Fred Gaines knows how to get things done. Just ask any of the Warrington Democrats who saluted the octogenarian in January at their annual kickoff party, honoring his 22 years serving the Warrington community. As a retired professional engineer and planner, Fred had lent his deep knowledge of infrastructure and water supply systems to the township, making him an invaluable asset. In a recent phone interview, Fred summed it up in his own good-humored way.
“Some of my best hare-brained ideas came to fruition,” he said.
In 2002, Warrington was a township with a water problem. Fred’s neighbor, a board supervisor at the time, asked if he’d join a committee to help solve their water supply and wastewater situation. Fred got involved and stayed involved in helping the township, eventually chairing the planning commission and the Environmental Advisory Council as well as sitting on the zoning hearing board. He also served six years on the Warrington Board of Supervisors of which he was elected chair in 2020.
“My career in wastewater and water utilities led me to understand that the existing infrastructure of Warrington Township was in significant disrepair and would require a great deal of upgrading. The financial impacts to the community would be significant,” he said. “I was able to convince the township manager and other members of the board that this was a serious problem and that we should divest ourselves of these utilities.”
He continued to put his expertise and experience to work, offering solutions on a range of problems. Former Board Supervisor Carol Baker is quoted on the Warrington Democrats’ website, stating, in part, “He can plan, analyze, and oversee the development of structures such as buildings, bridges, roads, dams, and water supply systems.”
From improving infrastructure to updating zoning laws, Fred favored long-term solutions over quick fixes. When the police department complained about raw sewage dripping down to the detective section in the basement, Fred did more than suggest they call a plumber.
“I realized that the police station was obsolete and so I planted a seed to get a new police station.”
And they did. In November 2020, Warrington Township Police Chief Dan Friel cut the ribbon on a new 18,000 square foot state-of-the-art police headquarters.
When faced with outdated zoning and subdivision laws, Fred led the way and included members of the community in the planning process.
“When we found that the zoning and subdivision laws were outdated, we could have just updated them and instead we went ahead and prepared new zoning and subdivision laws that were fair to developers, representing the interest of the community,” he said. “This was done by a committee, uniquely. Usually, ordinances are developed by the township solicitor. We brought in developers, local citizens, and members of the zoning hearing board to develop ordinances that the zoning hearing board would eventually hear, but since they had participated in it, there was a high probability they wouldn’t have any problem with the laws that we passed.”
Warrington Planning Commissioner Chairperson Bill Connelly fondly remembers working with Fred. They’d met in 2016 when Connelly first joined the committee on which Fred had already been a member for a number of years.
“He was always thoughtful and creative in his approach to problems. He led the effort to plan a better future for the township after many years of rapid and poorly planned growth,” Connelly stated in an email. “The result was entirely new zoning and development ordinances that now reflect the wishes and best interests of residents.”
Later, when the water supply was found to be contaminated, Connelly credits Fred with the sale of its in-house water and sewer utilities.
“Built at the behest of developers, the utility infrastructure was aging and much of its well water supply was contaminated with PFAS,” stated Connelly. “While the world wondered how much PFAS was safe, Fred took steps to ensure that Warrington’s water contained none by finding alternate supplies to well water. He then engineered the sale of the water and sewer system. That is not hard to do, per se, but Fred did it in a way that locked in low rates long term, insured the reinvestment the system so badly needed, made sure the public utilities that bought the system would provide opportunities for residents with contaminated private wells to connect to public water at reasonable cost, and that the municipal employees involved would find a safe landing with the system purchasers.”
READ: Democratic State Lawmakers Want to Clean Up Pennsylvania by Banning PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’
Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Fred had grown up using mass transit. So, in 2019 he introduced a plan to help older local residents get around without a car. He believed the opportunity for seniors to “jump on a jitney and go to the store” helped improve their lives.
“Warrington was a community of drivers. I was living in a 55+ community; there were six of them. Not all seniors can drive, not all seniors want to drive,” he said. “I was a city boy and used to mass transit. I was a senior in a leadership role and sat down with the township manager and said, ‘Let’s go after this.’”
His involvement led him to reach across the aisle to Republican Representative Todd Polinchock who had ties with Bucks County Transport and who Fred says was “very helpful in getting this thing done.”
In August 2023, Patch.com reported that Bucks County Transport had launched a new DART South Route to provide Warrington residents with convenient, affordable transportation.
“So here was a bipartisan activity—Republican and Democrat helping out the community. Boy, if that could happen all the time.”
As of this past October, Fred and his wife are residents of Warminster. When asked if he might volunteer for the Warminster Democrats, he replied, “I’ve been to a few meetings.”
