New maps will help determine where PA will spend up to $1B for broadband expansion
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is scheduled to unveil new broadband maps in November. The most recent data from the FCC say that 4% of Pennsylvanians can’t get internet access at broadband speeds — currently defined by the federal government as download speeds of at least 25 megabits per second and upload speeds of at least 3 megabits per second. That number rises to 13% in rural areas. However, BroadbandNow, a website that lets users compare internet plans, estimates the number of Pennsylvanians without broadband at more than twice the FCC’s number. The updated maps will dictate how much money Pennsylvania will receive from the federal government through a major new grant program, as well as which areas within the state will get priority for the funding. Local governments will be able to challenge the new maps if a provider reports to the FCC that broadband speeds are available at a particular location but residents disagree. Read more from SpotlightPA.
Source: Spotlight PA; 9/8/2022

NFIP set to expire Sept. 30, but renewal likely
The National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP’s) authority to provide flood insurance is set to expire at midnight on Friday, Sept. 30. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is making every effort to secure a long-term reauthorization of the program. NAR has compiled answers to frequently asked questions about what the situation means for upcoming closings and several proactive steps clients can take in the meantime. Congress is expected to attach a longer NFIP extension to a broader fiscal-year spending package being negotiated over the next several weeks. NAR is urging the longest extension possible while Congress continues working toward a five-year NFIP reauthorization and reform measure. Visit NAR’s NFIP page for more information.
Source: Nar.realtor; 9/7/2022

Elder Index shows many seniors can’t afford basic necessities
More than half of older women living alone — 54% — are in a precarious financial situation: either poor according to federal poverty standards or with incomes too low to pay for essential expenses. For single men, the share is lower, at 45%. The statistics come from the Elder Index, developed by researchers at the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston. A new coalition, the Equity in Aging Collaborative, is planning to use the index to influence policies that affect older adults, such as property tax relief and expanded eligibility for programs that assist with medical expenses. Twenty-five prominent aging organizations are members of the collaborative. The goal is to fuel a robust dialogue about “the true cost of aging in America,” which remains unappreciated, said Ramsey Alwin, president and chief executive of the National Council on Aging, an organizer of the coalition. Nationally, and for every state and county in the country, the Elder Index uses various public databases to calculate the cost of health care, housing, food, transportation and miscellaneous expenses for seniors. It represents a bare-bones budget, adjusted for whether older adults live alone or as part of a couple, whether they’re in poor, good or excellent health, and whether they rent or own homes, with or without a mortgage.
Source: Main Line Times; 9/11/2022

Aqua calls off Bucks County sewer system sale
Christopher Franklin, CEO of Essential Utilities, the parent company of Aqua Pennsylvania, said the sale of the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority's (BCWSA’s) sewer system is now off. Franklin was "surprised and disappointed" by Bucks County commissioners' unanimous decision to disapprove of the potential $1.1 billion sale. The commissioners opposed the sale after hearing comments and receiving letters against the proposal. After the commissioners’ action, John Cordisco, chair of the BCWSA board, said the deal with Aqua would be axed. The board has yet to meet and vote. The vote to rescind negotiations with Aqua most likely won't take place until the BCWSA's next board meeting on Sept. 28. Commissioners Chair Bob Harvie said although Bucks County will lose out on $700 million or more when the BCWSA forfeits the sale, the needs of the communities served by the authority needed to be taken into consideration, namely the impact of sharply increasing rates. Despite his opposition to the sale, Harvie said water and sewer infrastructure is a major concern and the BCWSA will still have to deal with the issues of aging, leaking pipes.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 9/7/2022

Voters will decide size of Yardley Borough Council in November
A referendum question to decrease the size of Yardley Borough Council from seven to five members has been certified by the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas. The question will appear on the Nov. 8 general election ballot for borough residents.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 9/9/2022

Doylestown Borough PFAS treatment will come at a cost
PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals” that have been polluting groundwater and waterways around the country for decades, can be found in Doylestown Borough’s five wells. A study to consider treatment options for the borough’s drinking water is expected this fall. Borough Manager John Davis said the borough will meet state guidelines of 0.14 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and 0.18 ppt for PFOS, but the borough’s efforts and planning are based on getting to zero. “It’s not any cheaper to treat to 0.14 than it is to zero,” Davis said. It’s a good thing the borough was planning for zero, because the U.S Environmental Protection Agency’s recent interim health advisory dropped those levels to 0.004 ppt for PFOA and 0.02 ppt for PFOS. Furthermore, the agency has indicated it intends to drop the maximum contaminant level to zero. The expense to the small borough of about 8,500 residents will be extraordinary. The cost for a new water treatment system could be as high as $10 million, and the borough’s water budget is just over $1 million. A detailed informational page on the PFAS matter will be added to Doylestown’s website in coming weeks.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 9/8/2022

