Longtime Treasurer Resigning; Newtown Borough Considering Its Options

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — The Newtown Borough Council is considering its options after longtime borough treasurer Pat Ours announced her plans to resign effective Nov. 1.

On Tuesday, the council took its first step, voting to advertise consideration of an ordinance that would amend the borough ordinance to include the position of borough manager. Council is scheduled to act on the amendment at a meeting in August.

If the council approves the amendment, it would have the option of hiring a borough manager to replace Ours, who has overseen the borough's day-to-day financial operations for more than 20 years.

“We are trying to move as quickly as we can to replace Pat before her resignation," said Councilor Emily Heinz. "This does not necessarily mean we are going to be hiring a borough manager. It just gives us the option if we decide to go that route. But if we don’t adopt this ordinance we wouldn’t have that option.”

For the past few years, Council has investigated the idea of hiring a manager to oversee borough operations. The borough currently employs a full-time secretary and treasurer, but managerial oversight is handled by members of the borough council without compensation.

Meanwhile, Councilor Heinz said work is taking place behind the scenes on the borough’s other options, including hiring a replacement treasurer or outsourcing the job.

As part of that process, Heinz said Council President Tara Grunde-McLaughlan has been meeting with Ours to develop a job description for the position.

During public comment, resident Joe Lovi offered to provide his expertise in finance to assist the borough in deciding its next steps.

“I’m disappointed that a month has gone by and we haven’t discussed replacing the treasurer whether we outsource it or hire a replacement,” said Lovi. “What I disagree with is that no town manager I know wants to cut checks, fill out reports, make reconciliations and journal entries. No town manager, if you tell them they’re going to do Pat’s job, they will not do it.”

The council also heard from former councilor Chuck Machion who expressed concern about adding additional salaries to the town's budget with the potential of a new borough manager and borough treasurer. "On an issue as big as this, it should not be advertised during the summer and voted on when people are not aware," he said.

In other action, the council approved special event permits for the following activities:

• Grand opening of the Mikvah facility, sponsored by Lubavitch of Bucks County, on Sunday, Sept. 10 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on North State Street between Jefferson Street and 223 North State Street.
• 16th Annual Newtown Library Company 5K "Run For Reading" sponsored by the Newtown Library Company on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 9 to 10 a.m.
• Jewish Holiday Street Dancing, sponsored by Lubavitch of Bucks County, on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 8:15 to 9:15 p.m. on North State Street between Washington Avenue and Greene Street.