Message from the Mayor ..................................... 3
NBB Civic Association’s “Campaign for Play”
Needs Your Support
.............................................. 3
4th of July Parade
....................................................4
Wreaths Across America
......................................4
“CBSD Fair Votes” Redistricting Plans
.............. 5
Taking Care of Your Lawn –
and your Watershed
...............................................6
New Britain Borough Shade Tree
Commission Celebrates Arbor Day..................6
Backyard Discovery
.................................................7
New Street Signs
.....................................................7
The 2nd Annual New Britain Borough
Car Show- A Success Story
................................ 8
New Britain Civic Association
............................ 8
Bird Town Program
..................................................9
Changes Coming to the Borough’s
Volunteer Committees..........................................9
Is Your Outdoor Lighting a Problem?
...........10
Community Service Opportunity!
.................. 11
2023 Friends of New Britain Parks
....................11
Shade Tree Commission
..................................... 12
2023 Bucks County Household
Hazardous Waste Collection Events
............. 13
Recycling
..............................................................14-15
2023 Collection Calendar
...................................16
New Britain Borough Directory &
Helpful Phone Numbers
..................................... 17
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Borough ofBorough of
A friendly place to live
www.newbritainboro.com
45 Keeley Avenue, New Britain, PA 18901 • 215-348-4586
Spring/Summer
2023 Issue
NEW BRITAIN
Most funeral homes use a third-party contract crematory. Varcoe-Thomas
assures every step of care for your loved one is managed within
our private facility. If you choose cremation, let our family care for your family.
STEPHEN REDDING
Founder
www.happytreeltd.com
“SATISFACTION THAT GROWS!”
FULLY INSURED • REASONABLE RATES
2152577650
126 Reller Road • Green Lane, PA 18054
Tree Service, Landscaping, Plant Health Care
Quality work and integrity in our business dealings
are the hallmarks of Happy Tree.
Professional arborist services
for all large trees including
pruning, shaping, deadwood removal, cabling, bracing, cavity work,
storm damage repair, hazard evaluation, and tree removal.
Complete landscaping services
from design through installation
and maintenance. Design services from our own
in-house Registered Landscape Architect. We grow our own trees
and shrubs to ensure top quality, hardy installations.
Cutting-edge plant health care treatments,
including nutritional
support, feeding, pest control, and treatment of disease.
When You Need To Make A Decision...
Make It Chalfont Collision!
• Full Service Collision and Auto
Body Repair
• We Repair all Makes and Models
• Your Vehicle Returned to You in
Pre-Accident Condition
• State of the Art Equipment
• Experienced Technicians
74 Park Ave. Chalfont, PA 18914 215.822.8810 info@chalfontcollisioncenter.com
C
Melissa A. Ceresi, D.M.D., P.C.
www.drmelissaceresi.com
215.230.7060
960 Town Center Oce Park, New Britain, PA 18901
General Dentistry
Sleep Apnea
Invisalign • Botox • Juvederm
3
It’s Spring of 2023 and while I can’t predict how the weather will be, or how the stock market will act, I
can tell you something that definitely will happen in the future here in New Britain. The organizations and
committees that work tirelessly to help our residents and surrounding communities will struggle without a
new influx of volunteers. From Doylestown and Chalfont Fire and EMS, New Britain Civic Association and
Borough Committees, each and every one of them is desperately in need of help. That is likely the most
important thing I have learned in the first year as Mayor.
The services our Fire and EMS organizations provide are beyond measure and they are volunteers. The
New Britain Civic Association is a private organization with no connection to your local government. They
own and operate the only recreational park in New Britain and activities such as Covered Bridge Day, Duck
Derby, Tree Lighting with Santa, and Covered Bridge Summer Camp are all possible because of a small group
of volunteers. Right now, they are working on the installation of a Special Needs playground area which will cost tens of thousands of
dollars, with little to no funding. Government Committees such as Planning, Finance, Parks & Rec among others are also made up of small
groups of residents and businesspeople. They organize and arrange events such as the New Britain Car Show, the Farmers Market, Pop-Up
Park, and Community Garden. Once again, all through volunteers.
If you are beginning to see a trend here, I hope you will take that understanding a step further and ask someone if you can help. Your
involvement doesn’t have to take you away from family and loved ones, as a matter of fact, bring them along. Get involved with the
Nature Preserve or help out at a Community Workday. If you don’t know who to contact, I am just an email away or you can contact the
Borough Office and ask for a point of contact.
We’re all dealing with a world where most of the news you hear and read about is bad. A world that is quick to judge, quick to act first
and ask questions later. As I said in the beginning, there are things I can’t predict but if more of us can find a little time and the willingness
to help out our fellow residents, New Britain will continue to be a great place to live, work, relax and enjoy all that it has to offer. The
following list of websites would benefit tremendously if you would take that first step and reach out. I predict it will be worth it.
www.Doylestownfireco.org
www.Chalfontfirecompany.com
www.Chalfontems.org
www.Cbems.org
www.Newbritaincivic.com
James Donovan, New Britain Borough Mayor
215-348-4586
jdonovan@newbritainboro.com
Many people are not aware but the New Britain Borough Civic Association, not the borough, owns and operates the Covered Bridge
Park in New Britain Borough. The park is the crown jewel of the borough where our residents can go to enjoy many activities like fireworks
on New Britain Covered Bridge Day, picnics in the pavilion, walk along the trails, fish in the pond or watch the Duck Derby, and send their
kids to one of the most affordable summer camps in Bucks County (registration is now open).
