Towamencin voters opted to pursue a Government Study Commission on Tuesday, with the potential establishment of a Home Rule Charter on the horizon aimed at overturning the sale of the township’s municipal sewer system.
Unofficial election results show 5,352 residents voted yes to the ballot question seeking to establish a Government Study Commission to 3,466 who voted against the measure. Additionally, all seven candidates from Towamencin Neighbors Opposing Privatization Efforts (NOPE) were selected to lead the Government Study Commission, fending off a late push from Towamencin Residents United Serving Towamencin (TRUST).
Voters were asked to select seven candidates from a field of 14 candidates to spearhead the commission. Based off the unofficial totals, NOPE candidate Tina Gallagher lead all candidates with 4,447 votes, followed by fellow NOPE candidates in Jenn Foster (4,058), Gisela Koch (3,813), Martin Cohen (3,734), Kofi Osei (3,717), Mark Warren (3,585), and Don Lepp (3,521).
On the TRUST side, Montgomery County Republican Committee Vice Chair Nancy Becker led her slate of candidates with 3,341 votes, followed by Connie Brown (3,334), Doug Kile (3,156), Amy Tarlo (3,064), Jeff Baer (2,999), Todd Fisher (2,834), and Mike Main (2,560).
Since none of the TRUST candidates gained more votes than the lowest NOPE candidate, the Government Study Commission will consist of all NOPE members.
Efforts to establish a commission to investigate a potential Home Rule Charter for Towamencin came on the heels of the Towamencin Board of Supervisor’s decision in May to sell their municipal sewer system to NextEra for $115 million. The sale passed 4-1, with Democrat Joyce Snyder being the sole no vote.
Towamencin NOPE contends that establishing a Home Rule Charter in Towamencin would allow the group to pass legislation making the privatization of water/wastewater illegal at the local level, thus terminating the sale agreement through “no-fault language.” However, opponents have contended that using Home Rule Charter to block the asset purchase agreement would allow NextEra to sue the township for breach of contract.
“We’d like to take this opportunity to thank the voters for their overwhelming support during our campaign, as well as at the ballot box yesterday. With 60 percent of the voters selecting “Yes” on the ballot question, we believe our neighbors have sent a clear message that they are unhappy with the vote on the sewer sale and want a study performed.
We are proud of the campaign we ran and are thankful to our community for listening, learning, and asking wonderful questions. Stay engaged – this is democracy at its best!
Now, the real work begins. We will perform this study openly and with public input, as we have always said. We take this opportunity very seriously and are humbled by the trust our neighbors have in us.
With sincere thanks,
The NOPE Team
Kofi Osei, Tina Gallagher, Jenn Foster, Gisela Koch, Marty Cohen, Mark Warren, Don Lepp”
To learn more about the government study commission, Home Rule Charter, and heard from supporters and dissidents, click here. For thorough coverage of the sale of the sewer system from bidding to current status, see our prior coverage below.
See also:
What Towamencin Voters Need to Know About Ballot Question for Government Study Commission
Op-Ed: Stop the Sewer Sale, Vote Yes on Towamencin Government Study
Potential Bucks County Sewer Sale Plan Appears Dead, Residents Celebrate
Two Bucks County Commissioners Come Out Against Potential $1.1 Billion Sale of Sewer System
Bucks County Commissioners Ask Questions on Potential Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority Sale
Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority Exploring Plan to Sell Part of System For $1.1 Billion
Editorial: Why We Decided to Sell Our Sewer System
Despite Vocal Opposition, Towamencin Supervisors Sell Sewer System for $115M in Historic 4-1 Vote
Towamencin Supervisors Vote 4-1 to Advertise Sale of Sewer System for $115M, Final Vote May 25
Letter to the Editor: Vote No on Selling Sewer System
Residents Speak Out After Towamencin Supervisors Signal Intent to Sell Sewer System
Towamencin Supervisor Majority Says They’re in Favor of Selling Sewer System Despite Opposition
North Penn Says Proposed Towamencin Sewer Sale Would Have Minimal Impact on District
To Sell or Not to Sell: Towamencin Board to Decide Sanitary Sewer Fate in May
Towamencin Inches Closer To Possible Sewer Privatization With Feb. 11 Bid Deadline
Editorial: Selling the Sewer System Would Be Bad for Towamencin (and Elsewhere)
