Newtown Supervisors Allocate Funding For Fire Company Air Packs

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — The board of supervisors on Wednesday voted to amend its 2023 budget to allocate $75,000 in American Rescue Plan funding to the Newtown Fire Association.

The money will be used by the association to purchase self-contained breathing apparatus (SCUBA) for its firefighters.

Replacing the equipment will cost the fire association more than $250,000, which will be paid for by a $177,000 federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant secured by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, $75,000 from the township and $5,000 from the Newtown Rotary Club.

The air packs, said NFA President Warren Dallas, allow firefighters to enter into burning buildings to save property and to save lives. "Without that we would not be able to do any interior firefighting. It keeps us save and it allows us to do our job - protecting property and saving lives."

The air packs have an expiration date and are required to be replaced every 15 years. The current devices are 14 1/2 years old, said Dallas.

In other action, the supervisors awarded three bids to complete unfinished public improvements at the Villas at Newtown development.

The township is using $135,000 in escrow funds to complete the work, which was left unfinished by McGrath Homes, the developer of the project.

The bids were awarded to Land Tech Enterprises, $74,300 for structural modifications to a drainage basin; Bradywine Directional Drilling, $18,300 for directional drilling; and Land Tech, $19,500 for pavement repair, concrete work, handicap ramp replacement, Belgian block curb replacement and some line striping.

In other business, the supervisors approved the purchase of two police radios at a cost of $14,898through the state's Costars Cooperative Purchasing program.

During his police report, Chief John Hearn reported 15 arrests in the township during the month of March, including two for assault, two for thefts, two for violations of Protection From Abuse Orders, two for warrants, one for narcotics possession and six DUI’s.

The chief also updated the supervisors on several significant incidents in the township during March, including a suicide shooting on March 28 at the Law School Admissions Council on Penn Street. A 26 year old man shot himself in the head, said the chief.

“We also had the EF1 tornado that struck Wrightstown and Newtown on April 1. It did damage at the Village at Newtown and to a few automobiles. Bucks County Community College had some exterior damage and some trees were taken down and we had some power outages.”

At the beginning of the meeting, Chairman Dennis Fisher said he was thankful that the tornado was a weak EF1 and not a stronger EF4 or an EF5 that could have caused major damage in the township and in neighboring Newtown Borough.

Looking ahead, Chief Hearn said the township will again be taking part in Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the administration building. Unused prescription drugs may be dropped off for proper disposal.

And on Sunday, May 21 the police department will host a "Cops, Cars and Coffee" show at Veterans Park on Durham Road from 8 to 11 a.m. Classic cars will be on display at the rain or shine event.