2009 News
November 19, 2009
"A Bucks County Success Story"
Commissioners Hold Bi-Monthly Business Meeting at Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County
Paying a visit to one of Bucks County’s economic and research leaders, the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County on Old Easton Rd. in Buckingham Township, the Board of Bucks County Commissioners today conducted a wide-ranging slate of business.
Commissioners Charles H. Martin, chairman, James F. Cawley, Esq., and Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW approved 37 contract resolutions for 18 county departments. They also received a warm welcome from PA Biotechnology Center President Dr. Timothy Block and former Delaware Valley College President and 2007 Bucks County Distinguished Citizen award recipient Dr. Joshua Feldstein.
“When we say this center is a regional resource for the county, we mean it,” Dr. Block noted during brief remarks. “Two years ago, this was an empty warehouse. Now, we have 220 people working in three buildings.” Dr. Block explained that scientists and researchers are working on liver disease and cancer issues in the center’s laboratories, and that 22 different companies have “spun out” from the research being conducted within the facility.
Commissioner Cawley, who is the founder and co-chair of the Bucks County Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB), thanked the Biotechnology Center for “putting Bucks on the map nationally and internationally.” He praised the center as a “hot spot,” one that has been prominently featured a valued partner in the 21st Century Alliance agreement the commissioners signed with the Republic of Korea’s Namdong District during July, 2009. “For a long time to come, we are going to be able to point to success stories here (at the PA Biotechnology Center),” Commissioner Cawley added.
Highlights of the contract resolution portion of the two-hour meeting included a $553,600 contract with Base II Enterprises of Minotola, NJ to elevate three homes in Bristol Township as part of the Neshaminy Creek Supplemental Work Plan, a two-year, $330,000 Community & Business Development contract to acquire and rehabilitate properties on Colonial Ave. and Liberator St. in Bristol Township, a $237,026 Emergency Services contract to conduct a regional interoperable communications survey and update regional emergency plans, a $535,000 partial acquisition of 90 North Main St. in Doylestown Borough from National Penn Bank (in lieu of condemnation), and the acquisition of 58 acres of open space in East Rockhill Township (the 45-acre Rufe property) and Tinicum Township (a 13-acre conservation easement on Headquarters Rd.). The county paid just $13,000 for the Tinicum property in Pipersville, a “real budget buster,” according to Tinicum officials.
County Fire Marshal Nick Rafferty thanked the board for considering and approving a $44,987 contract to purchase 3,050 smoke alarms to be installed in low- and moderate-income homes as part of the county’s ongoing “Operation Safe Home” program. Last year, in conjunction with volunteer fire companies throughout the county, Operation Safe Home installed 1,500, 10-year lithium battery smoke alarms. Mr. Rafferty complimented Assistant Fire Marshal Mark Kramer and county Grants Coordinator Fonta Reilly for their role in the successful public-safety effort.
Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia voted against three items, a $114,284 contract increase for excavation and disposal of non-hazardous contaminated soils encountered during construction of the new county parking garage, the acquisition of 90 North Main St., and the $11,332 renewal of medical liability insurance coverage for county Health Director Dr. David Damsker. She abstained on the three Bristol Township elevations and the regional interoperable communications survey contract for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Task Force.
During his Acting Chief Operating Officer report, Brian Hessenthaler touched on several items, calling on Dr. Damsker to report on the ongoing H1N1 inoculation of the county’s school-age children. Through November 17, when 11,000 doses were administered to Central Bucks School District students at three different locations, the county had delivered over 23,000 shots at eight sites. Dr. Damsker thanked the volunteers and members of the county’s Major Incident Response Team (or MIRT) for their ongoing efforts. Mr. Hessenthaler also spoke of a successful FEMA/PEMA training drill that took place November 17 at the county Emergency Operations Center involving a simulated accident at Montgomery County’s Limerick Nuclear Generating Station. He added that the preliminary 2010 county budget will be unveiled next Wednesday, November 25. “This is the most difficult budget since I have been here,” he added.
Commissioner Marseglia provided a report on efforts to create a “Code Blue” system in Bucks County, which will occur when conditions dip below 20 degrees Fahrenheit for two or more days and nights. The endeavor will involve a coalition of churches and synagogues, and the efforts of interested concerned volunteers. For more information about the coalition, please call 215-550-3868.
For a full audio account of the meeting and a copy of the business agenda, please visit www.BucksCounty.org. The next meeting of the commissioners will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, December 2, in the Bucks County Courthouse Community Room, 1st Floor, 55 E. Court St., Doylestown, PA 18901.