2007 News

April 19, 2007

"Every Day is Earth Day in Bucks County"
Commissioners’ Efforts to Protect and Enrich Environment Detailed by Planning Commission Executive Director Lynn Bush

During a bi-monthly meeting of the Board of Bucks County Commissioners that was dedicated to environmental issues, Planning Commission Executive Director Lynn T. Bush unveiled a Top 10 list of measures the commissioners are taking to improve the quality of life and environment of Bucks County.

As a group of fifth graders from the Central Bucks School District studied field ecology in the background at Peace Valley Nature Center , the commissioners offered proclamations declaring April 22-28 “Celebrate Earth Week 2007” and “Soil & Stewardship Week.” They also announced the creation of an advisory committee to review recycling and conservation issues and devise an implementation plan. The county effort, also known as BEGIN (Bucks Employees’ Green Initiative), will be augmented by other community leaders and members of the Delaware Valley College staff. They will issue recommendations by June 30, 2007.

“We urge this committee to explore every option to make Bucks County government as environmentally friendly as possible,” said commissioners’ Chairman Charles H. Martin. Already, the commissioners have taken significant steps to address many of the “green” issues on Bush’s list, including:

• 10) Helping to Protect the Environment through Planning;
• 9) Reducing Emissions Through Smarter Transportation;
• 8) Encouraging Environmental Protection;
• 7) Stormwater Management;
• 6) County Owns and Operates Three Nature Centers (Churchville, Peace Valley and               Silver Lake);
• 5) County-wide Recycling Program;
• 4) Promoting Local Agriculture;
• 3) Internal County Policies in Practice;
• 2) Preserving Open Space;
• 1) Creation of BEGIN and the Implementation Task Force

OPEN SPACE TASK FORCE II ISSUES REPORT

Also highlighting the busy agenda was the presentation of a set of recommendations from
Open Space Task Force II, the 24-member citizen panel empanelled by the commissioners
in August, 2006, to chart a course for the future of county open space, agricultural, natural areas and municipal preservation. Task force Chairman Tony Belfield, of Bensalem Twp., offered the draft copy of the 31-page report to Chairman Martin.

“The land in Bucks County is our history,” Belfield told commissioners Martin, James F. Cawley, Esq., and Sandra A. Miller. “In a general sense, we think our recommendations build on the success (of the $59 million referendum that was overwhelmingly passed in 1997). We were asked to think outside the box. I think we’ve accomplished that.”

The board thanked Belfield and his task force, prompting Commissioner Miller to laud the venture as “an example of the wealth of talent we have in the county.”

AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION & EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

During the agenda portion of the meeting, the commissioners approved resolutions for 17 departments, including the 103rd farm acquired through the Bucks County Agricultural Preservation program. According to program Director Rich Harvey, the John J. and Patricia Shannon Farm is a 62.32-acre conservation easement that brings the county’s total preserved farmland acreage to 9,443. The county’s portion of the cost was $299,000 plus settlement charges and adjustments. The farm, located at 600 Spruce Hill Rd., grows sweet corn, pumpkin and rye and also is home to 30 cows and calves.

The commissioners approved submission of a $631,000 emergency communications grant and authorization process for wireless E9-1-1 funding from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. The grant took on a poignant significance when Commissioner Cawley described a recent call he made from his cellular phone regarding an automobile accident he witnessed. Cawley explained a delay in pinpointing the collision’s exact location. When the new system is in place, dispatchers will be able to locate a cell phone caller to within an accuracy of 40 feet.

Five proclamations that were issued also included National Letter Carriers’ Food Collection Day (which will take place May 12 throughout Bucks County), Bucks County Tobacco-Free Environments Day, and Infant Immunization Awareness Week.

Helping the commissioners recognize Infant Immunization Awareness Week was new mascot “Bee Diddy,” a yellow-and-black bumblebee who will be available to appear at Health Department events throughout the county. For more information about booking Bee Diddy for an appearance, contact the Health Department at 215-345-3318.

In addition, the commissioners will sponsor a cleanup at Core Creek Park, from 9 a.m.-noon, on Saturday, April 21. The cleanup will focus on the NOVA Peace Gardens. For more information about the event, contact Susan Castellani of the Parks & Recreation Department at 215-348-6114 (ext. 3301). She also can be reached via e-mail, at smcastellani@co.bucks.pa.us.