Feeding frenzy of sales of public water/sewer systems
A change in Pennsylvania law seven years ago has accelerated the rate of public water and sewer system sales to private companies. The sales have left several municipalities flush with cash and customers with higher bills. The law, Act 12 of 2016, was sold as a way to put small, financially struggling water and sewer systems in the hands of private companies that could afford to fix them and prevent environmental violations. But some public water advocates say private companies have targeted stable, functioning systems and offered them sky-high prices as a way to boost shareholder returns. The state Public Utility Commission (PUC) has oversight over the rates that private companies charge and has the authority to approve or reject the sale of public water and sewer systems to private companies. Since 2016, all 22 sales of public water or sewer systems that have come before the commission have been approved. One former PUC vice chairman, Andrew Place, said the commission is too deferential to private utility companies and does not do enough to protect ratepayers. Read more here.
Source: Daily Local; 5/14/2023

Herb receives NAR Distinguished Service Award
Greg Herb, a past Suburban Realtors Alliance board member, was named a 2023 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award by the National Association of Realtors. The award, which is “the ultimate recognition for the dedicated Realtor whose exceptional service has set themselves apart as a leader,” is given to only two Realtors each year. Herb has been in the real estate industry since 1979 and has been very involved on the local, state and national levels, in addition to being an active member of his local community, Gilbertsville. Herb is a member of Tri-County Suburban Realtors and holds multiple designations, including ABR, AHWD, CRB, CRS, GREEN and GRI. Read more here.
Source: PAR JustListed; 5/12/2023

Where to find election results
Full statewide election results can be found at the Pennsylvania Department of State website. For local election results, visit county websites:

• Bucks County Board of Elections
• Chester County Voter Services
• Delaware County Elections
• Montgomery County Voter Services

Some of the county sites may only provide results by precinct or ward, and not cumulative totals for a race.

Upper Bucks homes with contaminated wells to get public water
A $3.7 million Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act grant will allow the Perkasie Regional Authority to extend public water service to about 53 homes in East and West Rockhill townships. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey helped secure the grant, saying, "The public has the right to pure air and clean water.” The project will extend public water service to homes currently using private wells that are contaminated by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, chemicals known as PFAS that are commonly used in firefighting foam and consumer product coatings. Casey's office said the grant is in addition to $266 million that he and Sen. John Fetterman announced in April to fund clean-water projects throughout the state, including PFAS and lead removal. See the press release here.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 5/17/2023

Scaled down subdivision discussed in Buckingham
A new subdivision proposal for the 79-acre “McKee Development” tract in Buckingham Township is making headway. Originally proposed as a 293-unit mobile home park in the 1990s, the new proposal has been in process since 2020 and includes a combination of 41 single-family, twin-home and townhouse units. The tract is derived from two parcels, and it includes three deed-protected farming areas totaling 20.3 acres, four open space areas totaling 44.4 acres, and three locations for the protection of “mature” trees. The 41 units would be clustered along the Durham Road side, among three “green” common areas. The latest revisions to the plan, discussed at the April 18 meeting featured trails and buffers. Preliminary approval for the revised subdivision plan had to be postponed. Watch upcoming agendas for more information.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 5/11/2023

Bristol Borough trash fees will nearly double next year
Bristol Borough Council recently signed an $18 million trash collection agreement with J.P. Mascaro & Sons — the only company to submit a bid for the work and the company currently contracted by the borough for trash service. The new contract starts Jan. 1, 2024, and will continue twice-a-week curbside trash collection and once-per-week curbside recyclables collection. The new contract comes with a significant fee increase. According to the Bristol Borough Code, the borough charges $395 per year for each residence, residential unit and place of business for trash removal. With an 85% increase, that $395 will become $730 in January. Borough officials have said the rate for the new year is just an estimate for now; the actual rate increase will not be finalized until November.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 5/12/2023

Newtown backs move to allow suburbs to capture part of Philadelphia city wage tax
Newtown Township supervisors voted unanimously to authorize a resolution supporting an amendment to the Sterling Tax Act in hopes of bringing back hundreds of thousands of dollars being lost to the Philadelphia city wage tax. The measure, championed by state Sen. Frank Farry (R-160), of Bucks County, recently passed the state Senate and is on its way to the state House. While workers themselves will not be paying lower overall taxes, 1% of the 3.44% Philadelphia city wage tax would be redirected to each worker's home municipality. The amendment would allow up to 1% of the income earned by a person who lives outside of Philadelphia but works in the city to be paid to their home municipality. Newtown Township Manager Micah Lewis said the township could see revenue of more than $360,000 that previously went to Philadelphia if the measure passes.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 5/14/2023

