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Township Office will be closed Thursday, May 16 thru
Wednesday, May 22, 2013.
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VOTING POLL CHANGE
This municipal primary election
will now take place at the Municipal Building - 1528 Newton Ransom Blvd. It will
no longer be at the Recreation Center - 1814 Newton Ransom Blvd.
Final Updated Version of Curative Amendment
Click here to download
the final updated version of the curative amendment (Microsoft Office format). Click here
to download the PDF version. |

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PUC Determination - Docket No. M-2012-2303815
The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PUC) recently issued an opinion letter (posted here)
addressing whether a draft piece of legislation prepared by the Township--specifically, an Amendment to the Township's
Zoning Ordinance regulating gas and oil drilling activities within the Township--is legally compliant with state law (Act 13).
The Amendment was drafted over the course of many months, with the collective effort of the our planning commission, an appointed
gas and oil committee, and a consultant, and also input from residents. The Township submitted the draft Amendment to the
PUC for compliance review prior to any formal action to enact the legislation, as permitted by Act 13, considering the
possible legal ramifications of such complex legislation and the ever-changing legal landscape of gas and oil law.
The PUC's opinion letter demonstrates that the Township's draft Amendment is in very good shape overall, and that the
several issues of compliance noted are very easily addressed and correctable by some language revisions. However, as
many of you know, the legality of Act 13 (and thus the state of the law with respect to gas and oil regulation) is still
under consideration by our state courts. The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania recently upheld certain provisions of
Act 13 but declared others invalid, leaving the extent to which local municipalities can regulate gas and oil drilling
uncertain. Pennsylvania's Supreme Court is now reviewing the Commonwealth Court's decision on appeal. Because the
Supreme's Court's decision could greatly impact the state of the law, at least for now the Township is monitoring the
situation and holding off on taking any further formal action until the Supreme Court rules on the pending appeal.
The Township will be ready to act and intends to proceed with finalizing and enacting appropriate legislation once the
primary legal issues are more settled.
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Newton Township Planning Commission will hold their meeting on Wednesday, May
29, 2013 at 7:30PM directly followed with a Gas Committee meeting.
Newton Township Board of Supervisors have rescheduled their Work Sessions for
June, July and August.
Newton Township Board of Supervisors will hold their Work Session at 6:30PM on
Monday, June 10, 2013 with the General Meeting at 7:30PM.
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