2010 News

March 3, 2010

Food Donations Down, Demand Up
United Way Offers a Helping Hand to Those in Need

More than 63,000 pounds of generosity still didn’t provide enough food for those 88,000 Bucks County residents in need last year, but the United Way is hopeful that 2010 will bring more donations. At their first meeting of the month, the Bucks County Commissioners presented a proclamation for Operation Helping Hand Day, and welcomed United Way of Bucks County President and CEO Bill Schofield, who implored parents throughout the county to “send those kids to school on (Wednesday) March 10 with a bag of food.”  Schools are among the community collection points that will feed into nine community cupboards and two residential programs.  Commissioners Charles H. Martin, Jim Cawley and Diane Ellis-Marseglia also recognized Resiliency Awareness Day with a proclamation presented to Gina Salamone and Chad Owens of the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission.

With no public comment offered, commissioners turned their attention to the 12 departments and 29 contracts slated for consideration. A trio of resolutions from the Coroner was tabled, as the commissioners directed Acting Chief Operating Officer (COO) Brian Hessenthaler to examine possible economies of scale if toxicology and other testing were to be done at the morgue/crime lab as opposed to outside vendors.    Hessenthaler was also directed to explore whether a general and professional liability policy for Neshaminy Manor could be bought directly from the County Commissioners Association of PA as opposed to through a broker. That item was also tabled.

Among the items that were unanimously approved was a reaccreditation contract for the community corrections centers with the American Correctional Association (ACA). According to Director Harris Gubernick, accreditation exemplifies the facilities are operating within nationally recognized standards of excellence.  The ACA also provides updates in the law, best practices and other insights to staff. This marks the second reaccreditation, according to Gubernick.

A General Services contract was approved to make ADA accessibility upgrades as well as other site upgrades to seven comfort stations at Core Creek Park and at the sidewalk of the Bucks County Health Department. Director of Operations Jerry Anderson also briefly discussed plans to move the Parks and Recreation office and park rangers to a facility on the grounds of the Tile Works in Doylestown. Hessenthaler was asked to provide an update on the project feasibility by the next commissioners’ meeting.

Hearkening to the most recent snow storm, Hessenthaler, during his COO report, reminded gatherers that the Community & Business Development workshop postponed from February 25 was rescheduled for 8:30 a.m.-noon on Friday, March 5 at the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce office (252 W. Swamp Rd., Suite 23, Doylestown). This free workshop, part of the chamber’s Making Buck$ In and Out of Bucks series, will focus on government purchasing and procurement methods. In addition, on Tuesday, March 9, the county will offer an installment of the Lower Bucks County Chamber of Commerce (LBCCC) Roadmap to Recovery series. This free workshop, focusing on “Loan Programs to Assist Your Business with the Roadmap to Recovery,” will be conducted from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at the LBCCC offices in Fairless Hills (409 Hood Blvd.).

A word of caution went out to New Hope/Solebury residents following two residents being bitten by a feral cat that subsequently tested positive for rabies. According to the Health Department, these cats usually live in colonies so there may be others that are infected. Hessenthaler advises not to touch unfamiliar animals, and to keep pets supervised when outdoors.  

“In typical Bucks County style, we have done more with less,” Acting Chief Clerk Lynn Bush told the commissioners when asked for her update, referring to the county’s highly successful agricultural preservation program. She noted that the board did a comparison, and found that Bucks preserved more land at less of a per-acre cost than neighboring Montgomery County.

In winding down the meeting, Commissioner Martin pointed out that on March 31, the county will host a municipal elected officials meeting at the Bucks County Community College, where common items such as economic development, the county’s comprehensive plan, and emergency management topics will be discussed.

The next meeting of the commissioners will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 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.