All these fun family and community activities are either paid for or subsidized by the NBB Civic Association. But if you are the parent of
a handicapped child, you know there is one thing that Covered Bridge Park isn’t designed for, and that is your child to play. At one time
the park had a single swing that could accommodate a handicapped child, but due to vandalism, that swing is long gone.
Since developing its Master Park Plan, the Civic Association has been working to fix the situation by purchasing 2 pieces of playground
equipment designed in accordance with ADA specifications. The plan has been in effect for a few years, but the pandemic put a hold on
the job, and as with everything else these days, the cost to purchase and install the equipment has gone up. The current price tag for the
2 pieces of equipment is $53,000. So far, the civic association has raised about $17,000.00 of the money needed.
To make up for the shortfall the Civic Association is selling personalized bricks, which will be used to build a new path and pay for the
new equipment. The new equipment will be delivered, and installed, this September.
If you would like to contribute to the fund to build the new ADA compliant playground at Covered Bridge Park, you can buy a brick
($120.00), or make a charitable donation of any denomination, by going to https://newbritaincivic.com/donate. All contributions are tax
deductible, as the civic association is a 501C3 charity. Please donate or join today!
Message from the Mayor – James Donovan
NBB Civic Association’s “Campaign for Play” Needs Your Support
4
Thank you on behalf of the New Britain Borough Preservation Committee!
In 2022 Wreaths Across America provided more than 2.7 million wreaths that were expected
to be laid by an estimated 2-3 million volunteers at 3,702 sites across the nation and around
the world.
The New Britain Borough Historic Preservation Committee has brought Wreaths Across
America to honor the veterans buried in the historic New Britain Baptist Church cemetery
for the past 11 years and wishes to thank all the individuals that supported our 2022 Wreaths
Across America program. This important event wouldn’t be possible without the dedication
and support of the organizers, ceremony participants and volunteers that came out to place
wreaths on the veteran’s graves.
Jackie D’Agostino, Location Coordinator and Group Leader for organizing the event.
June Bair, New Britain Historic Preservation Committee Chair for fundraising.
Marie Esher Coia for coordinating the ceremony.
David Holewinski for leading our ceremony.
Bruce Burkart, New Britain Borough Historian for making sure that all of the veteran’s graves are identified by an American flag and for
reading the names of the veteran’s during the ceremony.
Color Guard veterans Marine Corp Sergeant George Uhl, and Air Force Master Sergeant Chuck McNevin, veterans from the Chalfont
VFW Post 3258
The veterans who presented the memorial wreaths including Army Specialist Anthony Coia, Coast Guard Seaman John Remmey,
Marine Corp Sergeant George Uhl, Navy Petty Officer Wayne Senft and Air Force Master Sergeant Chuck McNevin
Pastor Jim and the New Britain Baptist church for supporting the event.
Ron Haskell and Dana Ballentine for playing taps at the conclusion of our ceremony.
The teachers and their families from Hatboro-Horsham High School for providing refreshments.
Thank you to everyone that sent in donations and participated in the Dine & Donate event at the New Britain Inn. Because of your
donations, we were able to place a wreath on the graves of our veterans buried in the historic New Britain Baptist Church cemetery. For
more information about Wreaths Across America visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. Donations for 2023 can be made to our location
by searching for New Britain Baptist Church cemetery.
SAVE THE DATE FOR 2023 – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023
Jackie D’Agostino
jdagostino4@verizon.net
The Tri-Municipal 4th of July Parade is scheduled for
Tuesday, July 4 at 9:30AM.
The parade starts at the Town Center in New Britain Borough
and ends at North Branch Park in New Britain Township, 207 Park
Avenue, Chalfont PA 18914.
4th of July Parade
Wreaths Across America
TO THE BUSINESS!
This publication is made available
through the generous advertising
sponsorship of the businesses listed
throughout our newsletter. We wish
to encourage your patronage of these
establishments; they play a substantial
role in the economic vitality of
our community.
5
At its February meeting, New Britain Borough’s Borough Council unanimously approved a
resolution supporting a Bucks County Court petition filed by “CBSD Fair Votes,” which opposes
a redistricting plan by the Central Bucks School Board to realign the nine voting regions of the
School District. The school board’s plan, which CB Fair Votes contends is unconstitutional, would
result in the residents of New Britain Borough not being able to vote in this year’s school board
election. Instead, the school board’s redistricting plan would place New Britain Borough in a
voting region where a school board director isn’t up for election until 2025, effectively denying
the residents of New Britain Borough any vote for school board director for a period of six years.
The alternative redistricting plan proposed by CB Fair Votes would split the School District into three voting regions, with each region
represented by three school board members. Under this plan, now supported by New Britain Borough, our Borough’s residents would be
able to vote for their school board director, as scheduled, this year. The resolution passed by Borough Council expresses the Council’s
belief that the Fair Votes Plan is in the best interest of the Borough’s voters and requests that the Court of Common Pleas in Bucks
County adopt this plan.
The Bucks County Court hearing was originally scheduled for February 9, the day after the February Borough Council meeting. That
hearing was canceled, however, after all eighteen Bucks County judges recused themselves from hearing the case. A judge from outside
Bucks County will now need to hear the case. As of this writing in late February, no hearing on the redistricting plan has been scheduled.
