[2:33] Up. I
[2:45] Official thumbs up.
[2:56] Okay.
I'm going to call to order the August
[2:59] 18th, 2026 Upper Makefield Township
Board of Supervisors meeting.
[3:04] Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance
and a moment of silence.
[3:11] » I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
[3:15] republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[3:22] justice for all.
[3:28] » Thank you.
I note this evening Supervisor Yvette
[3:32] Taylor and Supervisor Elizabeth Thompson
are joining by phone.
[3:38] Moving on to announcements, an executive
session was held this evening to discuss
[3:42] land acquisitions and personnel matters.
Township offices will be closed for the
[3:47] holiday on Monday, September 7th.
Community Day is next month, September
[3:54] 19th from 10:00 to 2:00 at Brownsberg
Park. Mark your calendars for the 19th
[3:59] to stop by the park, meet staff,
volunteer volunteers, the Township
[4:04] supervisors while enjoying refreshments,
live music, pumpkin painting,
[4:07] touch-a-truck, and more. Uh the rain
date is the following weekend, September
[4:11] 26th.
Uh a bridge update, the next meeting of
[4:15] the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge
Commission is Monday, September 28th,
[4:19] 2026 at 10:30 a.m.
Uh please continue attending virtually
[4:24] or in person and monitor project updates
posted by the Bridge Commission at
[4:28] washingtoncrossingbridge.com.
[4:32] And now, uh I'd like to uh give a
special announcement.
[4:37] This evening marks Chief Schmidt's last
Board of Supervisors meeting.
[4:42] In his official capacity as Chief of
Police, he will become Chief Emeritus
[4:46] next week.
And the board and the Township would
[4:49] like to take the opportunity to mark the
Chief's accomplishments and and
[4:53] dedication to the Township as we wish
him well
[4:56] in his retirement.
>> Thanks.
[4:59] » I'm going to read a proclama- It's not
done, Chief.
[5:03] » [laughter]
>> Going to read a proclamation.
[5:05] Proclamation, whereas Chief Mark S.
Schmidt has served as an Upper Makefield
[5:10] Township Police Officer since 1980 and
as our Chief of Police since 1997.
[5:16] And whereas during his tenure, Chief
Schmidt doubled the department's size to
[5:21] 18 officers, modernized the agency with
advanced technology and equipment, and
[5:25] prioritized ongoing officer training and
advanced education. And whereas in 2006,
[5:32] Chief Schmidt spearheaded the design and
construction of a state-of-the-art
[5:35] headquarters that remains widely
recognized as as among one of the finest
[5:39] in Bucks County. And whereas in 2020,
Chief Schmidt successfully guided the
[5:45] department to earn accreditation from
the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement
[5:49] Accreditation Commission, an elite
distinction in the Commonwealth,
[5:52] demonstrating a commitment to the
highest professional standards. And
[5:56] whereas Chief Schmidt's leadership
extended countywide, serving with
[6:01] distinction for over 20 years as
president of the Bucks County Police
[6:04] Association and for over 20 years as
secretary of the Bucks Bucks County
[6:09] Police Chiefs Association. Now,
therefore, be it resolved that the Board
[6:14] of Supervisors does hereby proclaim
August 28th, 2026 as Chief Mark S.
[6:20] Schmidt Day in Upper Makefield Township
and extends its deepest gratitude for
[6:25] his 46 years of dedicated service to our
community.
[6:28] Proclaimed this 18th day of August,
2026.
[6:34] » [applause]
[6:37] » Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, by the way,
I took that as a personnel day, so I'm
[6:41] I'm going to be here.
>> [laughter]
[6:44] » No, I'll be here. So, it was a matter of
burning up the time. But, no, thank you
[6:48] very much for those kind words. So.
>> Thank you on behalf of the board and the
[6:52] township, Chief.
[6:57] All right, moving on to public comment.
Do we have anybody signed up? No? Okay.
[7:03] Uh then I will move on to approval of
minutes and bills payable.
[7:08] Is there a motion to approve the meeting
minutes of July 27th, 2026?
[7:14] » So moved.
>> Thank you, Tom.
[7:16] Is there a second?
>> I'll second.
[7:18] » Thank you, Brian. All in favor?
>> Aye.
[7:21] » Aye.
>> All right, motion passes.
[7:26] Is there a motion to approve the bills
list dated August 18th, 2026 in the
[7:31] amount of $451,312.32?
[7:36] » So moved.
>> Thank you, Tom. Is there a second?
[7:38] » Second. [clears throat]
>> Thank you, Brian.
