportunity to be heard.

Our core goals:

Timely online access to meeting materials and documents.
Clear, understandable agendas and explanations of key issues.
Meaningful opportunities for public comment before votes are taken.
Easy access to budgets, contracts, and township policies.
Respectful, fact-based civic dialogue among neighbors.

Guiding Principles

What We Believe

Nonpartisan: We welcome Republicans, Democrats, independents, and everyone in between.
Transparency: Residents should be able to see how and why decisions are made.
Accessibility: Documents, data, and meetings should be easy to find and easy to follow.
Respect: We insist on civil, neighbor-to-neighbor conversation—even when we disagree.
Participation: An informed community is essential to accountable local government.

What We Do

From Principles to Practical Action

Agenda & Document Access

We monitor how and when the Township posts meeting materials for the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, and other boards, and we advocate for complete, easy-to-open packets with all relevant documents.

Explainers for Residents

We prepare plain-language summaries and guides that explain what’s on upcoming agendas, how the process works, and how residents can weigh in.

Open Government Principles for Newtown

We promote a simple, commonsense set of principles that encourage transparency, public access, and respectful engagement across all levels of township government.

Meetings & Dialogues

We host informal gatherings where neighbors can discuss township issues, ask questions, and learn from one another in a constructive, nonpartisan setting.

Get Involved

Become a Neighbor for Open Government

You don’t need to be an expert in law, planning, or budgets. If you care about how Newtown Township makes decisions—and you want those decisions to be made in the open—you’re exactly who we need.

Ways to participate:

Join the email list to receive meeting alerts and issue explainers.
Attend our discussions or informal meet-ups.
Help review agendas and documents as part of a transparency team.
Share information with your neighbors and networks.

To join the list, email: info@neighborsforopengovernment.org with “Join” in the subject line.

Who Can Join?

Membership is open to any Newtown Township resident or business owner who supports our mission and agrees to our nonpartisan, civility-focused approach.

We’re especially interested in including people with a range of political views, backgrounds, and experiences. Open government works best when it reflects the whole community—not just one side of it.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you a political group?

No. We are a nonpartisan civic group. We do not endorse candidates or campaign for any party. Our focus is on how local government operates, not on who residents vote for.

Do you oppose the Township government?

Our goal is not to tear down local government, but to help it work better by increasing trust, transparency, and communication between officials and residents.

What is your main policy priority?

Our starting priority is simple: agenda packets and supporting documents for public meetings should be posted online in advance so residents can read them and offer meaningful comments before votes are taken.

How often do you meet?

We aim to meet at least once a month, with additional sessions around major issues, budgets, or development proposals that warrant closer community attention.