As a result, any changes to the School District’s voting regions won’t take place until 2025, as there is no longer time to make any changes
for this year. The hearing will be rescheduled, and our Council Resolution will be introduced in court as an exhibit, putting New Britain
Borough’s opposition to the disfranchisement of its residents on the record.
Tom Price, Council Vice-President
A TrAdiTion of LegAL exceLLence
W
ith law oces in Blue Bell (Montgomery County), Doylestown (Bucks
County), and Bethlehem (Lehigh County), our experienced attorneys
provide high quality legal services throughout Pennsylvania and New
Jersey in areas including:
n Banking
n Bankruptcy
n Business and Corporate Law
n Construction Law
n Education and School Law
n Employment and Discrimination
n Family Law
n Land Use and Zoning
n Litigation
n Municipal Law
n Real Estate
n Tax Assessment Appeals
n Taxation
n Wills Trusts and Estates
To learn more about our rm, our work and our attorneys, please
visit our website.
Michael E. Peters, Esq.
(215) 345-7000 n mpeters@eastburngray.com
www.eastburngray.com
Borough Council Supports “CBSD Fair Votes”
Redistricting Plan on Behalf of Borough’s Residents
6
We each have our own lawn care style --- some are protective
(mow, mow, mow!), while others take a more laid-back approach.
No matter your style, there are ways to reduce the environmental
impact of your lawn care practices. Overwatering is not only bad
for your lawn, it’s a strain on water supplies and often ends up as
wasted, excess runoff to the Borough’s storm sewer system and
streams.
Watering Your Lawn
Light, frequent watering supports healthy grass and resists
disease and pests. The best schedule for watering is 15 - 20 minutes
per day between noon and 4:00 p.m. when the grass is under the
most stress. If daily afternoon watering is not practical for you, try
an every-other-day schedule of 30 - 40 minutes. For best results,
combine light, frequent watering with grass mulching and slow-
release fertilizer applications.
Grass Mulching Tips
Mow High!
Set the mower blade at the highest setting, leaving grass blades 3
inches tall. If you cut your grass at 2 inches or less, the grass will draw
energy from its root reserves to grow, instead of drawing energy
from the sun. Tall grass encourages deep roots, which require
less water, and also shades out crabgrass and low-growing weeds.
Keeping grass tall during the summer also helps the plants tolerate
the heat and dry weather, rather than requiring more water.
Let your clippings Lay
Let the grass blades fall back onto the lawn. Short clippings
quickly decompose, adding valuable nutrients to the soil. Grass
clippings can return 50-100% of the nitrogen your lawn needs and
are free fertilizer. If you are concerned about the appearance of
lawn clippings, you can use a mulching mower, which will chop
them into fine bits. Another bonus? Grass clippings are 85 percent
water and can also reduce your watering needs.
A common myth is that grass clippings cause thatch, a layer of
living and dead roots and stems growing between the green layer
and the soil. Troublesome thatch is actually caused by improper
use of lawn chemicals, compacted soils, and excessive watering.
Fertilizing Your Lawn
In the case of fertilizer, more is not better! Over-applied fertilizer
will wash off your lawn when it rains, drain into the Borough’s storm
sewer system and ultimately end up in streams as a pollutant. A soil
test will tell you what nutrients are already contained in your lawn
so that you are not over-applying fertilizers. Soil testing is available
through the local county Penn State Extension office: https://
extension.psu.edu/soil-testing.
For more information about the Borough’s Storm Water
Management plan, check out: https://www.newbritainboro.com/
information/storm-water-awareness/
Help keep our water clean! To report a non-stormwater discharge
to the stormwater system, storm drain, or to a stream, please call
the Borough’s offices at 215-348-4586.
Karen McNair, Borough Engineer
Gilmore & Associates
Each Year the New Britain Shade Tree Commission celebrates Arbor Day with a Tree Planting
Ceremony in our borough. Please join us this year for this special occasion.
DATE: Saturday April 29. 2023
TIME: 10:00 A.M.
PLACE: Orchard Park
We will be planting a Serviceberry Tree. These multi season trees have white flowers in spring, bright
red fruits that birds love in June and an array of brilliant red and gold leaves in fall. Our aim each year
is to add beneficial native trees to our borough properties. This is a good opportunity for you to learn
more about our commission and the native trees we are adding to the borough properties.
Since we are planting trees not just for our enjoyment but for the younger generation whose job
it will be to care for these trees in years to come, we have invited a scout troop to join us in this
endeavor.
Written by Marge Eberz
Secretary New Britain Borough Shade Tree Commission, mte54@verizon.net
Taking Care of Your Lawn – and your Watershed
New Britain Borough Shade Tree Commission Celebrates Arbor Day
7
You can tell a lot about a municipality’s values by the street signs it uses
to brand itself. Usually displayed at the key entrances to a community,
these signs inform both residents and visitors alike about how that
community views itself and what the municipality considers to be its
major sources of civic pride.
The new street signs being installed at all the major entrances to our
Borough reaffirm our long-standing belief that New Britain Borough is “A
Friendly Place to Live.” They also reflect a strong public commitment to the environment and to the creation of a green, healthy, and
attractive place to live.