[7:40] All in favor?
>> Aye.
[7:42] » Aye.
>> Aye.
[7:43] » All right. Any other Any opposed?
Okay, motion passes.
[7:48] Moving along to planning and zoning
issues. The first planning and zoning
[7:52] item is a waiver request. I'd like to
invite the Costigans to the podium to
[7:56] present their way their request.
[8:02] » Good evening. My name is Michael
Costigan. I'm the owner of 1388
[8:07] Wrightstown Road.
I'm here tonight to request the board's
[8:11] approval
for a fee in lieu of
[8:15] tree reforestation
in the amount of 30,900
[8:20] uh
per the recommendation of the Township
[8:23] Manager, Mr. Schuster.
>> Okay.
[8:27] Um
does anybody have any questions?
[8:31] What is it Sorry, Michael or
>> Mike Michael.
[8:34] » Mike, okay. Any Any questions for for
Mr. Costigan?
[8:37] » So, just to confirm, this waves the This
waves the the the requirement and a
[8:43] payment will be made in lieu of the
requirement, correct?
[8:46] » Correct.
>> And there's still some amount of trees
[8:49] that you are going to be planting?
>> We are planning, I believe, 82 trees
[8:53] that we're able to fit on the lot.
>> Um
[8:57] Any other questions?
>> How big is the lot?
[9:00] » 6 acres. 6 plus acres.
>> And then what How big is the dwelling
[9:05] that's going to be built on it,
approximately?
[9:09] » So, the first floor footprint
>> Yeah, just the footprint, I guess.
[9:14] » [sighs]
>> I think it's probably around 3,000
[9:16] square feet.
>> Okay.
[9:17] » With the with it it's two story.
>> Mhm.
[9:21] » So, I think it's around 3,000 square
feet.
[9:23] » Okay.
>> Maybe a little more, not much.
[9:26] » Right. So, the reason for the waiver is
because um
[9:29] primarily because you just can't fit all
the trees.
[9:31] » We can't fit all the trees and the way
that
[9:34] the way it's configured, we you know, we
we have to remove
[9:38] quite a few trees that are in the
stormwater location.
[9:41] » Right. Okay.
>> So, we couldn't get around that. So,
[9:44] » Makes sense.
>> Yeah.
[9:46] » I don't have further questions.
>> No questions? Uh I'll just throw it out
[9:49] to uh Elizabeth or Evette on the phone,
do you have any questions?
[9:55] » No.
>> Okay.
[9:58] Um then
uh I'll entertain a motion to waive the
[10:02] tree replacement requirement and approve
the fee in lieu of reforestation in the
[10:06] amount of $30,900.
>> So moved.
[10:11] » Thank you, Tom. Is there a second?
>> Second.
[10:13] » Thank you, Braun.
All in favor?
[10:15] » I.
>> I.
[10:16] » I.
>> All right. Any opposed?
[10:19] Motion passes.
>> Thank you.
[10:21] » Mr. Chairman, just so you know, my
intention is to deposit that into the
[10:24] tree fund. I don't think it's legally
required, but I think that's obviously
[10:28] the right thing to do.
>> Yeah. Appreciate that.
[10:30] All right.
>> Okay.
[10:31] » Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
>> All right. Take care.
[10:34] » Uh
moving on to item B here is at this time
[10:38] Mr. Crowley is is [laughter] invited to
the podium to present his road name
[10:42] change request.
[10:46] » Hi, Mr. Chairman, supervisors. I'm John
Crowley. We're the owners of the
[10:49] property on Gadwall Lane. We moved here
about a year ago. It's been a real
[10:52] pleasure to be here and I think as you
may realize that Rich Zaveda had
[10:56] purchased that land, subdivided into
five lots. Uh we purchased all five of
[11:00] the properties and the road I think then
became a private road, consolidated two
[11:05] of the lots into one. We were blessed to
be able to build homes for our kids on
[11:10] those properties, so a total of four
homes including where my wife and I live
[11:14] and a separate barn structure for my
home office. Uh the request is to change
[11:18] the road name. I think Rich had perhaps
named it a number of years ago Gad-
[11:22] Gadwall Lane. Uh two principal reasons.
One, we find that uh level of confusion
[11:28] and and misunderstanding and we've had
Gadwall, Gadwell, Gladwell, Glitwell.
[11:34] Uh so, to avoid any confusion, I don't
think there's been any confusion with
[11:37] emergency services. Uh but, secondly, to
name it uh Navy Way, I had the privilege
[11:43] to serve after 9/11 in the Navy for 12
years, and I figure if this is going to
[11:47] be a generational compound, it would be
nice for our kids and grandkids to have
[11:50] that as the property name on the private
road.
