Mack Nominates #NewtownPA Supervisor Elen Snyder for Prestigious Award

At the January 2, 2024, Newtown Board of Supervisors Re-organization meeting, I announced that on December 19, 2023, I nominated Supervisor Elen Snyder for the 2024 City & State PA Above & Beyond: Women Awards.

Each year CSPA - a multimedia news organization that dedicates its coverage to Pennsylvania’s state and local government, including all things politics and public policy - honors women in Pennsylvania who go above and beyond in their careers to serve their communities. The 2024 Above & Beyond: Women Awards will recognize women who are leading the way in business, politics, government, nonprofits and more!

In my nomination application, I mentioned Ms. Snyder’s leading roll in the passage of a Women’s Reproductive Rights Resolution by the Newtown Township’s Board of Supervisors as well the enactment of a Single-Use Plastics Ban.

I first met Elen Snyder in the spring of 2019, before she first became a Newtown Township Supervisor a few years ago. Ms Snyder – or simply Elen as I prefer to call her – was a leader in the fight to save the open grassy area of Roberts Ridge Park from being a “meadow” of high grasses, which was proposed by the Township Planner as part of the plan to reduce sediment flowing into the Neshaminy Creek.

Residents, including Elen, were concerned that if this plan went forward, they would not be able to use the park. As she said in an email to the Township Engineer: “while I appreciate your efforts. I … think our park and residents will be best served [by] keeping the beautiful park as it is. Also,” continued Elen, “did you realize that the school here uses this field to train their running team …? Besides the drone and kite flyers, is the many teams that compete here, dog owners and walkers, and the parents that watch with joy as their kids get a chance to run around in an open space.”

Not only did Elen write a letter, she acted! At the September 11, 2019, Newtown Township Board of Supervisors meeting, Elen, who is a resident of the Windermere development on Lower Dolington Road, and Joyce Ely, President of the Neshaminy Creek Watershed Association, presented a proposal to enhance the use, appeal and ecological health of Roberts Ridge Park and its watershed through native tree planting projects (see photo). She organized the “Friends of Roberts Ridge Park,” a group that solicited funds from residents, planted the trees and maintained them for several years. Elen continues to monitor the condition of the trees every day when she walks Nikki, her dog in the park.

As a result, the sediment reduction plan was changed in a way that preserved the grassy open space while relocating the meadow areas. And many new trees were planted, such as the one my wife and I sponsored.

Since becoming a Supervisor, Elen has continued to fight for the health and well-being of Newtown residents in many ways by working closely with the Environmental Advisory Council on projects such as:

• Banning certain single-use plastics while assuring that vulnerable businesses are not adversely impacted (as mentioned above)
• Advocating for solar energy, such as powering our municipal buildings and switching to LED streetlights
• Working with the Joint Zoning Council to pass an ordinance supporting the use of electric car charging stations

Not only has Elen been a champion for our parks and local environment, she has also worked diligently to make sure Newtown has adequate fire coverage. She worked with a fellow supervisor on the vital Fire Services Agreement with Newtown Borough, which passed after months of negotiation. The agreement assures the township of money for our firefighting services and ensures that the Newtown Township and Newtown Borough Fire Services will work together seamlessly.

Elen also supports the funding necessary to provide additional fire safety protection to the community by hiring four new full-time, paid firefighters to cover the daytime shift on weekends.

I hope you agree that Elen is a unique asset as a Newtown Supervisor and that you will nominate her for this award. The NOMINATION DEADLINE is January 12, 2024.