More specifically, the new Bird Town and National Wildlife Federation Community Wildlife Habitat street signs affirm the Borough’s
commitment to the restoration and preservation of bird and wildlife-friendly habitat, to prioritizing the use of native plants in the
landscape, to reducing the use of pesticides and lawn chemicals, and to other environmentally sustainable practices. Many Borough
residents have also made this commitment by certifying their own properties with these programs and displaying similar signs. The Tree
City USA street sign affirms the Borough’s commitment to, and passion for, trees. All three of these programs brand the Borough and its
residents as a community that values the environment and supports conservation measures to protect it.
As for civic pride? New Britain Borough is the only community in Pennsylvania that has earned the program certifications permitting it
to display all three of these signs.
Tom Price, Council Vice-President
New Street Signs Brand New Britain Borough
as a Friendly and Green Community
45 years ago, my husband, Tony Coia, and I bought an old schoolhouse in New Britain
Borough locally known as “The Cabbage Hill School”. While digging various flower beds, we
have uncovered different items buried over the years.
One of the most interesting things we found happened shortly after we moved in. While
digging in the yard, Tony uncovered an interesting looking stone which he thought was an
old tool, and he has been using it for a paperweight ever since. Please see attached photo.
Recently, we found out a friend of ours has a hobby of discovering, researching, identifying
and writing about pre-historic and historic Native American artifacts. Tony mentioned to
him the stone he found over 40 years ago and took a photo of it to send to him. Much
to our surprise he said it was an axe handle tool from the Archaic Period. This sparked our
interest, so we did some research.
We emailed a photo of it to Cory Amsler, Vice President of Collections and Interpretation for the Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle. He
said “What you have is a full-groove stone axe, Archaic period. The battering creating the groove is for attaching a wooden handle”. We
offered to donate it to the museum, but Mr. Amsler said they already had some from when the museum first opened.
According to the National Park service, there are four periods used to identify Native American culture with the Archaic Period being
4,000 - 10,000 years ago!
Artifacts from the Archaic period found in the Delaware River Valley include grooved axe heads, banner stones, net-sinkers and several
types of projectile points. A grooved axe is a large stone tool, one end typically tapered, with a groove around the midsection where a
split wooden handle would have been attached or hafted to the stone using animal sinew. Grooved axes were used by Native Americans
to aid in the chopping down of trees and splitting wood.
We are very excited to have found an artifact in our backyard from many thousands of years ago when the Lenape lived and roamed
this area and our backyard! While my husband always thought it was some kind of tool, he never thought it could be thousands of years
old. Although we will still use it as a paperweight, we have developed a whole new appreciation for it.
Marie Esher Coia, Resident
Backyard Discovery
8
The 2022 Annual New Britain Borough Classic Car Show
took place on a warm but windy November 5, 2022, at the
Town Center Shopping Center. This event was the second
car show organized by the volunteers of the New Britain
Borough Community and Business Committee with help
from borough resident and council volunteers. Over 110
cars showed up for the event and day of registrations
had to be closed when it was evident that capacity for
the space provided by the Giant market was at capacity.
The Doylestown Road Angels Car Club provided the
expert judging and trophies were awarded to the top 20 cars that day. John Creider of the
Mango Men provided the music for the event and created a festive atmosphere as well as
acted as emcee for the event. Many car enthusiasts were on hand to enjoy the wide variety
of classic cars from all over Bucks, Montgomery, and Hunterdon counties.
Thanks to those who participated in the raffles nearly $500 was donated to the Friends
of New Britain Borough earmarked for the ADA compliant playground equipment recently
purchased for the Covered Bridge Park. Raffle winners received gift certificates donated by
local merchants such as Precision Autocraft, Delizio Pizza, The New Britain Inn, Heavenly
Ham, buckets of car care products from the AutoZone, and an overflowing basket of cheer,
provided by the CBC.
The annual event was sponsored by New Britain Borough’s Community and Business
Committee, Penn Community Bank, American Heritage Federal Credit Union, Chant
Engineering and other community members.
Plans are in the works for the 2023 Car Show, the date and place to be announced soon.
Sponsors and vendors interested in participating can contact the New Britain Borough office
for more information. Volunteers will be needed as well, the initial meeting time will be announced soon and we can definitely use all the
support we can get, as the show has grown exponentially. Pre-registration of the cars this year will be encouraged. Keep an eye out on
the New Britain Borough website www.newbritainboro.com and Face Book page for more information.
Loren Frasco, Council Member & Committee Chair
lfrasco@newbritainboro.com
PO Box 5124, New Britain, PA 18901 • www.newbritaincivic.com
The New Britain Civic Association, a 501C3 non-profit organization, is the provider of a recreation venue in the
borough. Covered Bridge Park on Keeley Avenue at the Pine Run Covered Bridge provides not only a location for
children and adults alike to indulge in exercise and relaxation, but the Association sponsors the Annual Covered
Bridge Camp, a Fishing Contest, Covered Bridge Day Celebration, The Family Picnic and Duck Derby and the Annual Tree Lighting complete
with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The Park is owned and operated by the Civic Association which obtains its financial backing from the public
and area businesses. There is no Federal, State, County or Local Municipality money received by the Civic Association.
Our dedicated volunteers work continually to improve the park for your enjoyment. I’m sure if you visit our park, you will notice the
recently cleared and beautified entrance to the park. Volunteers cut down the overgrowth and expanded the space available as you walk
or drive into the parking area. The walking bridge at the pond has also been replaced with a new bridge allowing you to access more of
the pond area.
