EPA proposes removal of lead pipes from U.S. water systems within 10 years
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a rule that would require water systems across the country to replace millions of lead service lines within 10 years. The rule would accelerate progress toward the Biden administration’s goal of removing 100% of lead pipes; lead exposure is linked to significant health and developmental problems, especially for children. The Safe Drinking Water Act authorizes EPA to establish regulations for public water systems, and the Lead and Copper Rule was established in 1991 to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. It was revised in 2021, generally with more detailed and stringent requirements. The new proposed rule would further strengthen the ways the rule targets lead in drinking water by improving how water systems are tested for lead levels and lowering the lead action level, the threshold that requires additional compliance activities. Water systems would also have to show consistent progress toward replacing lead pipes, with a minimum of 10% of lead pipes replaced each year. The EPA can enforce regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act with civil penalties or fines. New lead pipes have been banned in the US since the 1980s, but there are still 9.2 million lead service lines in America. Compliance with the proposed rule is estimated to cost billions of dollars, but a cost-benefit analysis presented with the proposal suggests that the benefits would be four to 10 times greater. And the benefits are largely centered around public health prevention, such as protecting against IQ loss among children, preventable death and disease, and more. Read the Biden Harris Administration announcement here. According to the EPA, Pennsylvania ranks fourth for underground lead pipes.
Source: CNN; 11/30/2023

Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force established in PA
Gov. Josh Shapiro was in Lower Bucks County on Monday to hold a ceremonial bill signing for House Bill 735, now Act 22, which establishes a Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force. The task force’s mission will be to develop policies to increase access and affordability to flood insurance. The task force will examine and recommend potential programs that provide premium discounts, incentivize local governments to support flood mitigation efforts, push for any necessary changes to state policies regarding the administration of flood insurance, and increase the number of homeowners who purchase flood insurance, either through the national flood insurance program or the private flood insurance marketplace.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times & LevittownNow.com; 12/4/2023

NAR to hold real estate forecast summit
The National Association of Realtors will hold a virtual economic and real estate summit to provide a year-end review of 2023 and an outlook on the real estate market and the economy in 2024. The event will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 12, from 1 to 2 p.m. Learn more and register here.

Developer requests variances for 60 townhomes in Langhorne
Toll Brothers has presented a proposal to Langhorne Borough to build 60 townhomes at the Woods Services’ property along Bellevue Avenue, Flowers Avenue and Pine Street (Route 413.) The developer came before the borough’s zoning hearing board to request zoning variances that include townhome development, lawn grading, fence placement, deck and patio construction, lot size, and exceeding the permissible impervious surface area. At a recent, well-attended hearing that was continued from Aug. 30, representatives for Toll Brothers outlined plans for the multi-parcel site, including retaining existing homes and the addition of a public walking trail, flagpole, residential mail kiosk and decorative features. Residents in attendance expressed concern over the scale of the project, the potential increase in traffic, and stormwater management. Nathan D. Fox, attorney for Toll Brothers, said that under existing zoning, the site could accommodate multiple houses or a retirement community linked to Flowers Avenue, saying that the current plan “better aligns with the borough’s character.” The building plans can be viewed at Langhorne Borough Hall at 114 E. Maple Ave. The meeting is scheduled to resume in December.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 11/29/2023; & LevittownNow.com; 12/1/2023

Central Bucks sees $1.75M attorney bill over anti-LGBTQ complaints
The Duane Morris law firm has billed the Central Bucks School District $1.75 million since it was hired in November 2022 to address complaints about the district’s treatment of LGBTQ students, according to a report confirmed by a school board member. The bill total was first reported by the Bucks County Courier Times. The district has insurance, but that has only covered about $250,000 of the expense. The district opted to use the Duane Morris firm, but because the firm was not on the insurer’s approved counsel list the approved reimbursement was a little more than $200 an hour — the same rate as the approved panel counsel. Three of the Duane Morris partner attorneys who worked on the cases between November 2022 and March 2023 charged between $640 and $940 an hour, according to financial documents. The bills from Duane Morris have come as newly elected Democrats prepare to take the majority on the school board. Read more here.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer & Bucks County Courier Times; 12/1/2023

Improvements to Doylestown’s Community Park to begin soon
A groundbreaking is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 3 p.m. for improvements to Central Park in Doylestown Township. The project has been years in the making. The plan calls for construction of a community recreation center, the installation of new outdoor sports courts, and the addition of a comfort station, including bathrooms. The township expects the improvements to cost about $12.9 million and take about 14 months to complete. The township has secured $1.7 million in grants from the state, has raised $300,000 through its fundraising campaign, allocated $400,000 in transfers, and generated $720,000 from the sale of a cell tower, officials said. Officials also anticipate a tax increase of 2.3 mills in 2024 to cover the debt service associated with the project, said Township Manager Stephanie Mason. She said the township will continue to look for grant opportunities that can further support the project.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 12/5/2023

Taxes steady in Upper Makefield
Upper Makefield Township supervisors unanimously adopted the $9.1 million general fund budget for 2024 that maintains the current tax rate of 6.45 mills. A mill is equal to $1 of every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value, so a residential property assessed at $70,000 will pay about $451 in township real estate taxes in 2024. Upper Makefield also collects an earned income tax that will generate $4.75 million in revenue and the real estate transfer tax is expected to produce $700,000 in revenue.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 11/30/2023 

