Category: Open Records/Transparency

My Supervisor Activities for February 2019

The following is a summary of my Supervisor-related activities for February, 2019. I spent only about 26 hours this month on official Supervisor business compared to an average of 50 hours per month in 2018. I attribute this below average number of hours to (1) time off for a vacation in Florida for a few days:

(2) the cancellation of meetings due to snow, and (3) two very short BOS Definition meetings, including the February 27 session featuring the swearing in a new Police Chief.

My log keeps track of the time spent on the following:

• Attending “Required” Meetings
• Preparation for BOS Meetings
• Attending Optional Meetings/Activities
• Interaction with Residents
• Travel To & From Meetings

Meetings

In the month of February 2019, I spent about 8 hours attending meetings. The average for the 4th quarter of 2018 was 16.1 hours per month. BOS meetings are “required” in the sense that I am expected to attend them in order to satisfy my duties as a Supervisor. These include regular bi-weekly public meetings, non-public executive sessions, public work sessions, and special meetings (see the list below).

“Other Meetings” I attended were optional. For February, 2019, I attended a Joint Zoning Council Definition meeting and the Annual BCATO Definition Convention on February 16, 2019

Interaction with Residents

In my opinion, personal interaction with residents regarding their concerns is an important part of my responsibilities as Supervisor. I want to be sure that I spend enough time reaching out to and responding to residents via personal contact, official email via my johnm@newtownpa.gov account and via my personal john@johnmacknewtown.info account, and via phone and/or Facebook.

In February, 2019, I spent 3.8 hours (15% of my total logged hours) interacting with residents compared to an average of 6.7 hours per month in the fourth quarter of 2018. What did I discuss with residents? Here’s a partial list (some items are not included for confidentiality reasons):

• Met with a resident interested in helping with activities related to the Human Relations Commission
• Discussed with a resident ideas for enforcing speed limit on Frost Lane in the school zone. For some background on that, read "Frost Lane Traffic Study".
• Participated in online discussions regarding Newtown Artesian Water Company's letter notifying residents that PFAS were detected in several sources of Township water.
• Facebook discussion about ideas for bringing new business to Newtown.

I decided to keep track of my activities as a Supervisor on a monthly basis partly because I want to be accountable to residents, but also to make sure I am making the best use of my time. It's really an honor to serve the community! I learn something new every day and have met many fine people and volunteers who also put in a lot of time without any compensation at all. Thanks to everyone who help keep Newtown in business and safe.

Compare to: John Mack's Supervisor Report for January 2019

Posted on 01 Mar 2019, 10:38 - Category: Open Records/Transparency

My Supervisor Activities for January 2019

The following is a summary of my Supervisor-related activities for January, 2019, which was a busy month in terms of interaction with residents but light in terms of time spent at official required meetings. In January, I spent a total of 56.3 hours on official Supervisor business. For comparison, in the last quarter of 2018 (Sep through Dec), I spent an average of 46.7 hours as Supervisor.

My log keeps track of the time spent on the following:

• Attending “Required” Meetings
• Preparation for BOS Meetings
• Attending Optional Meetings/Activities
• Interaction with Residents
• Travel To & From Meetings

Meetings

In the month of January 2019, I spent 8 hours attending meetings. The average for the 4th quarter of 2018 was 16.1 hours per month. BOS meetings are “required” in the sense that I am expected to attend them in order to satisfy my duties as a Supervisor. These include regular bi-weekly public meetings, non-public executive sessions, public work sessions, and special meetings (see the list below).

“Other Meetings” I attended were optional. For January, 2019, the only optional meeting I attended was the Technology Committee meeting. The following chart shows the breakdown of all my Supervisor-related activities for January, 2019:

Interaction with Residents

In my opinion, personal interaction with residents regarding their concerns is an important part of my responsibilities as Supervisor. I want to be sure that I spend enough time reaching out to and responding to residents via personal contact, official email via my johnm@newtownpa.gov account and via my personal john@johnmacknewtown.info account, and via phone and/or Facebook.

In January, 2019, I spent approximately 12.8 hours (24% of my total logged hours) interacting with residents compared to an average of 6.7 hours per month in the fourth quarter of 2018. What did I discuss with residents? Here’s a partial list (some items are not included for confidentiality reasons):

• Met with applicants for the newly formed Human Relations Commission (see who they are here)
• Helped a resident resolve an issue with the Township
• Discussed the Anti Opioid Manufacturers’ Civil Suit with residents in an online bulletin board (read “Newtown Township Joins Suit Against Opioid Manufacturers and Distributors”
• Miscellaneous email communications

I decided to keep track of my activities as a Supervisor on a monthly basis partly because I want to be accountable to residents, but also to make sure I am making the best use of my time. It's really an honor to serve the community! I learn something new every day and have met many fine people and volunteers who also put in a lot of time without any compensation at all. Thanks to everyone who help keep Newtown in business and safe.

