County OKs 27 Contract Resolutions for 12 Departments

Returning to the Bucks County Courthouse Community Room for its second business meeting of May, the Board of Bucks County Commissioners approved a full slate of business on May 18, according to a release.

Highlighted items considered by Commissioners Charles H. Martin, chairman, Robert G. Loughery and Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia included $7.2 million of federal and state funding to provide Area Agency on Aging services, a $53,772 change order with Ernest Bock & Sons for hazardous materials abatement associated with the Justice Center project, and Ordinance No. 139 authorizing the county to incur debt in the amount of $6.5 million to help Bucks County Community College renovate its Newtown Campus.

According to the release, the meeting opened with Executive Director Ron Workman of the Delaware Valley Philharmonic Orchestra (DVPO) presenting the commissioners with a plaque of appreciation for the board’s support of DVPO operations. Established in 1954 in Levittown, the orchestra is celebrating its 57th season. Later in the meeting, the commissioners unanimously approved a $2,000 “Other Civics” allocation to the DVPO.

Although the Bock & Sons contract gained approval, Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia cast a dissenting vote. She questioned why the cost hadn’t been included in the initial $58.17 million bid price for general construction of the forthcoming Justice Center. “This was anticipated,” Director of Operations Jerry Anderson told the board of the hazardous materials abatement work at 100 Union St., Doylestown Borough.

The board approved two Health Department contracts related to storage of Points of Dispensing (P.O.D.’s) for public health events. According to county Healh Director Dr. David Damsker, a $12,000 contract will store medical materials in a climate-controlled environment in Warminster, and a separate $14,400 contract will store similar items in Bensalem. Both storage contracts are 100-percent grant funded. On May 19, the Health Department will conduct a “Local Logistical Node (LLN)” exercise involving vulnerable populations such as nursing homes and mental health facilities.

For Juvenile Probation, the board signed off on four grant amendments for the 2011 Summer Program for middle school students in the Bensalem, Bristol Township, Neshaminy and Pennsbury school districts. These programs are operated at no cost to the county general fund.

Chief Clerk Lynn Bush provided an update on voter turnout for the May 17 Municipal Primary Election, reporting that approximately 11.6 percent of the county’s registered voter total of 435,660 cast a ballot. Factoring in the Primary Election requirement that only registered members of the two major parties are allowed to vote, the actual turnout was approximately 13.6 percent.

Chief Operating Officer Brian Hessenthaler reported that Ms. Bush will head up a committee to study renovation of the current Courthouse/Administration Building, meeting bi-weekly to explore that issue.

Mr. Hessenthaler noted that the county continues to monitor state budget negotiations and their possible impact on services. He recently paid a visit to Falls Township to tour an area that has experienced recent flooding problems, and he concluded by reminding residents that the 29th Annual Senior Games and Expo will take place from May 31-June 9. On June 9, from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., the Senior Expo will feature dozens of vendors and health screenings at the SportsPlex in Feasterville.

Commissioner Loughery announced his intent to move ahead with the creation of a Commissioners’ Economic Cabinet before the onset of summer. He called on his colleagues for support in that endeavor, which will be aimed at economic development and job creation in the Bucks County Community.

The next meeting of the Board of Bucks County Commissioners will take place at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 1, 2011, at the Buckingham Township Building, 4613 Hughesian Drive, Buckingham. For a complete audio account of the May 18 meeting, please visit the official county website, www.BucksCounty.org, and click on the “Audio from Last Mtg” link on the home page.