DCNR’s plans for Big Elk Creek State Park draw opposition
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has laid out its plans for the new Big Elk Creek State Park, and some neighbors and stakeholders aren’t happy. Located along the Maryland border, the 1,700-acre Big Elk Creek property in Elk and Franklin townships contains 800 acres of farmland, 600 acres of woodland, 100 acres of native grass meadows and nearly 200 acres of flood plains. It was established in September 2022, as part of a $45 million, 30-year investment by the state that also included the Susquehanna Riverlands in York County and Vosburg Neck in Wyoming County as additions to the commonwealth’s 124-park system. DCNR introduced its initial development and restoration ideas for Big Elk Creek State Park in November, including low-impact site design, the construction of environmentally responsible buildings and protection of the environment. The plans also incorporate family campgrounds that will offer 30-foot by 30-foot cabins and standard, full-service and walk-in campsites, and parking spaces for RVs. DCNR called the plan “Great Gathering Sites.” In recent weeks, opposition has continued to ratchet up in volume throughout Elk and Franklin townships, with residents pushing back against campsites and criticizing a lack of communication from the state. Read more here.
Source: Chester County Press; 11/29/2023

$6.5M community center opens in East Whiteland
About 50 Malvern-area residents and state officials on Nov. 29 celebrated the opening of the Great Valley Community Organization’s community center at 5 N. Bacton Hill Road in East Whiteland Township. “This center has been a dream of ours for the last 15 years and today we open the doors to a bright future ahead,” said Tom Curran, founder of the nonprofit, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The 16,000-square-foot, $6.5 million center offers sports, community rooms, and more for residents in the Malvern area and beyond. Funding for the project includes a $1.3 million state grant and $3 million from businesses and other donations. The center has programs for children with special needs and the Chester County Seeing Eye Puppy Club. "I am proud to join our partners in securing funding for this community center, a place where generations of Great Valley area families and children can learn, grow and create lifelong memories,” said state Sen. Carolyn Comitta, a Chester County Democrat.
Source: Malvern Patch; 11/30/2023

Tredyffrin and Easttown unite to fund new Berwyn Fire Station
Tredyffrin supervisors approved an inter-municipality agreement between Tredyffrin and Easttown townships that will see the construction of a new fire station, which will combine fire and EMS services. “This is the culmination of two years of work to fund and move forward with Easttown to ensure our residents are delivered the highest quality of emergency services,” William F. Martin, Tredyffrin’s township manager, said. Easttown supervisors approved the agreement on Nov. 20. The agreement is meant to help deal with local fire companies and emergency medical responders being stretched too thin by a combination of increased call volume and declining numbers of volunteers. The new fire station at 23 Bridge St., is estimated to cost $9 million, with Easttown contributing $2.1 million, Tredyffrin contributing $4.9 million and the fire department getting a $2 million state grant. When complete, the station will be owned by the townships and leased to the fire company.
Source: Tredyffrin-Easttown Patch; 12/5/2023

PA Supreme Court won’t hear Tower Health’s appeal of Phoenixville Hospital’s property tax case
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued an order Tuesday denying Tower Health’s bid to appeal its loss of a property tax exemption for Phoenixville Hospital. Phoenixville Area School District said the decision will allow it to keep nearly $5 million in property taxes paid by Tower since the company acquired the hospital in 2017. “This ruling is a victory for the district as well as the greater Phoenixville community, but most importantly for our students,” the district said in a statement. The Supreme Court action effectively upheld the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court’s decision in February that three Tower hospitals in Chester County were not eligible for property tax exemptions, even though Tower is a nonprofit corporation. Two of the Chester County hospitals — Brandywine and Jennersville — had already been closed when Commonwealth Court ruled. Phoenixville is still in operation, dealing with the consequences of the initial October 2021 decision by Chester County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey R. Sommer. Sommer found that the three Chester County hospitals did not qualify for property-tax exemption for three main reasons: They did not provide enough free services; the hospitals’ businesses were too intertwined with the interests of doctors working at for-profit practices; and they did not operate free of private profit motives given their executive compensation packages. The court cases send a signal that nonprofit health systems should not expect taxpayers to subsidize exorbitant executive salaries, a lawyer representing Phoenixville Area School District said.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 12/6/2023

No police or staff cuts in Oxford Borough’s 2024 budget
Budget discussions are still ongoing, but Oxford Borough Manager Pauline Garcia-Allen told the public at a recent finance committee meeting that there are “no police or staff cuts for our 2024 budget.” Garcia-Allen emphasized that the borough is currently looking at a roughly $252,000 deficit. At this point, the council is looking at a 1.5% increase in municipal taxes. The proposed tax hike would result in an annual increase of about $225 for a home with an assessed value of $150,000. The borough is looking at increased costs for health care, unfunded mandates, equipment costs and more. The borough is currently in arbitration with the police department’s collective bargaining unit.
Source: Chester County Press; 11/29/2023