Previous Reports

• John Mack’s Supervisor Report for December 2018
• John Mack’s Supervisor Report for November 2018
• John Mack’s Supervisor Report for October 2018

Posted on 02 Feb 2019, 13:01 - Category: Open Records/Transparency

My Supervisor Activities for December 2018

The following is a summary of my Supervisor-related activities for December, 2018, which was a “light” month in terms of official meetings due to the holidays. In December, I spent a total of 24.1 hours on official Supervisor business. For comparison, in November, I spent 58.5 hours as Supervisor (read “John Mack’s Supervisor Report for November 2018”).

My log keeps track of the time spent on the following:

• Attending “Required” Meetings
• Preparation for BOS Meetings
• Attending Optional Meetings/Activities
• Interaction with Residents
• Travel To & From Meetings

Meetings

In the month of December 2018, I spent only 3 hours attending meetings, which was significantly less than the 19 hours I spent attending meetings last month. BOS meetings are “required” in the sense that I am expected to attend them in order to satisfy my duties as a Supervisor. These include regular bi-weekly public meetings, non-public executive sessions, public work sessions, and special meetings (see the list below).

“Other Meetings” I attended were optional. For December, 2018, the only other optional meeting I attended was the regular monthly meeting of the Newtown Fire Association. The following chart shows the breakdown of all my Supervisor-related activities for December, 2018:

Interaction with Residents

In my opinion, personal interaction with residents regarding their concerns is an important part of my responsibilities as Supervisor. I want to be sure that I spend enough time reaching out to and responding to residents via personal contact, official email via my johnm@newtownpa.gov account and via my personal john@johnmacknewtown.info account, and via phone and/or Facebook.

In December, 2018, I spent approximately 6.5 hours (27% of my total logged hours) interacting with residents compared to 5 hours (8%) in November. What did I discuss with residents? Here’s a partial list (some items are not included for confidentiality reasons):

• Helping residents lodge complaints with the Township
• Providing information about various ordinances passed by the BOS
• Anti Opioid Manufacturers’ Civil Suit (read “Newtown Township Joins Suit Against Opioid Manufacturers and Distributors”
• Emergency Notification System (read “Does Newtown Need a Mobile-Enabled Emergency Notification System?”)

I decided to keep track of my activities as a Supervisor on a monthly basis partly because I want to be accountable to residents, but also to make sure I am making the best use of my time. It's really an honor to serve the community! I learn something new every day and have met many fine people and volunteers who also put in a lot of time without any compensation at all. Thanks to everyone who help keep Newtown in business and safe.

Posted on 02 Jan 2019, 11:22 - Category: Open Records/Transparency

My Supervisor Activities for November 2018

The following is a summary of my Supervisor-related activities for November, 2018. In November, I spent a total of 58.5 hours on official Supervisor business. For comparison, in October, I spent 57.5 hours as Supervisor (read “John Mack’s Supervisor Report for October 2018”).

My log keeps track of the time spent on the following:

• Attending “Required” Meetings
• Preparation for BOS Meetings
• Attending Optional Meetings/Activities
• Interaction with Residents
• Travel To & From Meetings

Meetings

In the month of November 2018, I estimate that I spent about 19 hours attending meetings, which was significantly less than the 34 hours I spent attending meetings last month. BOS meetings are “required” in the sense that I am expected to attend them in order to satisfy my duties as a Supervisor. These include regular bi-weekly public meetings, non-public executive sessions, public work sessions, and special meetings (see the list below).

“Other Meetings” I attended were optional. For November, 2018, these included:

1. Zoning Hearing Board: November 1, 2018
2. Finance Committee: November 13, 2018
3. Planning Commission: November 20, 2018
4. Technology Committee: November 27, 2018

I spent 6.9 hours attending these optional meetings. In total, I spent nearly 42 hours in November, 2018, attending all the above meetings, preparing for these meetings, and traveling to and from these meetings. The following chart shows the breakdown of all my Supervisor-related activities for November, 2018:

Interaction with Residents

In my opinion, personal interaction with residents regarding their concerns is an important part of my responsibilities as Supervisor. I want to be sure that I spend enough time reaching out to and responding to residents via personal contact, official email via my johnm@newtownpa.gov account and via my personal john@johnmacknewtown.info account, and via phone and/or Facebook.

