Newtown Township Seeking Parity In Fire Services Agreement

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — A new fire services agreement for 2026 between the borough and the township could be in place by sometime in April.

The borough is expected to act on the agreement at its April meeting. It would then be sent back to the township for final approval ending, for this year, a stalemate over the borough’s share of the fire services bill, which has escalated over the last several years as the township has transitioned from a non-paid volunteer force to a full-time, paid department.

Under the pending agreement, the borough will pay the township $275,000 for full-time fire protection services for the balance of 2026.

The borough has been without an agreement since January when its previous agreement with the township expired.

Looking ahead to 2027 and beyond, township supervisor Melissa Merk said the township and the borough have begun discussions and will be looking for an agreement that brings parity to the issue.

“Those discussions are progressing,” said Merk. “We heard the public and we understand the charge we have is to reach a fair share agreement with the borough. We can report that everyone is on board and that we all want a fair share agreement on the borough’s side and on the township’s side.”

Merk continued, “We agree that it doesn’t matter which side of the line you live on you should pay for fire services just as your neighbors do. We are working on that and it is moving forward. We will be meeting with them again to continue those discussions.”

Supervisor Elen Snyder, who had previously served on the negotiating team, took issue with the ongoing talks saying the issue is no longer one of negotiations but one of simple parity - everyone pays the same.

“The borough will pay not one cent less than what township taxpayers are paying for fire services. There is no longer any discussion to be had,” she said.

“I’m glad you want to get the payment of $275,000,” she told Merk and board chairman Ed Merriman. “But there is no further negotiation. You guys are stepping in and stepping on toes when we’ve already done the work. Now you’re disturbing everything that we had come to consensus about.”

Snyder asked Fire Chief Glenn Forsyth if parity has been the goal of the agreement between the township and the borough.

“That’s been our goal for a long time, but that’s up to you folks to get us there,” said Forsyth. “I’m the guy who goes out to fires. I’m happy to help in any way I can. But that is our goal that everybody pays their fair share.”

Chairman Ed Merriman said everyone agrees “that we need parity. There is some fine tuning to see what that looks like. At some point, people are going to want to see some numbers. That’s where we are right now - just getting the numbers right.”