2010 News

July 8, 2010

Who Let The Dogs In?
Commissioners Cut Ribbon on Core Creek “Offleash” Dog Park, Conduct Bi-Monthly Meeting in Adjacent Tent

Before a chorus of approving canines on the sweltering evening of July 7, Bucks County Commissioner Chairman Charles H. Martin joined fellow Commissioners Jim Cawley and Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW to open the county’s two-acre “Offleash” Dog Park. The park, located near the Tollgate Rd. entrance to Core Creek Park, offers amenities for canines and caretakers alike that include water stations, segregated play features for “small” and “large” dogs, and plenty of room to roam.

“This been a long time coming,” Chairman Martin told a large group of interested onlookers. “We welcome you, and the dogs. More people have dogs than have kids.” Commissioner Cawley hailed the opening as a fiscal triumph, noting that the county General Services department completed the project – in just over a month – at a cost approximately one-quarter of what was widely quoted by some media outlets. “We have paid attention to the tax dollar,” Cawley added. Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia was joined by her Yorkie, Joey, and her Shih-tzus, Lola and Kandi, in christening the small dog area. “I’d like to say thank you to our General Services department. This was a labor of love,” she stated, adding her appreciation to Middletown Township for its role in making the dog park a reality.

Following the Dog Park gala – which featured dog-item giveaways from Pets Plus in Fairless Hills, Pet Valu in Newtown and Lick Your Chops in Richboro – the commissioners hosted their annual night-meeting cookout. The picnic featured hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelon and, on a night when temperatures hovered in the high 90’s, plenty of ice-cold water.

“Welcome to what has to be the hottest commissioners’ meeting in county history,” Chairman Martin said in calling the bi-weekly business meeting that followed the picnic to order. Prior to approving contracts for 14 different county departments and tabling one item (a $35,000 resolution to replace the Morrisville Library slate-roof entrance with Community Development Block Grant funding), Commissioner Cawley read a commendation to the first-response and rescue units involved in the May 25-28, 2010 search and recovery operation on Lake Galena. The effort involved 18 different units, including the Bucks County Park Rangers, the Bucks County Detectives, and multiple fire, police and EMS companies who came together to search for Dr. Raymond Shaw. After Commissioner Cawley read the commendation, Chairman Martin shared a handwritten letter of thanks from Dr. Shaw’s widow, Linda Shaw, to the emergency personnel who were involved. In part, it read: “It is difficult to adequately express our gratitude for all that you did in those four days. My sons and I never knew that so many brave, highly trained and self-sacrificing men and women are ready, at a moment’s notice, to answer the call for help! We are truly overwhelmed with the enormous response. A simple ‘thank you’ is not adequate. We were very happy to hear that many of our friends, family and business associates have generously contributed to the Bucks County Heroes Scholarship Fund in Ray’s name – he would be proud.”

Among the contract items approved by Commissioners Martin and Cawley (with Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia dissenting) was a $525,000 contract with Luzon, Inc. of Philadelphia to demolish the old parking garage. “This is an extremely favorable number,” explained county Director of Operations Jerry Anderson. “We were thinking it would come in at the $900,000 range.” According to Anderson, the demolition will require approximately 90 days to complete, with work commencing in August.

Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia also cast “no” votes on a Children & Youth contract to provide foster care and residential services at Scranton’s Friendship House, on five separate Community Development Block Grant contracts, on a pair of change orders relating to the new county parking garage, and on a $64,788 contract to purchase signs for preserved county properties.

The board unanimously approved a 40.966-acre conservation easement on Mine Hill Rd. in Durham Township through the Natural Areas Program Grant. The Rufe property is a Priority 1 acquisition that is part of the Cooks Creek Watershed and is near the Durham Bat Mine. It will feature public access, and represents part of an area of contiguous preserved properties.

The next meeting of the Bucks County Commissioners will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 21 at Sand Castle Winery, 755 River Rd., Erwinna. For an audio account of the July 7 meeting, please visit the home page of the official county website, www.BucksCounty.org.