2009 News
November 5, 2009
“Home Field Advantage”
Commissioners Conduct Bi-Monthly Business Meeting at Middletown Twp. Municipal Building, Hometown of Jim Cawley & Diane Ellis-Marseglia
On the same dais where she governed as a member of the Middletown Township Board of Supervisors until her election to the Board of Bucks County Commissioners in 2007, Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW joined fellow commissioner and Middletown resident James F. Cawley, Esq. and 2009 Commissioner Chairman Charles H. Martin to conduct a two-hour slate of business November 4. The meeting featured two proclamations, two commendations and the approval of 37 contract resolutions involving 15 departments and the tabling of one resolution.
Less than 12 hours after the final results of the General Election were tabulated from the county’s 307 voting districts, the commissioners’ board offered a few reflections on the election process. “This was another fair and impartial election that was completed in an efficient manner,” noted Acting Chief Operating Officer Brian Hessenthaler before Commissioners Martin and Cawley praised Board of Elections Director Deena Dean for efforts. Turnout for the election was just under 24 percent, according to Mr. Hessenthaler.
Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia opened the proceedings by reading a proclamation recognizing the organizers of the Middletown Veterans Park. “ Whereas, Middletown Township was approached in 2007 by Mr. Jim Remer with the with the idea to mobilize the community of Lower Bucks to build a Veterans Memorial Park in honor of the military service of past, present and future generations,” Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia stated. “Middletown Township offered a highly-visible and accessible site adjacent to Veterans Highway.” Through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, donations from area businesses, and Middletown Township employees the project has continually moved ahead. Phase One of the project is near completion including walking paths, a memorial wall, a pavilion, benches, landscaping, six flagpoles and an authentic Sherman tank.” Mr. Remer thanked Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia for her role in helping to secure the location.
Commissioner Cawley issued a proclamation to GOAL (Greenbelt Overhaul Alliance of Levittown) in recognition of its efforts to clean neighborhoods in that community. “Whereas, members of GOAL organized after noticing both the neglect and deterioration of the Levittown greenbelts,” Commissioner Cawley commented. “For generations, the children of Levittown have used the greenbelts as a natural playground away from the asphalt of their neighborhoods. Many are now neglected and laden with trash, the creek beds have worn away, and the wooded areas and paths are severely overgrown. GOAL recognized the environmental importance of the land-water connection. GOAL’s mission is not only cleanup, but removal of invasive plants and the reintroduction of native species to help stabilize the creek banks.” GOAL founder Dale Frazier accepted the proclamation, and Commissioner Cawley referred interested parties to the organization’s Web site, www.ltowngoal.webs.com.
Chairman Martin issued a commendation to the Philadelphia Macaroni Company for its recent donation of 20 tons of pasta to the Bucks County Opportunity Council (BCOC) food pantries. Late last month, the commissioners helped BCOC Executive Director Roger Collins and volunteers in the packaging of individual family-sized pasta portions. That effort took place in a portion of the county General Services’ warehouse. “This donation was an incredible gift to us,” Collins stated, also thanking the commissioners for providing the necessary storage space.
The second commendation read by Chairman Martin was presented to the Bucks County Planning Commission in recognition of its recent receipt of the 2009 “Public Outreach Award” from the Pennsylvania Chapter for Planning Excellence of the American Planning Association. As we understand, the award recently was presented to your staff members, Dennis Livrone and Rea Monaghan, during the annual conference of the Pennsylvania Planning Association. Specifically, the award was presented for the Bucks County Watershed Protection and Education and Community Awareness Project. This community education endeavor included an April, 2008 bus tour of various Bucks County facilities to examine their approach to stormwater management and watershed protection.
The board approved a $629,852 contract to provide RN’s and/or LPN’s to serve as vaccinators at the upcoming H1N1 mass vaccination clinics. According to county Health Director Dr. David Damsker, the contract will provide for 12,000-13,000 hours of service time, with the flexibility “to go higher.” The county will announce plans for individual school district mass inoculation schedules during a 10:30 a.m. news conference on Friday, November 6.
The commissioners tabled – for the second consecutive meeting – a $47,916.30 Corrections contract to provide and install Railex Corporation locker bag conveyor system for inmate property storage. Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia voted against a $1,399 renewal of the county’s annual flood insurance policy for the Quakertown Library.
For a full audio account of the meeting and a copy of the business agenda, please visit www.BucksCounty.org. The next meeting of the commissioners will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 18 at the PA Biotechnology Center in Doylestown.