2008 News

May 21, 2008

A Volunteer Call to Bucks Countians
Bi-Monthly Commissioners’ Meeting Held at Lingohocken Fire Company Celebrates Emergency Medical Services Week

They are heroic and unassuming. Amidst the conduct of a routine commissioners meeting, several volunteer firefighters from the Lingohocken Fire Company quietly walked into the bay, grabbed their equipment, and sped off to a call. They represent firefighters from across the county who put the safety of their communities first and answered the call to volunteer. At today’s commissioners’ meeting, Lingohocken Fire Company Chief Wayne Murphy urged volunteerism as part of his welcome to the group. Murphy told the crowd of the company’s nearly 100-year history, a centennial celebration they will celebrate in 2013.

The commissioners capitalized on the hospitality of the Lingohocken Fire Company and the theme of emergency service to recognize May 18-24 as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week. Jeryl Digideo, director of Bucks County Emergency Health, received a proclamation as she stood surrounded by EMS workers. Digideo accepted the proclamation on behalf of the more than 1,000 emergency medical technicians (EMT’s) and 250 paramedics who serve 17 stations and seven sub-stations throughout Bucks.

The commissioners continued their aggressive commitment to agricultural land preservation during today’s meeting with the approval of a 101.04-acre conservation easement on the Brubaker farm in Bedminster Twp. According to Agricultural Land Preservation Director Rich Harvey, the hay and corn farm featuring 4,000 feet of road frontage now brings the county’s total to 115 farms and 10,317 acres.

The farm preservation agreement involved one of the 12 departments that had resolutions approved during the meeting. Included was a modified proposal of rules and regulations governing public bathing places presented by the Health Department, as well as contracts to ensure progression with the Bucks County data center project. Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia voted nay on a grant agreement in the amount of $3,667,285 from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the proposed public bathing place rules, and a contract increase to upgrade grounding requirements for the county’s new 911 center.

Under miscellaneous items, the commissioners adopted an ordinance for financing by the Bucks County Community College Authority to provide funds for their capital expansion program. The $20.285 million bond will provide for the construction of the Lower Bucks fire training center, expansion of the upper Bucks campus, and ADA compliance projects at the main campus.

In addition to EMS Week, the proclamation portion of the agenda also included recognition of the 2008 High School Poet of the Year, Central Bucks East senior Sarah Denaci. A unanimous choice of the judges, Denaci edits the school literary magazine, Phantasmagoria, and plans to attend Brown University in the fall to study literature and math. She recited her poem, “Sun Lunges into a Spring.” Two other proclamations were presented, as well, including National Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week (May 19-25) and Habitat Bucks – Women Build Week (June 7-14). Since the launch of Habitat Bucks Women Build in 2005, 425 women have contributed more than 7,900 hours through the Women Build program at Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County. The commissioners were pleased to present Habitat for Humanity with a check for $3,500 to assist with their efforts.

Pointing out the correlation between open space preservation and tourism, Commissioner Cawley called on the Bucks County Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Bill Haas who presented “Dream Destinations,” a new book published by Life that features Bucks County as one of the world’s greatest 100 places to vacation. “New England’s got nothing on this,” Haas read from the book to those gathered.

Capping off the meeting was the chief operating officer report. David Sanko updated the commissioners on two items – the first of which was passage by the Pennsylvania legislature of the Prison Reform Bill package. Sanko noted final passage by the senate and governor was expected in the not so distant future. He also noted that the Board of Elections released turnout figures for the recent General Primary. Over 36 percent of Bucks County registered voters turned out for the primary this month, with 22.5 percent of Republicans casting their vote, and 62.2 percent of Democrats going to the polls.

For a full audio account of the May 21 meeting, please go to www.BucksCounty.org and click on the link on the commissioners’ meeting page.