We are currently awaiting delivery and installation of new equipment designed especially for children with disabilities. According to the
latest reports from our vendor, we expect this equipment to be available sometime in September of this year.
There are additional plans for future improvements at the park as a result of a Master Plan that the Civic Association, in conjunction
with the Engineering firm of Gilmore and Associates, completed recently. We appreciate any and all donations to our Park for the new
Brick walkway to the play area, or for the other costs associated with Civic. The average monthly costs of maintaining the park continue
to increase and as stated previously our only source of income is from the public and business donations. Go to our website www.
newbritaincivic.com and take a look at what we are doing.
The 2nd Annual New Britain Borough Car Show- A Success Story
New Britain Civic Association
9
New Britain Borough has been a Bird Town since 2013. The Bird Town program was established by Audubon
PA in 2010 to partner with local municipalities in the creation of a “healthier and sustainable environment for
birds, wildlife, and people.” While the Bird Town program remained vibrant in our own community, it suffered
from neglect at the state level due to staffing and funding issues at Audubon PA.
Today, however, the Bird Town initiative is stronger than ever and expanding throughout the state. Now
administered by a new entity, Bird Town Pennsylvania, this revitalized grassroots program provides tools
for municipalities to engage, educate and empower their residents, schools, and businesses to make more
positive social, economic, and ecologically friendly decisions.
Promoting a culture of conservation, where everyone is a potential steward of nature in their own
backyard and community, is a major goal of Bird Town PA. The restoration of natural systems and native plant
communities for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife, on both private and public lands, has many positive
impacts on communities, including creating a healthier environment, reducing stormwater runoff, greenhouse gases and maintenance
time, increasing property values, and building community pride.
To learn much more about the Bird Town program, please visit Bird Town Pennsylvania’s new website at https://birdtownpa.org/. You
can also join the Bird Town PA Facebook group, “Bird Town Forum,” at https://www.facebook.com/groups/birdtownforum, or sign up to
receive Bird Town PA’s eNewslettter, “Bird Beat,” at https://birdtownpa.org/bird-beat-newsletters/ to keep up with Bird Town events or
learn more about how to create bird-friendly habitat in your own backyard.
Tom Price, Council Vice-President & Bird Town Committee Chair
pricet@newbritainboro.com
Exciting Developments for the Bird Town Program!
Our Borough has always benefited from the strong base of residents
who volunteer to serve on our various standing committees. These
committees do important and necessary work that would otherwise
need to be done by outside contractors or Borough staff. This work saves
the Borough’s taxpayers thousands of dollars every year and frees up our
small Borough staff for other tasks and responsibilities.
In recent months, Borough Council has approved the following changes
to our committees that should augment their efficiency and increase
their value to the Borough:
• Give Council liaisons a vote on committees (but not on boards or commissions) unless prohibited by PA Borough Code or other
Pennsylvania law.
• Eliminate caps on the number of committee members, unless capped by PA Borough Code or another Pennsylvania law.
• Modify the responsibilities of the Community & Business Committee to focus on supporting and attracting local businesses.
• Create a new Events/Activities Committee to organize Borough events and to assist the Civic Association with its events.
• Eliminate the Public Safety Committee, the Roads Committee, and the Facilities Committee and assign their responsibilities to
a new committee responsible for advising Council on issues related to public works, public safety, traffic, roads, parking, public
services, and the maintenance of Borough facilities.
• Replace the Bird Town Committee with an Environmental Advisory Council. This EAC would be responsible for the Bird Town
program in the Borough but would also serve as an advisory committee to Council on other environmental issues.
• Create a new Communications Committee to assist Borough staff with the Borough’s newsletter, website, and social media.
Once these changes are fully implemented, additional volunteers will be needed to serve on these new and revamped committees. If
interested, please contact the Borough Office, and let us know at nnboro@newbritainboro.com
Tom Price, Council Vice-President
Changes Coming to the Borough’s Volunteer Committees
10
The Borough occasionally receives complaints from residents about the brightness of their neighbor’s outdoor lights. This is often
a legitimate concern, and one that most of us might not be thinking about when we install those lights. Please be aware of what our
Borough Code says about outdoor lighting and be considerate of how your lighting might be impacting your neighbors.
These are the general standards spelled out in Section 450-35 of the Borough Code (Ordinance No. 281):
“Lights for all nonresidential uses shall be designed to minimize undesirable off-premises
effects. Outdoor illumination in all districts shall be diffused or shielded in such a manner as
not to create any hazardous situations for passing vehicular traffic or a nuisance to persons
residing in the area. No use shall produce glare off the premises by illumination originating on
the premises. No bare or direct light source shall be visible beyond the lot lines. This applies
to all pole-mounted lights, building-mounted lights, sign lights, walkway lights, and any other
type of illumination. No light shall shine directly into windows or onto streets and driveways
off the premises. These standards shall not apply to decorative lights that are temporarily
displayed during seasonal holidays.”
In addition to being a considerate neighbor, there are other good reasons for limiting the brightness of your outdoor lighting, including
the impact on wildlife and the impact that light pollution has on our ability to view the night sky. An article on the National Wildlife
Federation’s website says that “on clear, moonless nights, up to 5,000 stars should be visible from almost anywhere in North America. Yet
most U.S. city dwellers are lucky if they can see any at all.” Most of our children have never seen the Milky Way.
