Voters Defeat Ballot Question To Reduce Council In Yardley Election

YARDLEY, PA —Voters went to the polls in Tuesday's general election to defeat a ballot question to reduce the size of the Borough Council from seven to five members.

With 100 percent of Yardley's one precinct reporting, residents cast 915 NO votes for the referendum with 670 residents voting YES, according to election results from the Bucks County Board of Elections.

The results are unofficial.

The Yardley Borough Council Size Referendum ballot question read:

"Shall the total number of members of council for the Borough of Yardley be reduced from seven to five in accordance with Section 818 of the Borough Code?"

The ballot question came about when resident Earl Markey got the referendum on the ballot after his petition led to a hearing and ruling by Court of Commons Pleas Judge Robert J. Mellon to have the question appear on the borough's Nov. 8 general election ballot.

Markey felt that the council size is too big for the borough's population and that neighboring towns such as Lower Makefield Township —with bigger populations —should be the ones that have councils with more members.

Council President Caroline Thompson has countered that Borough Council members serve as volunteers and do not receive a salary or stipend for the work.

She said too, in a video statement she put together about her opinion on the referendum, that the borough has a lean budget with one full-time borough employee, Johnson.

Mayor Chris Harding also posted on Thompson's Facebook page that he also opposed the ballot referendum and asked people to listen to Thompson's opinion.

New Councilman David Appelbaum has also voiced his opposition in a story to Patch.

Borough Manager Paula Johnson said it was the first ballot question in her 16 years working for the borough.