For November, 2018, I spent approximately 5 hours (8% of my total logged hours) interacting with residents compared to 9 hours (16%)  in October. What did I discuss with residents? Here’s a partial list (some items are not included for confidentiality reasons):

• Noise issues related to KVK Tech fireworks (for background, read, “Board of Supervisors Decimate Noise Ordinance”)
• Text Amendment of CO Zoning Ordinance (for more on that, read “The Newtown Township Planning Commission Stymies Path Forward for Wawa - For Now”)
• Toll Brothers All Saints Development (read “Toll Brothers Twining Bridge Road Proposal”)
• Emergency Notification System (read “Does Newtown Need a Mobile-Enabled Emergency Notification System?”)

I spent some time working for you as Supervisor 22 days in the month in November (see chart).

I decided to keep track of my activities as a Supervisor on a monthly basis partly because I want to be accountable to residents, but also to make sure I am making the best use of my time. It's really an honor to serve the community! I learn something new every day and have met many fine people and volunteers who also put in a lot of time without any compensation at all. Thanks to everyone who help keep Newtown in business and safe.

Posted on 03 Dec 2018, 13:23 - Category: Open Records/Transparency

My Supervisor Activities for October 2018

As I reported in September, Newtown Supervisors prepare for and attend a lot of meetings (read “A Month in the Life of a Newtown Supervisor: Meetings, Meetings, and More Meetings!”). Some of us also spend time doing other things as well, such as having full-time jobs, being parents, and volunteering for other community services.

Admittedly, I have a lot of free time to devote to my Supervisor duties – perhaps more than other Supervisors. I am a retired businessman whose children are adults and sad to say, I do not have any grandchildren to keep me busy, yet! And I am not a golfer! So, for me, I have the “luxury” of devoting as much time to being a Supervisor as I wish. This month, for example, I spent a total of 57.5 hours on official Supervisor-related activities. The following report provides details of how these hours were spent. 

I decided to keep track of my activities as a Supervisor on a monthly basis partly because I want to be accountable to residents, but also to make sure I am making the best use of my time.

My log keeps track of the time spent on the following:

• Attending “Required” Meetings
• Preparation for BOS Meetings
• Attending Optional Meetings/Activities
• Interaction with Residents
• Travel To & From Meetings

Meetings

In the month of October 2018, I estimate that I spent about 17 hours attending meetings, which was significantly less than the 34 hours I spent attending meetings last month. BOS meetings are “required” in the sense that I am expected to attend them in order to satisfy my duties as a Supervisor. These include regular bi-weekly public meetings, non-public Executive Sessions Definition, public Work Sessions Definition, and special meetings (see the list below).

“Other Meetings” I attended were optional. For October, 2018, these included:

1. Planning Commission meetings: October 2 and 16, 2018
2. Zoning Hearing Board meeting: October 4, 2018
3. Finance Committee meeting: October 9, 2018
4. Joint Historic Commission meeting: October 22, 2018

I spent 8.8 hours attending these optional meetings. In total, I spent nearly 33.7 hours in October, 2018, attending all the above meetings, preparing for these meetings, and traveling to and from these meetings. The following chart shows the breakdown of all my Supervisor-related activities for October, 2018:

Interaction with Residents

In my opinion, personal interaction with residents regarding their concerns is an important part of my responsibilities as Supervisor. I want to be sure that I spend enough time reaching out to and responding to residents via personal contact, official email via my johnm@newtownpa.gov account and via my personal john@johnmacknewtown.info account, and via phone and/or Facebook. For October, 2018, I spent approximately 9 hours (16% of my total logged hours) interacting with residents.

What did I discuss with residents? Here’s a partial list (some items are not included for confidentiality reasons):

• Noise issues related to Sit-Stay (for background, read, “Board of Supervisors Decimate Noise Ordinance”)
• Review of newsletter article prior to publication with Finance Committee members (read “The Newtown Township Finance Committee Warns of Approaching Precipice”)
• Text Amendment of CO Zoning Ordinance (for more on that, read “The Newtown Township Planning Commission Stymies Path Forward for Wawa - For Now”)
• Traffic Impact Fee Advisory Committee (for background, read “$1.6 Million Available for Traffic Improvements BUT It Can't Be Spent!”)

I spent some time nearly every day of the month in October working for you as Supervisor (see chart below). Not that I’m complaining! It's really an honor to serve the community! I learn something new every day and have met many fine people and volunteers who also put in a lot of time without any compensation at all. Thanks to everyone who help keep Newtown in business and safe.

Posted on 01 Nov 2018, 01:41 - Category: Open Records/Transparency