[11:54] Happy to take any questions.
>> Any questions for Mr. Crowley on this?
[11:57] » No, I just want to say a couple things.
This Mr. Crowley, it's not really for
[12:02] you as much as it is for anybody who
might be listening at home. Um
[12:06] this is almost the perfect confluence of
factors that lends itself towards the
[12:10] board approving something just like
this.
[12:13] Um
you know, you're the owner of every lot
[12:16] that fronts on this property. It has
always been a private road. It is
[12:19] relatively new private road. There are
no uh 911 conflicts that we're aware of.
[12:25] And And the reason I'm saying all of
this is I don't want
[12:28] to be inundated with I want to be able
to name my road to uh you know, whatever
[12:32] they
>> it.
[12:33] » So, um
just with that, the only other item I
[12:36] wanted to note um
I will probably have this resolution
[12:40] recorded against the properties that you
own, just so that there's
[12:44] » course.
>> a road map of how we got here. Um I
[12:47] forgot to mention that I agree with you,
the confusion on the name of the road
[12:52] contributes to a need to name it once
and for all. But, I think it makes sense
[12:56] to record this resolution against the
properties, so that somebody who's
[13:01] looking at the plan 10 years from now
doesn't
[13:04] have some question about how we got
here.
[13:06] » the history. Yeah. Hopefully, it'll be
our kids or grandkids that look at the
[13:09] plan, Council, but appreciate it.
>> You're assuming it gets approved, right?
[13:12] » Yeah, I know. I
>> I I'm not There could be competition
[13:14] with the Army, you don't know.
>> [laughter]
[13:17] » I don't have a vote, actually, so.
>> Mr. Crowley,
[13:20] » Happy to defend the Navy any day.
>> Thank you for your service to the
[13:24] country.
>> Yes. Um
[13:26] do you have any
Uh My only question would be I I assume
[13:30] you'll pay for the signage to be changed
and all
[13:32] » Yeah, I've talked to our landscapers as
well about doing that and we'll make
[13:35] sure it's in conformity with all the
rules and and regulations. And my
[13:39] daughter is most concerned that Amazon
is made aware of the update.
[13:43] » That's right.
>> Um maybe that's one of the reasons we're
[13:44] changing it, but
>> pro-Amazon or anti?
[13:48] » We're very big supporters of Amazon. Uh
[laughter]
[13:51] Come by every every day there's a truck
coming.
[13:53] » Yeah.
>> Um okay, and uh to our supervisors on
[13:57] the phone, uh if you have any questions
All right. Um so uh at this time is
[14:04] there a motion to approve resolution
number 2026-10?
[14:09] » So moved.
>> Thank you, Tom. Is there a second?
[14:12] » I'll second.
>> Thank you, Ron. All in favor.
[14:15] » I.
>> I.
[14:15] » I.
>> I.
[14:17] » All right. And motion passes.
>> I appreciate your time and
[14:21] consideration. I do have a quick
question just on the timing of the name
[14:25] change. It will have to update, I
assume, emergency services will need to
[14:28] be advised, post office, and we'll take
care of all the personal updates and the
[14:32] signage as well. So, any guidance you
guys have on timing?
[14:35] » Yeah, um so I can't say how long it'll
take the outside agencies to update
[14:42] their own
>> Okay.
[14:43] » records, but um for us, once I have a
copy of the resolution, I can record
[14:48] that
>> Okay, very good.
[14:50] » usually it turns around within about 7
days.
[14:52] » Perfect.
>> Um
[14:54] you know, that but as for the post
office, I can't tell you for [laughter]
[14:58] sure.
>> We'll take care of the post office,
[14:59] Council, that's fine. And we'll work on
the street name. So, for now we'll keep
[15:03] with Gadwall until the street sign is
up, but at least legally it'll be
[15:07] effective. Thank you.
>> Yep.
[15:08] » Great. Have a good night. Thanks.
>> Thank you, Ron.
[15:11] » Okay. Uh the solicitor's report, is that
right? No?
[15:15] » Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh the only
item on my report tonight is proposed
[15:19] joint municipal zoning ordinance number
2026-03,
[15:23] and this is a zoning ordinance creating
regulations around data center uses and
[15:29] again for the folks who might be
watching at home,
[15:33] we do not have a data center
application. We however are in need in
[15:38] the jointure of a an ordinance that
regulates data centers in the event that
[15:43] we do have an application. We don't want
to be
[15:46] left without any regulations for that
use.