Doylestown Hospital to close dedicated pediatric unit
Doylestown Health announced it will close the Carol and Louis Della Penna Pediatric Center effective Sept. 30, citing an overall decrease in demand for the service. The center was a six-bed pediatric unit at Doylestown Hospital. The hospital will continue to treat children, including pediatric diagnostic testing and pediatric outpatient surgery, but without a dedicated space for pediatric patients. Pediatric care through the Doylestown Hospital and its urgent care center on Swamp Road will also continue.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 9/2/2022

Falls Township to look into ‘less expensive’ renovation of municipal building
Five years ago, Falls Township officials rejected a plan to build a new municipal complex because it was too expensive. Now, the township has hired IEI Architects Inc. of Philadelphia to present a plan for renovation of the existing building. Theresa Katalinas, communications director for Falls Township, said the project price tag is not yet known but is anticipated to be “much less expensive” than the original idea. Updates include improvements to several offices, including administration, code enforcement and fire marshal, finance, parks and recreation, police, clerks, tax collector, and public works, as well as a transition from a public meeting room to a community room that could be used by residents and local groups. Construction documents are expected by Oct. 1, with the possibility of going out to bid in January 2023.
Source: The Reporter; 8/28/2022

Hundreds protest Willistown sale of sewer plant to Aqua
About 300 Willistown residents attended a township meeting to oppose the township’s plan to sell its sewer plant to Aqua Pennsylvania for $17.5 million. During the three-hour meeting, residents expressed concerns that the sewage rates will rise dramatically with the sale of the plant. The current average sewer bill of a Willistown resident is about $63 per month. “Many of us are working people with mortgages and we are worried about paying our mortgages,” said resident Caroline Bradley. The sale has not yet been finalized, as the case is tied up in court.
Source: Malvern Patch; 9/13/2022

Affordable housing coming to Kennett Square
Red Clay Manor, a 60-unit affordable housing community, is planned in the heart of Kennett Square Borough. The homes are designated for people ages 62 and older. Red Clay Manor will provide housing to four households earning 20% of the area median income, 28 households earning 50% of the area median income, 18 households earning 60% of the area median income, and 10 households that are financially able to pay market rate rents. Support for the $15.9 million project was provided by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, which contributed Low Income Housing Tax Credits and a permanent loan for the project. Support also came from the Chester County commissioners, who awarded it more than $1 million in funding. In addition, support came from the Housing Authority of Chester County, which awarded the project eight Project-Based Vouchers, and Citizens Bank, which provided a construction loan for the project. Red Clay Manor will partner with Bayada for on-site health screenings, informational events, and in-home physical and occupational therapy services.
Source: Daily Local; 9/12/2022

Penn Township plans comprehensive plan survey and public meeting
Penn Township is in the process of updating its comprehensive plan. The plan looks to build on the success of the 2012 plan that encouraged compatible land uses, protection of natural resources, development of recreation areas, preservation of historic sites, and further initiatives for transportation improvement, pedestrian and biking connections. Residents, property owners and business owners in the township are encouraged to complete an online survey about the plan. Penn Township will hold a community visioning session and open house on Wednesday, Sept. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the municipal building.
Source: Penn Township Fall 2022 Newsletter

Chester County History Center encompasses three centuries
The archives at the Chester County History Center in West Chester contain 88,000 artifacts, 100,000 photographs — many of which are available online — and 900,000 documents and manuscripts from the past 300 years. Records are filed by family name, by township or at the countywide level. Most records stretch from the 1800s to the 1950s, and news clippings are added monthly. There is information on county roads, organizations, buildings, Civil War battles, railroads and industries, among other topics. For more information, visit the history center website.
Source: Daily Local; 9/11/2022

Builder eyes assisted living center in West Goshen
The site of the 141-room Quality Inn hotel on Route 202 in West Goshen Township, just south of West Chester Borough, might become an assisted-living facility. Township supervisors, after expressing concerns about safety and traffic at the site, informally agreed to make zoning adjustments that could lead to construction of an assisted living center and a self-storage facility. Four of five supervisors agreed that the township’s C-3 zoning should be amended to allow for an assisted living center under conditional use, though no formal vote was taken. A consensus of the board and builder suggested that the assisted living center and self-storage were the best use from a traffic perspective, compared to its by-right uses, which include retail and office space.
Source: Daily Local; 9/8/2022