2009 News
June 17, 2009
Commissioners Stress Public Safety Awareness
Board Proclaims June “National Safety Month” during Bi-Monthly Meeting at County Training Center in Doylestown Twp.
The Board of Bucks County Commissioners, Chairman Charles H. Martin, Jim Cawley and Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW today conducted what amounted to a “home game” today, meeting at the Bucks County Public Safety Center in Doylestown Township.
Inside one of the facility’s large training classrooms, the board approved 44 contracts for 14 departments and two budget adjustments during a brisk, one-hour, two-minute session.
The venue was significant as it took place in conjunction with the board’s proclamation of June as “National Safety Month.” As Chairman Martin noted during his reading of the document, the 2009 theme is “Celebrating Safe Communities.” County Police Training Director Harry McCann accepted the proclamation, explaining that the Public Safety Center conducted 103 police training programs last year. In addition, the facility hosted training for more than 3,000 police officers, 2,000 firemen and 600 corrections officers during 2008. “We offer ongoing, 24/7, 365 days-a-year programs,” Mr. McCann noted.
Mr. McCann also promoted an event that benefits a cause that is dear to Chairman Martin, the Bucks County Heroes Scholarship Fund. From 8 a.m. until approximately 10 p.m., at the Middletown Community Park (Langhorne-Yardley Rd. in Middletown Twp.), the Heroes Scholarship Fund will host a 100-inning softball game featuring the Middletown Twp. Police, Fire and EMS against the Bucks County Law Enforcement, Fire and EMS. Commissioners Cawley and Ellis-Marseglia will serve as guest umpires. For more about this charity event, please view the Heroes Scholarship Flyer.
The business resolution portion of the meeting featured the open-space acquisition of a 53.66-acre conservation easement on the Fleck property on Easton Rd. in Nockamixon Township. According to county Open Space Coordinator Kris Kern, the property features 1,300 feet of the Gallows Run Creek within the Gallows Run Watershed. According to Ms. Kern, the property is in close proximity to several additional pending open-space applications.
A pair of Finance Department contracts passed unanimously, including a four-year, $606,000 agreement with Zelenkofske Axelrod, LLC to perform an annual audit for the county’s financial operations. Finance Director Brian Hessenthaler noted that the company has audited Bucks County’s books since 1998, offering continuity – and gradually improved bond ratings - throughout that tenure of service.
The board also unanimously approved a cooperation agreement to allow receipt and administration of the Commonwealth Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program at Kinder Morgan in Fairless Hills. According to county Community and Business Development Director Vitor Vicente, the agreement will secure $700,000 for improvement in lighting security improvements for Kinder Morgan at the Port of Bucks County. In exchange, the company will agree to pump $1 million into the county economy. Kinder Morgan is one of the largest energy transportation and storage companies in America.
In addition to National Safety Month, the board issued one proclamation and one commendation. The commissioners, in conjunction with the Bucks County Health Department and Emergency Management Agency (EMA), cordially invited residents to attend a June 20 informational fair highlighting the Bucks County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). During the two-hour event, which begins at 11 a.m. at the Warrington Fire Company, 2310 Freedoms Way, the public can learn how to join more than 180 medical and non-medical volunteers who partner with county health and emergency service officials and first-responders to prepare for and respond to the unexpected. “The MRC is a wonderful organization,” said county Health Director Dr. David Damsker. “This will be a great little fair, and we are looking to get more people involved.”
The board commended Chalfont resident Meredith Buck for being named one of the three U.S. volunteers to win the 2009 Florence Nightingale Medal, the highest international medal that a nurse can receive. She is one of 28 winners worldwide, as selected by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for “exceptional courage and devotion to caring for the victims of armed conflict or other disasters, or exemplary services and a creative and pioneering spirit” in public health or nursing education. “This is quite an honor,” Ms. Buck told the assemblage. “As most of us, I don’t do it for recognition. I do it because I believe in it.”
Commissioner Martin announced to the crowd that on June 26 (National Take Your Dog to Work Day) the county will sponsor the Bucks County SPCA at the courthouse courtyard, in an effort to bring awareness of the importance of shelter adoption and kind treatment of animals. The SPCA will bring a variety of furry friends currently up for adoption, although actual adoptions will take place at their facility in Lahaska. Concurrently, employees will participate in the Cutest County Canine Contest, where pet photos will be submitted and voted on through mid-July. The cutest of the cute will receive special recognition at the commissioners’ annual evening meeting, July 15 at Peace Valley Park. All dogs (with their owners and a plastic bag) are welcomed to attend.
During his Chief Operating Officer’s report, David Sanko touched on several themes. He observed that, unlike past years, the county courthouse was open on Flag Day. Nearly 1,300 Bucks Countians were served, prompting Mr. Sanko to give kudos to unions for completing their bargaining agreements recently. He also referenced a draft letter regarding Pennsylvania House Bill 174, which would create an unfunded mandate of approximately $200,000 for county Health Department officials to inspect some 560 bakeries and grocery stores. Currently, those duties fall on the PA Department of Agriculture. To read the letter, please visit the county’s Web site.
For a full audio account of the meeting, please visit www.BucksCounty.org. The next meeting of the Bucks County Commissioners will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1 at the American Legion Morell Smith Post 440, 41 Linden Ave., Newtown, PA.