2006 News

November 16 , 2006

Bucks County Commissioners Hold Bi-Monthly Meeting at Historic Riegelsville Borough Hall
General ElectionPubli Education Successes and November 18 Pandemic Flu Exercise Details Highlight Second November Session

Tucked neatly into Bucks County’s extreme northeast corner is the Borough of Riegelsville. One of the county’s most scenic outposts, it is indicative of the commissioners’ recently concluded BUCKS VOTES educational initiative and their recently fulfilled commitment to reach out to all 54 county municipalities for the Nov. 7 General Election.

Before unanimously approving resolutions to 17 county departments inside Riegelsville’s 1880’s-era municipal building, Commissioners James F. Cawley, Esq., Charles H. Martin and Sandra A. Miller issued letters of commendation to BUCKS VOTES Project Manager Theresa Savage, the Bucks County Board of Elections, and the League of Women Voters of Bucks County.

“We want to recognize the groups that were responsible for the excellent conduct of our election,” Cawley told the gathering.

Commissioner Martin praised Savage, who now returns to her job as director of the county Tax Claim Department, for her “trademark optimism and enthusiasm” and for “spearheading the effort to create many avenues of education on the new machines, for both voters and county election officials.”

“I want to thank the commissioners for giving me this opportunity to be a part of Bucks County history,” Savage said.

Commissioner Miller saluted the League of Women Voters for “contributing to the involvement of many county citizens in the process of democracy” by partnering in the BUCKS VOTES initiative to directly conduct 52 educational sessions at locations all around the county.

“We would very much like to thank the Bucks County Commissioners for letting us be a part (of BUCKS VOTES),” said League of Women Voters member Kathleen Saunders, who was accompanied by fellow member Stacey Mulholland, the League representative in the commissioners’ voter education training video. “The three keys to success were the educators in the communities, the people in the communities who warmly welcomed us, and the commissioners.”

Commissioner Cawley recognized the Board of Elections and Director Deena K. Dean for “committing themselves to meeting the challenges of the new voting machines throughout the county.” The Board of Elections processed over 10,000 new voter registration applications and 9,238 address changes while also sending out 11,190 absentee ballots.

“We worked long and hard at this election. The Board of Elections is dedicated to honesty and integrity,” Dean said.

In preparation for the county’s next large-scale project, Health Director Dr. Eleanor Travers discussed the Nov. 18 Pandemic Flu Drill along with Personal Health Services Director Barbara Schellhorn and epidemiologist Meredith Allen.

“This will be a special modification of last year’s flu shot distribution, which has included nine months of planning,” Dr. Travers explained, referring to the three points of dispensing (POD’s) that will be utilized – one at Perkasie’s Pennridge Central Middle School, one at Holland’s Council Rock South High School and one at Levittown’s Lower Bucks Government Service Center. “In this drill, the elderly are terribly important to us. Please alert all of your neighbors.”

Added Schellhorn, “At the ( Levittown) drive-through location, you are going to be able to stick out your arm and get your flu shot. This is a (preparatory) drill.” She adds that the county aims to evaluate its procedures and make corrections as needed in an exercise environment, instead of when an actual emergency occurs.

The commissioners also issued a proclamation declaring Nov. 30, 2006 as “Methamphetamine Awareness Day” throughout Bucks County. Accepting the proclamation were Melanie Swanson and Lara Ruesch from the Bucks County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.