Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Bucks County, Pennsylvania public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
13 issues with medium priority
Newspaper ad policy and free speech concerns
The board's meeting date wasn't properly re-advertised under Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act, so it legally couldn't vote on anything. All decisions, minutes, and public comment were pushed to December.
Public Health Measles Case
Bucks County just confirmed a measles case and is notifying the health care providers the infected person visited. If you’ve been to a doctor’s office recently—especially one that got an alert—it’s worth a quick check. Measles is highly contagious, so the goal is to catch any exposure fast.
Parks staffing reorganization
36 positions move from General Services to Parks and Recreation so park-specific needs get dedicated focus and better budget oversight.
Weatherization assistance for low-income households
The county proclaimed Weatherization Day and honored the Opportunity Council, which helped 275 households last year save on energy costs through home repairs and efficiency upgrades. Officials noted it could be a tough winter with high oil prices.
Conflict counsel costs for county courts
New lawyers get $5,000 signing bonuses and mid-level staff get retention bonuses — all paid by a state grant, not county money, to keep the office fully staffed.
Conservation easement monitoring gap
New Britain Township has preserved about 3,000 acres but has no program to monitor whether conservation easements are being followed — a problem likely shared by other municipalities. Staff flagged this as a growing issue as county open space programs mature.
New Britain Township open space preservation
The township's updated open space plan sets a goal of 2,500 acres of township-owned preserved land (up from about 1,500 today), funded by a voter-approved earned income tax. The plan also calls for better public communication — only 36% of residents knew the tax funded land purchases.
Bridge #28 repairs in Sellersville
Engineering contracts were extended for rehabilitating Bridge #258 on Old Bethlehem Pike in East Rockhill and replacing Bridge #42. Drivers in Upper Bucks will see construction benefits over the coming years.
ADA curb ramps in Morrisville
$211,213 in federal CDBG money will build and rehabilitate ADA-compliant curb ramps in Morrisville Borough. A real quality-of-life improvement for residents using wheelchairs or walkers.
Farmland preservation in Bedminster Township
The county put $92,937.50 toward preserving a 14.87-acre farm along Bedminster Road with a conservation easement. That keeps the land as farmland permanently instead of letting it become a development site.
Agricultural preservation of Brown farm
The county is putting up about $298,000 to preserve nearly 50 acres of the Kinney Farm on Anderson Road in Buckingham Township as permanently protected farmland.
Good time credit tied to program participation
The jail is working on the technical side of linking earned good time to programming participation, including how sentencing language changes and when credit is lost for misconduct. Board members hope it will motivate inmates toward treatment.
Title 37 full compliance
The state inspection on July 16 went well, with inspectors verbally very pleased. The written report arrives in 30-60 days, and full compliance could let the jail skip inspection in 2027 under the two-year cycle.