New Manager Unanimously Appointed By Newtown Borough Council

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA —Newtown Borough announced on Wednesday the appointment of a new administrative manager.

Following a months-long search and a unanimous vote by council, Mayor Tara Grunde McLaughlin swore in Kellie Frain as the town's second borough manager.

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Frain replaces Greg Totaro, who retired from the position last spring, two years after being hired as the town's first borough manager

"We have found a wonderful candidate in Kellie Frain. Kellie is a Bucks County native who knows our community well and brings valuable municipal experience to the position," said Council President Emily Heinz, in announcing Frain's appointment.

"She brings experience in public communications, grants and municipal administration along with a Master's degree in public administration," said Heinz. "And just as importantly, Kellie has demonstrated a genuine commitment to listening to residents and keeping the community informed."

Frain comes to the borough from Lower Makefield, where she has worked closely with residents, staff, and the township manager on a wide range of municipal issues as a management analyst/public information officer.

Kellie Frain of Lower Makefield with her parents. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

A Pennsbury graduate and lifelong resident of Lower Makefield, Frain earned her Master's degree in public administration in 2024 from Long Island University.

"I'm excited. I'm honored to be Newtown Borough's manager," said Frain. "Thank you to council for this opportunity. I understand that with this position comes a great deal of responsibility and I do not take that lightly. Thank you to the residents for trusting me and welcoming me into your community. It is a privilege to stand here before you today."

She continued, "I am a local. I grew up a couple miles away in Lower Makefield, and small-town Pennsylvania means a great deal to me. I have a true and vested interest of the success of this borough, and I'm very excited to see how this story unfolds."

Frain's appointment followed a two-month-long search for a new borough manager. Over the summer, the council retained the nonprofit Meyner Center to assist with the search for a new manager. The job was posted publicly in August.

According to the posting, the new manager will be paid between $120,000 and $160,000 to manage the borough's day-to-day operations.