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Newtown supervisors table decision on sending $133,000 in opioid-settlement funds to Bucks County
Summary
Supervisors debated whether to obligate Newtown’s $133,000 opioid-settlement distribution to Bucks County under a proposed MOU and ultimately voted to table action to allow further research; proponents said obligating funds preserves future distributions and supports the county co‑responder program, opponents sought firmer local guarantees.
The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors on June 10 tabled a proposed memorandum of understanding that would obligate the township’s opioid-settlement funds to Bucks County, after an extended debate over whether the township should keep the money for local programs or place it with the county for county-run services.
The MOU presented by the township solicitor would obligate the township’s current distribution and future opioid-settlement receipts to Bucks County for uses permitted under the settlement trust. The solicitor told the board the agreement has an initial two-year term and would automatically renew annually unless either party gives 90 days’ written notice of nonrenewal.
Why it matters: the township has $133,000 from opioid settlements this year but lacks local facilities and programs the settlement guidelines prescribe. Supporters of obligating the money to the county said doing so preserves future distributions and allows residents to access county-run services such as the co-responder program. Opponents said the township should pursue ways to use the funds directly in Newtown and worried obligating them to the county could reduce local control.
Residents and board members exchanged specific examples. Charlie Foyer, a resident, described county activity and the scale of the settlements: "Bucks County was awarded $70,000,000 in opioid settlement funds. They get it over 18 years, and they've already used 15,000,000 of it, for the drug center at Doylestown Hospital." He urged the board to consider local educational programs and grant applications before relinquishing funds.
Township officials said the county can operate programs the township cannot provide on its own. The chair summarized the practical limit: the co-responder program "has been paid for by the county, but that ended," and obligating funds to the county would allow the county to continue or reinstate services that benefit Newtown residents.
Opponents raised several questions about permitted uses. One supervisor asked whether labor costs and payroll could be covered under the settlement; the solicitor and manager said the settlement guidelines generally prohibit using the funds for ordinary labor costs and that permitted uses are narrowly defined in the settlement exhibit attached to the trust.
After discussion, Supervisor Phil Calabrio moved to table the authorization so the board could obtain more information and, if necessary, convene an additional meeting. "So I'm making a motion to table this this motion that was just made," Calabrio said. Following procedural debate and further comment, the board voted to table the matter.
What’s next: The tabling preserves the $133,000 in the township’s account for the moment and gives supervisors time to seek clarifications about permitted uses, whether the county will commit to the co-responder service for Newtown, and other local options such as targeted education grants. The solicitor noted there is an opt‑out clause in the agreement and the board could revisit the decision if the settlement terms or the township’s options change.
The board is expected to take up the matter again after additional research and outreach to county staff; no specific follow-up date was set during the meeting.
