2007 News

December 5 , 2007

Commissioners Name Sandra A. Miller Bi-Monthly Meeting Chair for Remainder of 2007
In that Role, She Oversees Unanimous Approval of Contracts for 14 Departments

For the first time since Commissioner Elaine Zettick chaired the three-member Board of Bucks County Commissioners two-and-a-half decades ago, a woman presided over the board’s bi-monthly meeting. In that capacity, minority Commissioner Sandra A. Miller was honored for her distinguished record of service to the board.

“For a number of years, I’ve had the opportunity to be the chairman of this commission, and I certainly have enjoyed that,” 2007 Chairman Charles H. Martin said before consulting Vice-Chairman James F. Cawley, Esq. about nominating Commissioner Miller as meeting chair for the remainder of the calendar year. “Commissioner Miller, who is the longest serving commissioner in Bucks County history, except for one very brief public comment session, has never had the opportunity to serve as chair of the meetings. I think it would be appropriate to ask her if she would end her tenure by serving as the chair for the remainder of 2007. This has to do with recognizing her tenure of service.”

Commissioner Miller accepted the chair appointment with grace and dignity, noting before formal adjournment: “Madame Chairman has a nice ring.”

Following Commissioner Cawley’s concurrence and the ceremonial passing of the gavel from Commissioner Martin to Commissioner Miller, the board unanimously approved contract resolutions for 14 departments.

Highlights of the meeting included three land preservation acquisitions totaling 65 acres: the 35-acre Carr farm on Stump Rd. in Plumsteadville; a 24-acre conservation easement on the Caruso property in West Rockhill; and a 6.3-acre parkland acquisition in Bridgeton Township’s Ringing Rocks Park.

According to county Agricultural Preservation Director Rich Harvey, the Carr farm is a corn-growing property that represents the 112th farm preserved by Bucks County. The Agricultural Preservation total currently stands at 10,067 acres.

The Caruso property represents a Priority 1 acquisition through the Bucks County Natural Areas Inventory, according to county Open Space Coordinator Kris Kern. It is one of six projects the county has undertaken in West Rockhill Twp.

During his bi-weekly chief operating officer’s report, David M. Sanko announced the date of the annual public budget hearing, which will take place on Monday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m., in the courthouse community room (first floor near the Main St. entrance).

Sanko also provided an update on Pennsylvania House Bill 4, which would provide a legislative boost to ongoing efforts to counter overcrowding in county corrections facilities across the commonwealth. “Yesterday, the State House Judiciary Committee unanimously passed House Bill 4, which is a piece of legislation the commissioners have been very aggressively pushing for passage,” he reported. “It would essentially change the sentencing patterns, as they relate to (county) corrections, that anyone who is sentenced to more than two years must serve in a state facility. If that’s passed by House, Senate, and Governor, we anticipate that would free up as many as 200 beds in our current prison. We are optimistic. It does have the support of an awful lot of folks in Harrisburg, but the battle is not yet done.”

Another significant portion of Sanko’s report involved the county’s recently launched online food inspection reporting system, which has emerged as a valuable informational complement for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PCLB). Many of the restaurants in the county data base also have PCLB licenses.

Prior to Commissioner Miller accepting the chair’s gavel, the board presented a proclamation to Babette Benham of the Bucks County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. It designated the Tree of Hope as the county’s “official symbol of hope for recovery from alcohol and addiction.” The tree, which will be located in the courthouse’s first floor rotunda, will be in place Dec. 11, with the 17th annual ceremony scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 19.

The next commissioners’ meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 19, also in the courthouse community room.