Research is showing that our porch and security lights are major causes of insect decline. Many insects are drawn to light, but artificial
lights can be fatal to them. According to one study cited by Smithsonian Magazine, “an estimated one third of the bugs swirling around
those lights die by morning, either by being gobbled up by predators or simply from exhaustion.” Dramatic declines in insect populations
have raised alarm bells in recent years. And all species, including humans, that rely on insects for food or pollination are directly impacted
by this insect decline.
Bright outdoor lights can also have a devastating impact on birds. Up to 1 billion birds die from building collisions each year in the
United States, and according to several recent studies, bright lights in big cities are making the problem worse. Every year, billions of
birds migrate north in the spring and south in the fall, the majority of them flying at night, navigating with the night sky. However, as
migrating birds pass over big cities, they can become disoriented by bright artificial lights and skyglow, often causing them to collide with
buildings or windows. The schedules of migratory birds are also based on seasonal cues. Artificial lights can cause them to migrate too
early or too late and miss deadlines for nesting, foraging and other behaviors. And, according to the National Audubon Society, when
lights throw birds off their migration timetables and paths, “fatalities often occur when birds waste energy flying around and calling out
in confusion, leaving them exhausted and vulnerable to other urban threats.” For more information on the impact of artificial lighting
on birds, and what you can do to mitigate that impact, please read about Audubon’s “Lights Out” initiative (https://www.audubon.org/
lights-out-program).
So, what can we do? One suggestion is to use motion-sensor security
lights that only light up when an intruder enters your yard. Installing
directional covers on lights so the light is aimed only to where it’s
needed is another option. Lowering the wattage as much as possible
and replacing the white bulbs in your lights with amber bulbs is strongly
recommended since yellow wavelengths are the least attractive to
nocturnal insects. LED lighting may be a contributing factor to insect
decline as nocturnal insects are most attracted to blue and white light.
But the best piece of advice, according to the study cited earlier in
Smithsonian Magazine, may be to “simply shut off lights at times and in
places when they are not necessary.”
Reducing the impact of artificial outdoor lighting is a goal of both Bird
Town Pennsylvania and the National Wildlife Federation. By taking steps to do that, we are doing what residents of Bird Towns and NWF
Community Wildlife Habitats are asked to do. Making some changes to your own outdoor lighting will benefit our local wildlife. Your
neighbors will be grateful, as well.
Tom Price, Council Vice-President
Is Your Outdoor Lighting a Problem?
11
Have you heard about Friends of New Britain Parks?
It turns out that if you give money to a municipality for a
charitable purpose it does not qualify as a charitable deduction on
your income tax! For you to receive a deduction, your donation
must be given through a qualified charity.
When the Borough purchased the Miller Properties, a resident
wished to donate $18,000 to support the purchase, but it had to
be through a IRS approved charity. Thus, New Britain Borough
established Friends of New Britain Parks, which has a three-member
board of voluntary directors headed by Tess LaMontagne, who is a
qualified tax preparer.
• The Board of Directors is responsible to see that:
• The donor has clearly expressed the purpose of the
donation.
• If so directed, the donor’s name will be protected.
• The Borough Administration agrees to use the money for
the intended purpose.
• The Borough Manager creates an account for the money.
The donor receives the correct information to include in their
income tax return should they qualify for a deduction.
The Board of directors oversees the Borough Manager who is
the one who handles the money.
Money donated to the charity will be spent as the donor wished.
You can be anonymous, or your name can be made public. You can
specify exactly what you wish the money is to be used for. Tess
LaMontagne, the volunteer Chairperson for Friends of New Britain
Parks can discuss how your donation will affect your taxes.
Since the fund was established, donors have given over $50,000:
• Repairs & upgrades to the Nature Preserve’s Miller House
• Trees replanted on the two Islands along Butler Avenue
• Unspecified money for the Nature Preserve
• Landscaping around the Borough office and Burkhart Hall
Opportunities for giving (Following the Borough’s Comprehensive
Plan) might be:
• Planting Street trees along Butler Avenue
• Purchasing and installing Benches along Butler Avenue
sidewalks
• Establishing “Pocket Parks.” At a minimum, they are small
sitting areas, perhaps with benches by the sidewalk, and
some landscaping.
• Funds to assist the purchase of land adjacent to the Nature
Preserve.
• Development of walking paths in the Borough. (These are
foot paths, not sidewalks.)
We will do our best to leverage donor funds by using them as our
match for grants. For example, a $1,250 donation might be matched
by the donor’s employer, resulting in a $2,500 cash donation. In
many cases the Borough can obtain a grant and use that money as
its 50% match resulting in $5,000. Add to this labor donated by our
volunteers may amount to another $1,000. So, your $1,250 donation
could become $6,000! We can also include a memorial plaque.
If you are interested, please contact John Wolff, our Borough
Manager. WolffJ@newbritianboro.com
An example of a Pocket Park located in front of The Perk, in Perkasie PA
Tess LaMontagne, Committee President
Peter LaMontagne, Council President
lamontagnep@newbritainboro.com
2023 Friends of New Britain Parks
Community Service Opportunity!
Please help us maintain and steward this Preserve!