[15:50] » [clears throat]
>> Newtown Township adopted this version of
[15:53] the ordinance. Rightstown's meeting was
last night, but I haven't checked their
[15:58] meeting. I'm I'm seeing some nods from
the board. So we're the last
[16:02] municipality to adopt. And after this
it'll become an official ordinance of
[16:07] the jointure.
We've discussed at the jointure a need
[16:11] to kind of continually
reinvent this ordinance and make it
[16:15] perfect, but we want to get something on
the books now.
[16:19] » So just to clarify what you're saying is
that right now we don't have an
[16:21] ordinance, so anyone could submit an
application anytime and basically put it
[16:25] somewhere wherever they wish to without
any rules or protections and this would
[16:29] give us
a baseline of some protection.
[16:32] » That's fair statement.
>> You have about [snorts]
[16:34] 2 minutes I would say to get that
application in.
[16:37] » Yep.
2 minutes, 2 seconds. [laughter]
[16:40] » Yeah, and just also to summarize, I
think the jointure was very clear that
[16:44] we were going to continue to work on
this and refine it, but we needed the
[16:47] protection in the short term.
Um for all three townships, so
[16:52] on that basis
um
[16:55] good to go.
>> Okay.
[16:57] Um then I'll ask at this time and is
there a motion to adopt JMZO ordinance
[17:02] 2026-03?
>> So moved.
[17:06] » Thank you, Tom. Is there a second?
>> I will second.
[17:09] » Thank you, Braun. All in favor.
>> I
[17:12] » I
>> All right.
[17:14] » And hear everybody, motion passes.
>> That concludes my report. Thank you, Mr.
[17:19] Chairman.
>> Thank you, Will. Greg will now present
[17:21] the manager's report.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First item I
[17:25] have is a proposal for permitting and
permit portal software. So, after a
[17:31] review internally, staff led by Denise
has made a recommendation to go out and
[17:38] get Trazer.
Trazer is a software which will
[17:43] one replace our aging and sunsetting
current permitting software that is
[17:49] scheduled to go out of service early
next year. But, also help us internally
[17:55] both with the our workflow and with the
ability to have residents directly
[18:00] submit their permits and other
information through an online portal.
[18:06] Some of the keys that are in there that
are
[18:09] for the software are listed out in
Denise's memo as well as the cost. So,
[18:15] what we're asking for this evening is
permission for approval of the proposal
[18:21] to move forward and implement the
system.
[18:24] » Okay.
>> Any questions for Greg on this one?
[18:30] No?
Okay.
[18:32] Is there a motion to approve the Trazer
proposal for permitting and permit
[18:37] portal software?
>> So moved.
[18:39] » Thank you, Thomas. Is there a second?
>> I'll second.
[18:41] » Thank you, Ron. All in favor?
>> Aye.
[18:44] » Aye.
>> Aye.
[18:46] » Okay.
Motion passes.
[18:49] » Thank you. The next item I have is the
annual MMO, the minimum municipal
[18:54] obligation. The township has two defined
benefit pension plans. One is uniform
[19:00] and one is non-uniform. The MML is a
required
[19:05] function that we go through every single
year to ensure that we are properly
[19:09] funding uh each of those those plans.
Um you'll note that for one of the plans
[19:15] the police the uniform plan, the MMO is
lower than it was last year.
[19:23] Uh the non-uniform one is higher than it
was last year, but it nets out to being
[19:29] a savings overall. And that's mostly due
to market performance as well as the the
[19:35] methods employed to smooth out any
actuarial gains or losses. So, that I'd
[19:42] I'd
request approval to
[19:45] uh execute the MMOs.
>> Okay. Any questions from the board?
[19:53] So, is there a motion to authorize the
[clears throat] township manager to sign
[19:56] the police MMO and the non-police MMO?
>> So moved.
[20:00] » Thank you, Tom. Is there a second?
>> I'll second.
[20:02] » Thank you, Ron.
All in favor?
[20:04] » Aye.
>> Aye.
[20:06] » All right. Motion passes.
Uh
[20:11] moving on.
>> Correct.
[20:12] » Yes, my most important item of the
evening. Um we did have a surplus
[20:17] vehicle that was put up on Municibid, a
2015 Chevy Impala, which was with the
[20:23] police department. In fact, I heard a
rumor it might have been even been the
[20:26] chief's vehicle at at one point. Uh came
over to administration and
[20:31] and planning and zoning and was used
there
[20:33] um and has reached the end of its useful
life here. Um the bid the highest bid
[20:37] received was 4,200.
