Late October/November 2021
2022 Township Budget Adopted; Taxes Reduced

The Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted its 2022 Township Budget on October 19, 2021. The budget allows Upper Makefield Township to continue to provide a high level of service to residents while maintaining a comfortable fund balance, continuing paydown of debt and reducing taxes.
 
The budget approval follows nearly three months of departmental budget preparations and reviews by the Board of Supervisors, including public meetings held on September 14, 20, and 21.
 
Budget Highlights Include:

  • Adoption and funding of a Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan for Administration/Facilities, Police and Public Works. In addition to the purchase of two police vehicles and two public works trucks, the 2022 capital plan includes funding for streetscape crosswalks, radar signs and a backhoe.
  • One additional full-time police officer.
  • Fully funding both the police and non-police pension plans.
  • Contributions to the two volunteer fire companies serving the Township: Upper Makefield Fire Company and Lingohocken Fire Company.
  • Repayment of open space preservation debt and police building construction debt.
  • Road Improvement Program. The following roads are slated for improvement: Canal Run West, Court Jester, Decision Way West and East, Durham Boat Drive, Lookout Lane, Milyko Drive, Patriot Place, Taylor Way and portions of Little Road.
 
Since 2011, Upper Makefield Township’s real estate tax has been reduced from a high of 13.3525 mils to the 2022 level of 7.25 mils. The 2022 rate represents a tax reduction of 0.3525 mils from 2021.
Welcome Police
Officer Ryan Moore

Please join us in welcoming Officer Ryan Moore to the Upper Makefield family. Officer Moore was sworn in by District Justice Michael Petrucci at the Board of Supervisors Public Meeting on October 19, 2021. His fellow officers and Chief Mark Schmidt joined the Board of Supervisors for the ceremony.
 
Officer Moore says he has been interested in becoming a police officer since childhood— when he saw other officers at work helping others. "I chose this career because no two days look the same. This profession consistently challenges your skills, mindset and abilities. Being able to contribute to a team that's committed to serving and protecting my community is a great honor and why I chose this path."
 
Officer Moore comes to the Upper Makefield Police Department with six years' experience as an officer with the Warrington Township Police Department. He's a 2013 graduate of the Temple University Police Academy and launched his career by working part-time for two years at the New Hope Borough Police Department. He is also a member of the Bucks County Major Incident Response Team, a specialized unit of highly trained officers from Bucks County. 
Saturday, October 30, 2021, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Stop by the Township to Pack the Patrol Car with Holiday Gifts for Local Students

The Upper Makefield Township Police invite you to the 1st Annual Pack the Patrol Car event on Saturday, October 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
 
Stop by the Municipal Building parking lot at 1076 Eagle Road with a donation of items to be used for our Shop with a Cop event. Chief Schmidt and Judge Petrucci will be there along with UMTPD officers to thank our residents and to hand out Halloween candy to kids who stop by dressed in their costumes. Help make the holidays a little happier for those in need!

Patrol Car Wish List: Art supplies, coloring books and stickers; small toys, card games and books; hats, socks, gloves; holiday gift bags, tape and ribbon; hair bands and brushes; holiday stockings; personal grooming items like toothbrushes, shampoo, mouthwash, dental floss, deodorant and nail polish.
 
Shop with a Cop – December 11, 2021
Gifts and donations from the October 30, 2021, event will go toward the Police Department's Shop with a Cop program. Upper Makefield Township Police, along with officers from Newtown Borough, Newtown Township and Northampton Township, will volunteer their time to shop with Council Rock elementary and middle school students who are facing a challenge or hardship. Officers will be paired with students for holiday shopping and festivities at Target on December 11, 2021. An estimated 125 children will participate this year.
 
This will be Upper Makefield’s 4th year participating in the National Shop with a Cop Program hosted by Target. It is funded through the generosity of our local community’s residents and businesses. If you would like to support Shop with a Cop, please donate by November 29, 2021.
Is your Street Address Visible for Emergency Services to Help You?

Help us find you when you need emergency services! Are your house numbers easily visible to emergency responders from the street, both day and night? If not, you may purchase a reflective address sign from the Township for just $12. Signs are 18″ by 6″ and have a reflective green background with white numbers. They come with mounting hardware and can be made to read either vertically or horizontally. Download this order form or call the Township at 215-968-3340 for more information.
Who Plows My Road?
Winter Roadway Maintenance

Every winter Upper Makefield Public Works employees plow 56 miles of Township roads and more than 13 miles of State roads. When and who plows your road to manage snow and ice depends on maintenance contracts shared by the Township and PennDOT:
 
Upper Makefield Township's Public Works Department maintains and plows all Township roads and the following State roads:
  • Wrightstown Road
  • Stoneybrook Road
  • Eagle Road
  • Lurgan Road

PennDOT maintains these State roads within Upper Makefield:
  • Dolington Road
  • Pineville Road
  • Route 32
  • Route 532
  • Route 232
  • Stoopville Road
  • Street Road from Lurgan Road to Solebury Township Line
  • Taylorsville Road
Roads not dedicated to Upper Makefield or the State must be plowed privately.
 
Help Us Help You
Help us plow faster and better by following these guidelines:
  • Do not park on the roadway when a snowfall of 4 inches or more is expected.
  • Residents in un-curbed developments should mark their lawns with 4-foot posts (you can also use reflective markers) approximately 2 feet from the road edge.
  • Remove trash cans and other objects from the roadway.
 
When shoveling:
  • Wait to clear snow from driveways until plow trucks have cleared all the snow from the roadway, or shovel to the right of your driveway to reduce snow pushback.
  • Do not put driveway snow in the roadway.

Inspect your mailbox:
  • Check your mailbox and posts for signs of rust or dry rot and make necessary repairs before the winter season begins. Mailboxes should be securely fastened to a sturdy post which is firmly anchored in the ground to resist the impact of plowed snow. Placement of the mailbox must meet United States Postal Service regulations.
UMT Police Join Bucks County Police Assisting in Recovery Program

When someone in Bucks County needs help with substance abuse problems, the Bucks County Police Assisting in Recovery (BPAIR) program is a valuable resource. Upper Makefield's Police Department is proud to be a part of the BPAIR program, which links people with substance abuse concerns—and their families—with treatment, resources, support and services.
 
For information, call 215-968-3020 or visit the Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission website.
Volunteers Needed for UMT Boards and Commissions

Do you have an interest in serving on a Township volunteer board or committee? Submit a volunteer board application, which can be found on the Boards/Commissions page of our website. You can also review descriptions of the committees and read meeting minutes to learn where your interests or experience are best matched.
Roundup
Saturday, October 30, 2021
1st Annual Pack the Patrol Car Event
  • UMT Municipal Building parking lot, 1076 Eagle Road, Newtown
  • 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Your gifts benefit the 4th Annual Shop with a Cop program for students from the Council Rock School District.

Saturday, October 30, 2021
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event

Tuesday, November 2, 2021
Election Day
  • Polling place for all Upper Makefield Township voters is Sol Feinstone Elementary School, 1090 Eagle Road.
  • Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday, November 7, 2021
Daylight Savings Time Ends
  • Remember to turn your clocks back.

November 2021
Township Office Hours
  • Township offices will be closed in observance of these holidays in November:
  • Veteran's Day, Thursday, November 11, 2021.
  • Thanksgiving, Thursday and Friday, November 25 and 26, 2021.
Upper Makefield Township | uppermakefield.org | 215-968-3340