Local Government – Falls Township

Falls Supervisors Approve Payment Increases for Municipal Bldg Project, Contract for Footbridge, 2 Ordinance Changes

Published

2 years ago

July 4, 2024

Last month the Falls Township Board of Supervisors approved change requests from the contractors working on the new municipal building project.

The companies, Rycon and Grace, involved with the renovation project for the Falls Municipal Building asked for consideration of a change order for each company. The board approved the request for both. Rycon, the general contractor for the building renovations, asked for a change order totaling close to $295,000 for costs associated with unexpected circumstances with building construction. Grace, the construction management company, asking for the total projected increase close to $235,000 for costs also associated with unexpected circumstances with building construction.

The project was awarded in July to Rycon Construction in the amount of $19,230,000; and award the plumbing construction contract to Myco Mechanical, Inc., in the amount of $2,343,000

Work at the site is supposed to last until approximately October 2024, officials have said.

In other related Board news a contract was awarded for work on the Vermillion Hills footbridge on Vermont Lane to ABC Construction pending a favorable outcome of the responsible contractor review period. ABC Construction bid $72,500 and Township engineer Joseph Jones said the bid was “well below the budget” of $225,000 that had been earmarked for the project.

The Supervisors also amended an ordinance related to tree protection standards to add a fee in lieu of tree replacement. Township attorney Lauren Gallagher said the ordinance is not related to residential removal and planting of shade trees, adding that the ordinance is “pretty standard.” Wherever tree removal has occurred or is planned, related documentation must be forwarded to the township’s Shade Tree Commission, as well as the township engineer for review and recommendation.

Advertisement of an ordinance related to parking was authorized by the Supervisors. Gallagher said the various proposed changes to the ordinance were requested by the police department and would remove several restrictions that police said are no longer needed.

The proposed changes included allowing vehicles to park on Vermillion Way from Trenton Road to Vermont Lane. If adopted, the ordinance would remove the permit parking only during school hours restriction to the following areas: (1) Barberry Lane from Black Pine Lane to Buttonwood Lane; (2) 88 Buttonwood Drive; (3) Bluespruce Lane from Birch Drive to and including No. 82; (4) Bluespruce Lane from No. 101 to and including No. 69; (5) Briaroot Lane from Birch Drive to and including No. 80; (6) Briaroot Lane from Birch Drive to and including No. 75; (7) Black Pine Lane from Upper Birch Drive to and including No. 42; (8) Black Pine Lane from Upper Birch Drive to and including No. 37; and (9) Upper Bird Drive from Black Pine Lane to the township line, said township officials.

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Human Interest - Bensalem Township

Men of Harmony, Pennsbury JROTC Color Guard Opens 1st Falls BOS Meeting in New Building

Published

4 days ago

March 3, 2026

Joanne Ames

Pennsbury’s ROTC marched into position, flags in hand, as The Men of Harmony sang a patriotic welcome to the Falls Supervisors at their first meeting in the newly reopened area, according to a Falls Township official.

The meeting originally scheduled for Feb. 23 was postponed to March 2 due to the “Blizzard of 26.”

Once the performances concluded, Supervisors Chair Jeffrey Dence called the meeting back to order, thanking Pennsbury ROTC and the Men of Harmony.

He explained that the Men of Harmony started out as the US Steel Choir when US Steel was still active. “We felt it appropriate for a town built on steel to have them here tonight.”

“We kicked things off in the best way,” Supervisors Vice Chair Erin Mullen said with enthusiasm, “The performances were extraordinary.”

To continue the celebration, the board has invited the public to an open house next Monday, March 9 from 6pm to 8pm, offering a tour of the building and providing some light fare snacks.

In addition, board members had nothing but praise for the building.

Mullin said “…This has been such a long time. Everybody, most people in this room know that countless people, companies, meetings, committees, and it’s just so nice. I can’t like when our meeting got rescheduled last week, it was just like a still a whole another week, and now it feels so good to finally be in here. I can hear everyone. It’s wonderful.”

Credit: Joanne Ames – Lower Bucks Source

During the meeting, the two tax assessment settlements approved by the board will result in increased school, county, and municipal taxes from 2022 through at least 2026. These changes stem from the Pennsbury School District settling tax disputes, said Solicitor Mike Clark, with properties like Village of Pennbrook 2 LLC and Royal Manor seeing assessment increases effective from 2022. The new assessments are set to remain in place unless altered by another successful appeal, a countywide reassessment, or legal change.

The Village of Pennbrook 2 LLC, located at 9071 Mill Creek Road, will have the property’s assessment increased from $4,320,000 to $5,184,000, said Clark, an increase in assessment of $864,000.

Royal Manor, located at 937 W. Trenton Ave., will have its assessment increased from $691,560 to $829,870, said Clark, an increase in assessment of $138,310.

Education - Bensalem Township

Lower Bucks Schools to Hold “Remote” and Asynchronous Learning Tuesday

Published

2 weeks ago

February 23, 2026

Joanne Ames

Lower Bucks County public school districts announced their plans for Tuesday, the day after the blizzard of 26 as public school buildings will remain closed and “remote” or “asynchronous learning” is scheduled for students.

Below is a list of the schools and their website for Tuesday, Feb. 24. All are encouraged to use the links to see the full details of your school district.

Cops, Courts & Fire -Falls Township

Falls Twp Police Officer Retires After 39 Years of Distinguished Service

Published

4 weeks ago

February 7, 2026

Jeff Bohen

After serving residents for nearly four decades the longest tenured Falls Township Police officer Jonathon Caesar, announced his retirement last Sunday Feb 2.

Fellow officers lined the walkway into the newly completed home of the Falls Township Police Department last Sunday congratulating Caesar, wishing him a fond farewell.

Prior to policing the residents of Falls Township, he served his country as an active-duty member of the United State Marine Corps, before serving Bucks County as a Correctional Officer. Over the course of his career Officer.

Caesar was an accomplished member of the Bucks County South SWAT Team, a member of the Police Honor Guard Unit, was an Emergency Medical Technician, and a Drill Instructor for the Youth Police Academy.

Credit: Submitted

Well before working into his 39th year, Caesar earned the distinction of knowing just about everyone in Falls Township and the surrounding communities, while almost everyone also knew him.

His personal and professional life experience, and larger than life personality made him both approachable and relatable, as he was always able to charm, and disarm, when needed, the most volatile of people and situations.

Caesar was also incredibly courageous, and as tough as they come, each and every one of their police officers benefitted from the knowledge and mentorship when needed.

Officer Caesar served this agency and community with distinction, honor, and genuine care, police officials said

“His legacy consists of the countless lives he’s impacted and the knowledge, guidance, and mentoring he provided so many officers that came after him. Congratulations on your well-earned retirement, Jonathon, you will be greatly missed!”