September 26 , 2007

Commissioners, President Judge Host Annual
Employee Recognition Festivities

As the mid-day sun provided a glorious backdrop to spotlight some of Bucks County government’s finest employees, Commissioners Charles H. Martin, chairman, James F. Cawley, Esq., and Sandra A. Miller, Chief Operating Officer David M. Sanko and President Judge David W. Heckler saluted 2,700 county employees for their contributions over the last year.

The annual Bucks County Employee Recognition Day was held on Broad St., which was closed to traffic for the 90-minute ceremony. The highlights of this year’s event included the presentation of four Bucks County Award for Excellence plaques, which were chosen personally by the three commissioners and the president judge through nominations by the Bucks Employees Saving Taxes (BEST) Committee. This year’s winners included Alice Anderson of the Prothonotary office, Paul Abraham of Juvenile Probation, David McCash of MH/MR and Patricia Villareale of Security.

“It has been a year of great accomplishment for the county, including ongoing open space and farm preservation efforts, an unprecedented number of capital projects, a successful transition to electronic voting machines, sound fiscal management that includes an upgraded bond rating, a corrections facility that just received a 100-percent compliance state inspection report, and an ever-escalating commitment to emergency preparedness,” Chairman Martin told more than 1,000 employees who were treated to a hoagie lunch.

“I’d like to thank each of you for your ongoing service to the residents of Bucks County, the commissioners, the county administrators, and your co-workers,” Sanko said during his address.

Judge Heckler focused his annual remarks on county taxpayers, noting that they look to their government for “value, appropriate respect and competently delivered service.” Heckler added that Bucks County is regarded as a benchmark around the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. “We do it right in Bucks County,” Heckler said proudly.

The day was also memorable as the final Employee Recognition Day for Commissioner Miller – the longest tenured commissioner in Bucks County history. Her colleagues presented her with a plaque recognizing her many contributions to county administration since taking office in 1991.

“These fellows I work with try to put things over on me, and I try not to let them,” Commissioner Miller said, referring to her fellow commissioners, COO Sanko and Judge Heckler. “Obviously, I failed. It has been a pleasure to work with all of you. You set high standards, and I thank you for all you do.”

The commissioners, COO and president judge also honored county employees who reached 20- and 30-year service milestones – which represented a particularly large group this year.

“I look forward to working with you for years to come,” Commissioner Cawley told the gathering.

Following are the 2007 nominees for the Bucks County Award for Excellence:

Paul Abraham              Juvenile Probation
Alice Anderson             Prothonotary
Michael Bannon           Consumer Protection/W&M
Robert Behney             Area Agency on Aging
Frederick Blunt             Emergency Communications
Paul Brady                     Voting Machines
Claudia Bullock            Health Dept.— WIC
Peggy DeVito                Neshaminy Manor
Marie Hausknecht        Prothonotary
Eileen Hudson             Clerk of Courts
Barbara Kalin                Information Services
Rebecca Kiefer            Register of Wills
Genevie Kostick           Health Dept.—Quakertown
Melissa Laird                Brd of Elect/Voter Registration
Regina Martin               Clerk of Courts
Nancy McCann             ERP
David McCash             MH/MR
May McDonnell             Children & Youth
Keith Preston                Coroner’s office
Mary Scannelli              Sheriff’s office
Ben Tomczak                Information Services
Patricia Villareale         Security
Donna Wright                Brd of Elec./Voter Registration