2010 News
October 7, 2010
Commissioners “On the Road” During October 6 Meeting at Bucks County Community College Upper Bucks Campus
With the Perkiomen Creek meandering in the distance behind a large classroom window, the Board of Bucks County Commissioners conducted a two-hour business meeting Oct. 6 at the Upper Bucks Campus of the Bucks County Community College (BCCC). The campus, which serves the northern portion of the county, was dedicated in 1999 and expanded over the last year. BCCC President Dr. James Linksz welcomed Commissioners Charles H. Martin, chairman, James F. Cawley, Esq. and Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW, thanking the board for its partnership and its “continuing interest in the community college.”
Prior to approving a slate of contract resolutions that included 56 items for 19 county departments, the commissioners issued one commendation and one proclamation. The commendation went to 11-year-old Alexander Dimon of Perkasie, who received the Bucks County “9-1-1 Youth Hero Award” for 2010. On Aug. 19 of this year, the sixth-grader activated the county’s 9-1-1 emergency system to assist his grandmother, who had fallen down several steps in his home. County 9-1-1 officials instruct youngsters to know the municipality in which they reside, and Alexander handled that information perfectly. “I would like to thank my mom for teaching me all the procedures I needed to know,” he told meeting attendees before heading back to his middle school math class. Commissioner Marseglia, who read the commendation, added: “It is essential to teach our youth when it is appropriate to call 9-1-1, how to dial and what to say to dispatchers.”
Commissioner Cawley presented a proclamation the Perkasie Fire Company, declaring a day in honor of the company, which includes more than 50 members dedicated to community service. Perkasie Fire Company is a valued partner in the Bucks County Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Program (otherwise known as Fire Professionals Aiding Children, or FIRE PAC). The company serves the residents of Perkasie Borough, East Rockhill and Hilltown townships, as well as Sellersville Borough, Silverdale Borough and West Rockhill Township. “The Perkasie Fire Company has always been a leader in fire prevention and suppression,” stated county Fire Marshal Nicholas Rafferty.
Highlighting the contract agenda was a $1.499 million Information Technolgy contract with VisionAIR, Inc. to provide a Law Enforcement Records Management System for the District Attorney’s detectives and Sheriff’s office. The contract also will assist the Fire Marshal and other county offices such as Park Rangers in the near future. According to county Chief Information Officer Don Jacobs, this one-year contract is a critical data management advance and the first of its kind for Bucks County.
The county’s ongoing preservation of open space continued with the acquisition of a 30.3-acre conservation easement on the Slotter property on Shad Lane in Plumstead Township. The county’s portion of the easement cost is $232,500. According to county Open Space Coordinator Kris Kern, the property is located in area adjacent to 500 previously preserved acres of open space and parkland.
The commissioners debated the county’s annual funding to the Delaware Valley Planning Commission (DVRPC) work program, which this year was a requested amount of $143,236. Commissioners Cawley and Marseglia motioned to amend that amount to $138,000, both voting “aye” on the motion. Chairman Martin opposed the reduction.
For Parks and Recreation, the board approved the purchase of a pair of properties in the Neshaminy Creek flood zone through the NRCS Flood Mitigation Program. One of the homes, which will be torn down, is in Bristol Township and the other is in Lower Southampton Township. In order to support the continuation of the federal Flood Mitigation Program, the board also unanimously approved three contract increases totaling $1.1 million for engineering services related to the 35 properties remaining to be addressed. “We should be close to covering it all,” noted Dick Manna, quality assurance director for the county.
Although all 56 contract resolutions passed, Commissioner Marseglia cast a “nay” vote for a pair of Children & Youth Social Services Agency contracts to provide foster care services. They were with Aldersgate Youth Service Bureau of Willow Grove and The Children’s Home of Easton, respectively.
During his chief operating officer’s report, Brian Hessenthaler reminded residents of the county’s 5th Annual Pandemic Flu Drill, which will offer free flu shots to individuals ages 5 and up on Saturday, Nov. 13., from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The drive-thru format will take place in the parking lot of Sesame Place in Middletown Township. Mr. Hessenthaler also addressed the county’s “pilot program” shuttle from the new Parking Garage on Union St. to the Courthouse/Administration Building – a service that is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, October 12. He asked residents and county employees to be aware of the 12-14 passenger vehicle’s intended purpose, which is to assist the handicapped and those who have difficulty walking the hill between the Garage and the Courthouse. Mr. Hessenthaler also thanked the county Area Agency on Aging for a very successful 55-and-over job fair at the Bensalem Senior Center on Tuesday, Oct. 5. More than 750 job-seekers visited the fair.
Following a lengthy discussion of the Fairless Hills Turning Basin and potential Delaware River dredging that was prompted by Commissioner Marseglia, the board resolved to “support the dredging” efforts in upcoming months. There was no monetary commitment included in that resolution.
The next meeting of the Board of Bucks County Commissioners will take place at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 20, at the Croydon Fire Company, 911 State Rd., Croydon, PA 19021. For an audio account of the Oct. 6 meeting, please visit www.BucksCounty.org and click on the commissioners’ link.