Uh so, I'd request a motion to award the
[20:41] bid to Michael DePue for $4,200.
>> Okay. Anybody willing to make that
[20:46] motion?
>> So moved.
[20:48] » Thank you, Tom. Is there a second?
>> I'll second.
[20:50] » Thank you, Ron. All in favor?
>> Aye.
[20:52] » Aye.
>> Aye.
[20:54] » All right.
Motion passes.
[20:57] Over to Amanda for the engineer's
report.
[20:59] » Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have two um
releases under my report this evening.
[21:04] The first is Windrows Edge, and that is
a release of the maintenance escrow. So,
[21:09] this is essentially
the final release for this subdivision.
[21:14] This is a seven lot subdivision
known as the Yates property that was
[21:20] It was handled by Tri-State. So, John
Genovese is here from Tri-State if there
[21:24] are any project specific questions, but
otherwise you can entertain a motion.
[21:29] » Okay. Any questions or comments from the
board?
[21:36] Well, I hate to have you come out for
nothing.
[21:38] » Well, I was out here for Mr. Costigan,
so
[21:40] » Okay. All right. Well, fair enough.
So, is there a motion to approve
[21:44] maintenance escrow release number one in
the amount of $73,963.14?
[21:50] » So moved.
>> Thank you, Tom. Is there a second?
[21:52] » I'll second.
>> Thank you, Ron. All in favor?
[21:55] » I.
>> I.
[21:56] » I.
>> All right. Motion passes.
[22:00] Back to you, ma'am.
>> And my second item is a partial payment
[22:04] for the um contractor for the
streetscape project in the amount of
[22:08] $285,374.70.
[22:13] Um so, this is again a partial payment.
There will be at some point some final
[22:17] reconciliation of all the contract
um
[22:21] issues, I'll say.
Uh but for for now there um we've
[22:25] reviewed the the work that has been at
least installed and we're in agreement
[22:29] with it.
>> Okay. So, so my question is there has
[22:32] not been a settlement for their
missing the requirement that they agreed
[22:38] to of having it done before July 4th.
>> Again, I'm keeping track of it. Uh
[22:43] there's still a sub- significant amount
of money left in their contract. Um so,
[22:49] we will
>> Are we
[22:50] » work that out in the next payment.
>> um
[22:55] losing a negotiating position by making
this partial payment?
[22:58] » Not at all. I mean, this is
>> So, we anticipate some settlement.
[23:01] » Yes. yeah, absolutely. And again,
there's been um
[23:05] there's been some um
change orders along the way, so there's
[23:09] adds and there will certainly be deducts
as well. So, we will
[23:13] um
work that out in the next payment and
[23:17] I'm hoping that your the next one before
you will be the final negotiation of all
[23:21] that.
[23:24] » Any other questions?
[23:27] » I I have one question. This is Elizabeth
Um Brandon, uh
[23:34] do we have a time frame of the for the
remainder of construction?
[23:39] » Sure, good question. I yeah, I'm told
that we are supposed to uh be
[23:44] substantially complete with the project
by next week. Um so,
[23:48] we will see if that holds true, but I
would anticipate that most of the work
[23:52] is done by next week.
>> Thank you.
[23:58] » Okay. Um
So, is there a motion
[24:02] to approve payment request number one in
the amount of $285,374.70?
[24:07] » So moved.
>> Thank you, Tom. Is there a second?
[24:10] » I will second.
>> Thank you, Bron. All in favor?
[24:12] » I.
>> I.
[24:13] » I.
>> I.
[24:15] » All right. Motion passes.
Uh and moving on to our board and
[24:19] commission reports. In tonight's packets
are minutes from the Environmental
[24:22] Advisory Council meeting on July 14th,
2026, the Park and Rec Board uh on May
[24:28] 18th, 2026, and uh also in the packets
are department reports from
[24:33] Planning and Zoning Department, the
Finance Department, Fire Departments,
[24:36] Emergency Services, Fire Marshal, Police
Department, Public Works Department.
[24:41] And at this time, is there any
additional public comment?
[24:46] No?
So, I'll move for adjournment. Is Is
[24:49] there a motion to adjourn?
>> So moved.
[24:51] » Thank you, Tom. Is there a second?
>> Yes, I'll second.
[24:54] » Thank Thank All in favor? Aye.
Aye.
[24:57] » Aye.
>> Aye.
[24:58] » All right. This meeting's adjourned.