2006 News

December 6 , 2006

Bucks County Commissioners Return to Courthouse for Bi-Monthly Meeting
Interdepartmental Pandemic Flu Exercise Commendations, Proclamations for 2006 County Poet Laureate and “Tree of Hope” Highlight Agenda

The Bucks County Board of Commissioners held its bi-monthly meeting today in the courthouse community room for the first time since March 1. Showcasing the spirit of intergovernmental cooperation, it represented a poignant homecoming.

Presenting letters of commendation to the county Emergency Services and Health Department and to the 21-municipality, 125-officer Major Incident Response Team (MIRT) in recognition of the Nov. 18 Pandemic Flu Drill, the commissioners struck a loud note of appreciation. Chairman Jim Cawley added his praise for Chief Operating Officer David Sanko’s efforts to coordinate the drill, a first-of-its-kind venture which inoculated 3,325 county residents at three different points of dispensing (POD’s).

“This was truly a wonderful exercise,” noted Commissioner Charley Martin, who visited the Council Rock South POD and waited “less than 10 minutes to receive a painless flu shot.”

“When we talk to our colleagues across the commonwealth, we find that Bucks County is a leader in emergency management and health administration,” said Commissioner Sandy Miller.

Upon accepting the Emergency Services commendation, Director John Dougherty thanked the commissioners for “many years of support,” while also lauding members of his team of dispatchers, emergency managers and emergency health personnel.

The meeting also featured the introduction of 2006 Bucks County poet laureate Marie Kane, an esteemed American Literature and creative writing teacher in the Central Bucks School District for the last 27 years. Bucks County’s poet laureate program is the longest-running in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Kane joined 29 predecessors as a recipient of the distinction.

While inviting Kane to recite one of her poems, “Watercress,” 2001 poet laureate and program administrator Dr. Allen Hoey of Bucks County Community College thanked the commissioners for their support, which “helps us to celebrate poetry on an annual basis.”

Kane, who has been entering the poet laureate competition for the last two decades, was chosen from among 70 applicants. Contest judges expressed admiration for the “focus and breadth” of her work.

The commissioners also announced the dedication of PRO-ACT’s 16 th annual “Tree of Hope,” which will take place at 6:30 p.m., Dec. 13, in the first floor lobby of the courthouse. The tree provides an opportunity “to publicly declare support for recovery from alcohol and other drug addictions.”

In addition to the proclamations/commendations, the commissioners unanimously approved resolutions for 15 departments along with three budget adjustments. One of the most significant appropriations was a $5.4 million, two-year contract with Lawson Software of St. Paul, MN to install and implement the new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, moving the county further away from the mainframe to a more modern, efficient system.

“This is the biggest opportunity to improve, internally, the process of county government,” explained Chief Information Officer Don Jacobs.

During his chief operating officer/managing director’ report, Sanko announced the posting of the Nov. 7 General Election results and again praised county employees’ “extraordinary effort” to educate the public about the use of the Danaher electronic voting machines.

Sanko also updated meeting attendees about recent crime scene and methamphetamine awareness events that took place recently on a county-owned, Doylestown Borough property slated for demolition. These exercises brought together federal, state, county and local agencies under one cost-effective umbrella.

“We are constantly using our resources, looking for the best utilization of the taxpayers’ money,” Sanko explained.

The commissioners also approved a participation agreement and sub-administrator contract to implement the Homeless Management Information System through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The four-and-a-half year agreement will allow Bucks County to be part of a statewide data system that includes 55 of the commonwealth’s 67 counties, and will standardize accounting for the homeless.

Pictures:
Top-- Front Row: Commissioner Charles Martin; Health Department's Janice Anastasi, Merideth Allen, and Dr Eleanor Travers; MIRT Representative Lt. John Godzieba, Bristol Township Police Department; Emergency Services Director John Dougherty, Health Department's Barbara Shellhorn, Commissioner Sandra Miller and Commissioner James Cawley. Back Row: Health Department's Mary Jane Costa, Emergency Health's Jason Diefenderfer, Emergency Communications' Scott Molle, and Fire Marsall Nick Rafferty.
Middle--Commissioner Martin, Commissioner Cawley, 2006 Poet Laureate Marie Kane, Dr. Allen Hoey, BCCC, and Commissioner Miller.
Bottom--Commissioner Martin, Commissioner Cawley, Michael McDonnell, PRO-ACT Volunteer Coordinator, Heidi Gordon, PRO-ACT Volunteer Coordinator, and Commissioner Miller.