For information, email pricet@newbritainboro.com
New Britain Borough’s
Wilma Quinlan Nature Preserve
April 1
April 15
May 13
May 20
Spring Workdays
Saturdays 9:00 - 12:00
12
New Britain Borough is dedicated to becoming a walkable
community. To this end, we have obtained well over a million
dollars in grant funding to build sidewalks and bike and hike paths
which enable people to walk and ride bikes for exercise and to
reduce dependence on automobiles.
We established a Shade Tree Commission to develop and care
for street trees along sidewalks and trails. Among the goals of the
commission are:
• Conserve and protect the existing trees.
• Ensure that planned developments include suitable trees and
shrubs to meet the borough’s development requirements.
• Plant suitable trees along sidewalks and Bike and Hike trails
to provide shade, buffer traffic noise, and reduce pollution.
The New Britain Borough Planning Commission has laid out
in a general way the street scape along the sidewalks and paths.
This would include benches and sitting areas and other amenities
such as drinking fountains and bike maintenance stations where
practical. The Street Tree Committee will help plan the details of
how this will be carried out.
Our first project was the two islands on either side of the
Post Office on Butler Avenue. The islands had dead and dying
trees. We obtained some grant funding, some donations from
individuals, and some Borough funds. Grants for almost anything
require some cash, and to encourage donations, we’ve established
a charity, Friends of New Britain Parks. (Money given through this
portal qualifies as a charitable contribution on your tax return, and
donors can place restrictions on what it can be used for).
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and Tree
Tenders
PHS’s Tree Tender Program teaches people how to plant and
care for trees. The Borough’s Shade Tree Commission is partnering
with the PHS to encourage homeowners to plant trees along the
sidewalks and B&H trails
Under this program interested Borough Residents can take
a short course to obtain training in trees planting and tree care
through. Ideally, it’s in person training in Philadelphia, but if that’s
not possible for you, they also offer a virtual program.
The next training program is Wednesdays May 10, 17, and 24,
from 6 to 8:30 PM. There will be another program in the fall.
With completion of the training, you will join three other
Borough Tree Tenders, and become one of over 6,000 volunteers
who have gone through the program. Tree Tenders living in our
Borough work to encourage and help residents choose suitable
trees and to plant them along the sidewalks. We planted 14 trees
last fall, and this spring we’ll plant 20 more. It works like this:
We choose a section of the Borough, in this case Keeley Avenue,
Butler Avenue to Lenape. We assist you in selecting trees for your
lot. They must be planted within 10 feet of the sidewalk. You
select the trees you would like to have from our list. The trees are
sorted by their ultimate size. Small trees reach 20 to 30 feet when
mature and are ideal under power lines. Medium trees 30-50 feet
are suitable if the overhead lines are just communication lines, and
the biggest trees that reach 60-70 feet are suitable where there is
nothing overhead. We’ll look at your location and help you decide
what size is suitable.
Applications for the Fall Planting will open later this open this
summer. Contact New Britain Borough now to be put on the list
for notification of the program.
The cost of the trees this Spring was $60 per tree. This price is
subsidized by other’s donations to PHS. The trees aren’t little sticks,
they are 8 to 12 foot tall. You can see the ones we planted last
fall along North Tamenend Ave. You’ll recognize them by the two
stakes which stabilize the trees through mid-summer.
A couple of weeks before the delivery of the trees, we’ll have
PA One Call come out and mark the underground water, gas and
electric lines in your yard (obviously you don’t want to lose the
tree if the utilities have to be dug up at some point). Other than
that, you choose where you want to plant them.
A few days before planting, Fran Dougherty, of Dougherty
Landscaping, donated the time equipment and labor to drill 36”
diameter holes. Later, Trained Tree Tenders, with the help of the
Boy Scouts of Troop 36, will do some hand digging and enlarge the
hole as necessary and assure that the tree is planted at the proper
depth. We prune roots that are crossed, spread the roots out
radially, and enlarge the hole as necessary. Lastly, we fill and tamp
the hole, pound two stakes (which we supply) into the ground to
brace the tree and tidy up the area. The homeowner removes the
grass we dug up, and supplies bucket of water to start the tree on
its way in its new home. That’s it! Other than weekly watering the
tree from early spring through the fall leaf drop for the first two
years, you’re done.
We live in the neighborhood, so if you have any questions, we
will be glad to stop by.
In addition to the Shade Tree Program, the Borough’s 2020
Comprehensive plan has recommended benches every 1/4 mile
along the sidewalks and trails. The sidewalk is completed from
the railroad tracks to Shady retreat road. There is one existing
bench by the Post office, so the Comprehensive Plan suggests
four additional benches. The plan also recommends some “Pocket
parks” along the sidewalks and trails.
We’re planning to plant trees along Butler Avenue, together with
some miniparks,
An important part of walkability are places to sit. While they are
only a convenience for many, they’re a necessity for others. We are
looking into a PECO grant which requires a 50% match. Friends of
New Britain Parks currently has over $2,000 in donations earmarked
for the project, but we’ll need about $6-8,000 dollars more.
The Shade Tree Commission also interfaces with the Arbor
Day Foundation. The Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and
education organization with nearly one million members, with a
mission to inspire people to plant, celebrate and nurture trees.
As part of that, the Foundation awards a Tree City Designation
to municipalities who meet their standards and goals for planting
trees.
