Politics & Government

Commissioners Deliver 'State of the County' to Chamber

The new justice center, preservation, county's status and economic development were discussed by commissioners.

On July 14 before a standing-room-only audience in the Gallagher Room of the Bucks County Community College Newtown campus, Commissioners Charles H. Martin, Robert G. Loughery and Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, carried on an annual tradition.

According to a release, the Lower Bucks County Chamber of Commerce (LBCCC) joined forces with the Community College to welcome the board members, who offered their unique take on the business that is Bucks County government.

On behalf of more than 2,600 employees, Chairman Martin highlighted the events of the past year, starting with the July, 2010 opening of the Bucks County Dog Park at Core Creek in Middletown Township.

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The chairman also touched on significant agricultural preservation efforts (the Snipes Farm in Falls Twp. and the Feeney Farm in Buckingham Twp.), capital project progress (Churchville Nature Center “Green” Expansion, Lower Bucks Public Safety Training Center, and the demolition of the former county Parking Garage in Doylestown Borough), and the county’s current string of five consecutive years (2007-2011) of no property tax increases for residents.

Delivering his 17th State of the County remarks to the LBCCC, Martin also revealed that the county will host a Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new $84 million Justice Center at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 19. Those interested in attending the event are asked to enter by the Shewell Ave. Construction Entrance. The new Justice Center is expected to take approximately 2 ½ years to complete – creating much needed space for the Bucks County judiciary and its services.

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Commissioner Marseglia, in her fourth State of the County address, described the county’s current status as “vulnerable.” She spoke of the county’s financial picture and suggested that a hiring freeze is in order, citing over 20 positions that have not been filled in over two years and citing the Public Information office as an example of departments where a freeze can be put in place. She also presented options for economic development, noting that growing the local economy with sustainable wage producing jobs helps the county tax base, grows the rainy-day fund, and actually prevents people from needing county social services.

Commissioner Loughery, who graduated from the LBCCC’s “Leadership Bucks County” program more than a decade ago, capitalized on his first State of the County address to highlight economic development themes. He pointed out the importance of having a plan for the “adaptive reuse of the existing Courthouse/Administration Building and other facilities,” noting that future needs must be addressed strategically. He reiterated his goal to help the commissioners establish an Economic Development Council, which will bring together county agencies and business to “foster better coordination, communication and collaboration.”

He also addressed the county’s financial profile, which includes a Aaa rating from Moody’s Investor Services.

“You can see it as the glass is half empty, or the glass is half full, but at least there’s something in the glass,” Loughery stated.

A PDF version of the commissioners' slide show is attached to this story.


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