New Garden introduces proposed rental inspection program
New Garden Township Manager Christopher Himes unveiled a new initiative at the May 15 supervisors meeting that, if adopted, would create a rental inspection program in the township intended to enhance “the quality of life and living conditions within New Garden Township for residents engaged in a landlord-tenant lease.” The proposal calls for the implementation of a program that utilizes the standards and protocol set by the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), as published by the International Code Council. If adopted, the program would enforce rental inspection regulations, create mandatory rental property registration and inspection timeframes, and enforce penalties for any violations found. Under the plan, the township would appoint code officials and code officers to inspect rental properties for safety, report any violations of adopted codes, and initiate remedial action or prosecution of offenders. Himes said that the contents of the inspection program would be provided in Spanish also, and that, in addition to all rental units in the township, it would also be applied to agricultural housing units. Himes said that similar rental inspection programs and ordinances are already in place in several other neighboring municipalities, including Kennett Square Borough, Avondale Borough, West Grove Borough, Kennett Township, London Grove Township, Penn Township and Franklin Township. The supervisors overwhelmingly agreed to Himes’ initial proposal, which paves the way for a public hearing in June to officially adopt the rental inspection program. If adopted, the township would establish a mandatory filing deadline for the registration of all rental units, share the contents of the program with all landlords who own and maintain rental units in the township, utilize current and new staff to carry out the program, and hire code enforcement officers to perform inspections.
Source: Chester County Press; 5/16/2023

Large-scale development gets final approval by Phoenixville council
Phoenixville Borough Council unanimously approved a final plan for the Odessa housing development off Township Line Road, near the Schuylkill River Trail. The Odessa development calls for a three- to four-story apartment building with 224 units and a 351-space parking garage, and commercial space on the first floor. The development will also have 166 stacked townhomes, 20 surface lot spaces and 70 street spaces. The final plan contained a revision from the original plan. The developer, Franklin Phoenixville LP, agreed to eliminate the construction of a connection road between Ashburn Road and the Fillmore Village development that Filmore residents opposed.
Source: Phoenixville Patch; 5/13/2023

Crebilly farm owners put aside court dispute over upcoming sale
A legal dispute pitted the two owners of Crebilly Farm in Westtown — James “Rob” Robinson and his brother David Robinson — against one another over David’s alleged plan to make distributions of the proceeds from the sale of the property without Rob’s permission. The bulk of the roughly 300-acre historic farm is set to be sold to Westtown Township and Natural Lands to be preserved as public open space, with 24 acres going to an unnamed third party. There was some concern among local residents that if an injunction were granted, the closings on the farm set for this month would be jeopardized — delayed or stopped entirely. The two sides agreed to put the litigation on a “standstill” that would allow the settlements between the Crebilly Farm Family Association and the buyers to go through as planned. Assets that are gained upon the sale of the farm would be placed in a partnership account, with only signatures from both sides allowing the dispersal of funds. If no agreement can be reached, the parties will reappear before the judge.
Source: Daily Local; 5/12/2023

Stormwater study for Toughkenamon
Jill Cutler, a project manager with the Cedarville Engineering Group, presented the company’s recent assessment of stormwater concerns in the Village of Toughkenamon to the New Garden Township Board of Supervisors. Using Main Street, Willow Street, Center Street and Union Street as its focus area, the company conducted an engineering analysis to address strategies to: replace aging storm sewers; help mitigate flooding; assess existing conditions; and conduct a topographical analysis of drainage areas. Cutler said that much of the “downtown” portion of Toughkenamon is hampered by aging and absent stormwater systems that no longer adequately contain storm flows and result in frequent flooding. She provided the board with five stormwater design options that range from $790,350 for a two-year option to a 25-year option that is estimated at $4.09 million. Each proposal calls for the removal of existing failing pipes and structures, the installation of new storm drains and structures, pavement restoration and traffic control, and also includes the cost of engineering and design, permitting fees and on-site contractors. Undergoing a redevelopment of Toughkenamon’s stormwater infrastructure, Cutler said, would maintain current property values, minimize flooding and complement the township’s 2018 comprehensive plan, which includes a goal to reenergize the village through an influx of new businesses and a streetscape design that will draw visitors and residents and provide a diverse range of housing projects. Cutler listed several federal, state and county grant options that the township could pursue to help fund the project.
Source: Chester County Press; 5/16/2023