Peter LaMontagne, Council President
lamontagnep@newbritainboro.com
News from New Britain Borough’s Shade Tree Commission
13
14
15
16
17
NEW BRITAIN BOROUGH ADMINISTRATION OFFICE
45 Keeley Avenue, New Britain, PA 18901
General Phone: 215-348-4586
Website: www.newbritainboro.com General Email: nbboro@newbritainboro.com
Office Hours: 8:30am – 4:00pm Monday-Friday
BOROUGH DIRECTORY
BOROUGH OFFICIALS
James Donovan Mayor
BOROUGH COUNCIL
Peter LaMontagne President
Tom Price Vice-President
Lori Kesilman Council Member
Steve Ascher Council Member
Robyne Keleman Council Member
Loren Frasco Council Member
Jennifer Salisbury Council Member
BOROUGH STAFF
John Wolff Borough Manager
Andrea Dewhurst Assistant Borough Manager
Dave Bernhauser Financial Director
Bryan Coleman Road Superintendent
Mike Italia Building/Zoning Officer
Nicole Percetti Tax Collector
Michael Peters Borough Solicitor
Karen McNair Borough Engineer
Judy Stein Goldstein Borough Planning Consultant
Michael Italia Fire Marshal
Karl Knott Police Chief @ Central Bucks
Regional Police
HELPFUL PHONE NUMBERS
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 9-1-1
Barry Issett (Code & Zoning) 484-928-8132
Bucks County Board of Elections 215-348-6154
Bucks County Visitor’s Bureau 215-639-0300
Bucks County Court House 215-348-6000
Bucks County Health Department 215-345-3318
Bucks County Recycling 215-345-3400
Bucks County Voter Registration 215-348-6163
Bucks County Wildlife (Animal Control) 215-752-8725
Central Bucks EMS 215-348-3343
(non-emergency)
Central Bucks Regional Police 215-345-4143 (non-emergency)
Chal-Brit Regional EMS 215-822-1308 (non-emergency)
Chalfont Fire Department 215-822-3434 (non-emergency)
Dart Bus 215-794-5554
Doylestown Fire Department 215-348-2656
(non-emergency)
Doylestown Hospital 215-345-2200 (non-emergency)
Dog Licensing 215-348-6244
Gaming Commission - Southeast Division 610-926-3136
(for dead animals
on roads)
New Britain Borough Inspection Scheduling 610-723-7719
New Britain Civic Association 215-345-8750
PennDot 215-345-6060
PA One-Call (BEFORE YOU DIG) 8-1-1
PADEP 800-346-4242
SEPTA (R5 LINE) 215-580-7800
Tax Collector (Nicole Percetti) 215-822-2930
Tax Collector (Keystone) 215-491-1282
Waste Management 800-869-5566
NEW BRITAIN BOROUGH DISTRICT COURT
962 Town Center, New Britain, PA 18901
215-230-7265
Judge Armitage
NEW BRITAIN POST OFFICE
85 W Butler Avenue, New Britain, PA 18901
215-348-7082
This Community Newsletter is produced for New Britain Borough
by Hometown Press 215.257.1500 • All rights reserved®
To Place An Ad Call or Email Kathy Ruediger At Hometown Press • 215-527-7664 • katruedy@gmail.com
Certified
Water Treatment
Specialist
215-257-9313
Over 50 years of experience
Three Generations Serving You
ROOFS • SHINGLES • SIDING • GUTTERS
PAHIC 000897
$500 OFF
Any Complete
Roofing or Siding Job
Coupon must be presented at Time of Estimate
C&C FAMILY ROOFING & SIDING
215-322-8687
With this coupon.
Not valid with other oers or prior services.
Clean out all gutters & downspouts
• Bag & remove all debris • Tighten all gutters
& downspouts • Check entire roof, flashings,
vent pipes and ridge pipes (up to 100 L.F.)
C&C FAMILY ROOFING & SIDING
215-322-8687
With this coupon.
Not valid with other oers or prior services.
GUTTER CLEANING
SPECIAL, ONLY $179
SENIOR
CITIZEN
& AARP
DISCOUNTS
ROOF TROUBLES???ROOF TROUBLES???
FAMILY ROOFING & SIDINGFAMILY ROOFING & SIDING
215-322-8687 • www.roofdoc.com
FREE
ESTIMATES
&
INSPECTIONS
SHINGLE EXPERTS • SIDING EXPERTS
Seamless Gutters: Cleaned, screened & repaired • Capping
Rubber Roofs • Senior Citizen Discounts
Fully Insured & Licensed • 24 Hr Emergency Service
WE ALSO DO COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ROOFING
www.mccabebradypt.com
Warminster Oce:
607 Louis Drive, Suite H
Warminster, PA 18974
(215) 675-2330
New Britain Oce:
100 Town Center
New Britain, PA 18901
(267) 247-5049
Ivyland location:
Inside the Spring Mill Athletic Club
173 Jacksonville Rd, Ivyland PA 18974
(215) 675-2330
CHALFONT, PA
4275 COUNTY LINE ROAD
267.308.8995
PRIMOHOAGIES.COM
OPEN DAILY! 10AM - 8PM
HOAGIE TRAYS - available in 5 sizes
New Britain Borough
45 Keeley Avenue,
New Britain, PA 18901
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
HARRISBURG, PA
PERMIT NO. 609
