2008 News

March 6, 2008

Bi-Monthly Commissioners’ Meeting Features a March of Proclamations
Presentations Made to Bucks County Purchasing & Consumer Protection Departments, United Way Operation Helping Hand and St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee

March is a month filled with community awareness and activity, which was reflected when the Board of Bucks County Commissioners presented four proclamations during its regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday in the courthouse community room.

Commissioner Charles H. Martin kicked off the proceedings by recognizing Purchasing Director Maureen McIlvaine and her staff on the occasion of National Purchasing Month. Praising the department for its role in the seamless execution of day-to-day purchasing functions of county government, the commissioners called on Mrs. McIvaine to accept the proclamation. During her remarks, she recognized her staff for processing $6.5 million of PNC rebate card transactions, for saving the county $136,000 in office furniture orders through a GSA contract, and for generating more than $40,000 through Internet surplus sales, among other accomplishments. “We try to save money, and have fun doing it,” McIlvaine told Martin, Commissioner Chairman James F. Cawley, Esq., and Commissioner Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW.

Commissioner Martin next recognized Consumer Protection Director Michael Bannon and his staff in support of the 10th annual Consumer Protection Week (March 2-8). This year’s theme is “Financial Literacy: A Sound Investment.”  Bannon thanked the commissioners for raising awareness of increasingly complex consumer issues, referencing several of the programs his department oversees, including the “Don’t Borrow Trouble” campaign and credit counseling. “We strive to work with folks who need advice before they get into trouble,” he said.

Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia recognized the United Way of Bucks County and representatives from Klinger Middle School (Centennial School District) and the private Newtown Friends School for their superior efforts in collecting food for the annual Operation Helping Hand project. This year’s event will take place on Wednesday, March 12, at outlets across the county. Last year, Operation Helping Hand collected almost 68,000 pounds of non-perishable food for donation to 11 outlets. “I thank the commissioners for bringing the spotlight on such an important issue,” United Way of Bucks County President & CEO Bill Schofield told Cawley, Martin and Ellis-Marseglia.

The final proclamation was a particularly poignant one for Chairman Cawley. For the majority of the 20-year history of the Bucks County St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Levittown, the commissioners’ proclamation has been presented by former Commissioner Sandra A. Miller. Today, Commissioner Cawley recognized 2008 Grand Marshal Edwards “Teddy” Ryan, who is being lauded for his many charitable and philanthropic works throughout the Delaware Valley. On hand to share in the occasion was Commissioner Miller, a former grand marshal of the event herself. “I am humbled by this great honor,” Ryan told meeting attendees. “I certainly was surprised, and I’m very proud.” This year’s parade will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, starting at St. Joseph the Worker parish on New Falls Rd.

The agenda portion of the meeting featured adoption of resolutions for seven departments, all but two of them by unanimous vote. Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia dissented on a pair of Public Works contracts, including approval of the 2008 rate schedule for Warrington’s Carroll Engineering Corporation and an acquisition of property in Doylestown Borough associated with the ongoing justice center complex project.

A highlight of the agenda was the $500,000 approval of a Natural Areas Program grant to acquire a 204-acre conservation easement on Roaring Rocks Rd. in Tinicum Twp. The amount represents one-third of the appraised value, according to county Open Space Coordinator Kris Kern. The tract, known as the Louden property, is in close proximity to over 500 previously preserved acres. The grant also represents the last of 64 open space projects preserved through the $59 million open-space referendum of 1997. Kern noted that those 64 open space projects comprised 2,722 acres.

Chief Operating Officer David Sanko detailed three items during his bi-monthly report, including a Feb. 27 letter from Pennsylvania Secretary of State Pedro Cortes confirming that Bucks County’s Danaher 1242 electronic voting system certification remains in effect.

Sanko also provided an update on conditions along the Neshaminy Creek and Delaware River, which are expected to crest within several feet of flood stage. Additionally, county officials are discussing a pilot project with state policy makers regarding a special project with senior citizens.

Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia expressed dissatisfaction with Sanko’s letter to Secretary of State Cortes, so she wrote her own letter to the secretary. She also made a motion that the county act to televise all commissioners’ meetings within the next six months. That motion died due to lack of a second. Chairman Cawley followed the failed motion by calling for a cost study of televised meetings for consideration by the board at a future date.

The majority of public comment again was dedicated to the county’s voting system, which was the subject of an extensive meeting with members of the Coalition for Voting Integrity (CVI) on Tuesday afternoon, March 4. An audio account of that meeting can be heard here.

For a full audio account of the March 5 meeting, click here.