Board approves Verizon franchise ordinance after 2-1 vote; manager authorized to sign agreement

The West Bradford Township Board of Supervisors voted Feb. 10 to adopt Ordinance #26-02 authorizing a cable franchise agreement between the township and Verizon Pennsylvania LLC.

Kevin Houghton moved to adopt the ordinance and Jack M. Hines Jr. seconded. The motion carried 2-1, with Vice Chair Jack M. Hines Jr. recorded as voting no. The Board later took a separate motion authorizing Township Manager Justin Yaich to execute the franchise agreement; that motion carried unanimously, 3-0.

At the same meeting the Board adopted Ordinance #26-01, repealing section 133 of the West Bradford Township Code related to cable television; that motion carried 3-0.

During the public-comment period, Cheryl Wanko of Stargazers Road asked about the Board’s approach to data centers and whether the Land Preservation Committee had been consulted in related actions. Chair Laurie W. Abele replied earlier in the meeting that an engineer is handling local traffic concerns; the record shows the Land Preservation Committee matter was the subject of Resolution #26-03, which the Board adopted in this meeting.

The franchise ordinance creates the local authorization for Verizon to operate under terms set out in the ordinance and the franchise agreement; the Board’s action also cleared a separate administrative step when it authorized the township manager to execute the agreement.

Next steps: with manager authorization in place, the township may execute the franchise agreement with Verizon Pennsylvania LLC. The transcript does not specify the agreement’s effective date or detailed terms; those documents are not provided in the meeting minutes on file.