2010 News
February 4, 2010
Community Development Money Allocated
$3.8 million aimed at social services, housing, handicapped accessibility, and community improvements
Yesterday, commissioners approved contracts for 13 departments and tabled one, pending further information. Discussion between the commissioners and Director of Operations Jerry Anderson centered on proposed upgrades to the former visitors center building in Doylestown Township near the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works. According to Anderson, General Services is considering relocating the Parks and Recreation office, along with the rangers, from Core Creek Park to the more centrally located Doylestown building. The item has been tabled so that Anderson can more closely study plan feasibility.
Following public hearings and recommendations from the Community Development Advisory Board and Housing Finance Board, the commissioners, Charles H. Martin, chairman, Jim Cawley and Diane Ellis-Marseglia, approved an action plan for its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnership (HOME) program, and Emergency Shelter Grant funding. The five-year plan provides $2.4 million for over 30 CDBG projects (we will hyperlink them here), $104,000 for A Woman’s Place, Bucks County Housing Group and the American Red Cross, and $4.8 million for 11 projects assisting low and moderate-income first-time home buyers, renters and persons with special needs. Commissioner Marseglia dissented on items for Doylestown Borough, and Lower Southampton, Solebury, Doylestown, Northampton and Newtown townships. She also voted no on two Area Agency on Aging contracts, a Finance contract, and a lease agreement for a rental property.
Adding to the county’s cherished open space inventory, program coordinator Kris Kern described a 50-acre conservation easement for a Springfield Township property identified in the Natural Areas Inventory. Kern noted that the property contains forested headwaters of the Tohickon Creek watershed, a significant natural resource for preservation. One-third of the property is used for agriculture.
During the chief operating officer’s report, acting COO Brian Hessenthaler updated the commissioners and attendees on the Department of Consumer Protection’s efforts to assist scammed students from .ComputerTraining.edu. Working with officials from the attorney general’s office and the Bucks County Community College, Consumer Protection discovered that not only had students not gotten instruction they paid for, but that the cost of the courses was nearly $20,000 more than the BCCC charged for the same instruction. The college is holding a meeting for affected students Thursday, Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. on the Newtown Campus. Hessenthaler also cautioned that a winter storm could affect the area on Friday evening into Saturday, with 10 or more inches of snow.
Acting Chief Clerk Lynn Bush added that she is monitoring the potential impact to the county from tolling on I-80 and the Scudders Falls Bridge.
Referring to an article in the Intelligencer this week, Commissioner Cawley stressed the importance of the county as environmental steward of the Hidden Valley Landfill. It was reported that there were communication difficulties between the township and the county. Cawley disputed the accusation, noting that the county has been scheduled to update township officials and residents at their upcoming meeting.
The chairman concluded the meeting with two reminders – the first about the public forum to be held February 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Central Bucks West High School in the auditorium, intended to update residents on plans for the new justice center. Jerry Anderson and several of the architects will provide information, illustrations and answer questions. Also, Chairman Martin reminded the group that the next meeting of the commissioners will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 17 in the Bucks County Courthouse, Doylestown.
For a full audio account of the meeting and a copy of the business agenda, please visit www.BucksCounty.org.