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Good morning. Welcome to Bucks County Commissioner's Meeting of February 18th, 2026. We will do the

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Pledge of Allegiance, but afterwards I'd ask for a moment of silence. It isn't lost on me that it is

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Black History Month and we lost a great person yesterday in Jesse Jackson.

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Thank you.

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And we

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will begin as we get to do every month with employee recognition. We have several employees here

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for their anniversaries, but we'll begin with just telling you who couldn't make it

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and that is Tracy Kerwood from Children and Youth, Patricia Arario, mental health

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and disability programs, and Christopher Hines from the Department of Corrections.

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They are all 20-year awards, so give them a round.

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And also for 20 years here

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with us today is Danielle M. Stasicki from Children and Youth.

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Yes, come on up.

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If you wanted to say anything, you can say something if you'd like.

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I was really worried. I asked three people about how to pronounce.

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Thank you.

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And from the Planning Commission for 20 years, we have Matthew M. Walters.

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Did you want to say anything on your way back?

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Okay, but we'll take a picture.

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Thank you.

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So,

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and here honoring 30 years is Lisa Marie Hearn from Adult Probation and Parole.

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And as I mentioned, it is, of course, Black History Month, and we will begin with a proclamation

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that Commissioner DeGirolam will read, and then Bernard Griggs will be here to give us

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an update on the African American Museum.

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Okay, thank you, Madam Chair.

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Good morning, everyone.

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Whereas the month of February is observed each year in the United States as Black

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History Month to commemorate the contributions of African-Americans to our country's foundation,

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from the arrival of the very first enslaved people from Africa to the African-American

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icons of today.

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The commemoration and celebration of black history is essential to enhancing the unity

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and strength of our nation, whereas the African-American Museum of Books County has

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officially been recognized as Bucks County's African American History Archive celebrating

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the African American experience, inspiring pride and heritage, and sharing untold stories

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of the diverse African American journey.

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Whereas the construction of the African American Museum's permanent home at the historic

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at Boone Farm Property in Middletown Township,

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marked a critical myersland as months

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of builders' transition from core and shell,

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work to construction of the museum's interior space.

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To commend the beginning of the final stages

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of construction, Bernard Griggs,

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Director of Operations for General Services Division,

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handed over to buildings key to museum president

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and executive director,

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Linda Sallie during a brief ceremony attended by the museum board members and

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the county commissioners. Now therefore do we the board of the Bucks County

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commissioners chair Diane Alice Morsagulia, vice chair Robert Harvey, and

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myself Gene DeGirolamo hereby proclaim February 2026 as Black History Month

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throughout the county of Bucks. And so doing we commend the African American

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Museum of Bucks County, its members and supporters for their passion or hard work

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and to promote the history and heritage of the diverse cultures and communities of

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Bucks County. We encourage Buck Countyans to join us in celebrating the

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innumerable contributions African Americans have made to our country and

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to our county and the many more years yet to come. Congratulations.

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As as

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Because Bernard's coming up there, I just want to say something I should have said before.

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We are having a problem with streaming, so we will delay show this on the website after

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the meeting.

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Good morning, Mr. Greggs.

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Good morning.

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And thank you, Madam Chair.

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Good morning, commissioners.

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Good morning, Rose.

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Good morning, senior staff.

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And good morning, public.

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As the commissioner said, I am here today to give an update on the African American

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Museum.

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And today's update marks a meaningful milestone in the project that is both technically

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complex and historically significant.

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And one that carries the lasting importance for Bucks County.

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As you'll see in the images on the slideshow here, we recently reached an important moment

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which is the official turnover of the keys to the building to the African American Museum

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Board of Directors.

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Now that moment represents the transition from construction to near term occupancy

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and brings the museum within reach of opening its permanent home.

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Today's timing of the presentation could not be better.

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We are at the heart of Black History Month, and the project is focused on preserving, interpreting, and sharing African American history that occurred right here in Bucks County.

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Now this is not new construction.

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What we are completing is the total restoration of an original farmhouse

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that was built nearly in the early 1700s, located at the Boone Farm

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property within Core Creek Park. The Boone Farm holds historic significance,

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including documented connection to the Underground Railroad,

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which makes the site especially meaningful during Black History Month

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and entirely fitting for the home of the museum.

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So

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the project began in late 2020.

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From there we spent approximately 18 months

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working through architectural design, engineering, historic review,

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and required public approvals before construction could even start.

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The building itself is a 4,000 square foot,

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two and a half storey load bearing masonry structure.

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Restoring a building of this age requires careful

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and a methodical approach.

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And once construction began,

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we encountered unforeseen conditions,

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which is typical, working with a structure

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that's more than 300 years old,

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and that had been in significant need of repair.

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Addressing those conditions properly was essential

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to ensure safety, longevity,

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and preservation of the building's historic character.

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Now I'm pleased to report,

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as you heard from the commissioner,

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that the county-funded core and shell portion of the restoration is now complete.

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The interior

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Build out, which is essentially the responsibility of the museum under the county non-profit lease

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agreement, is approximately 85% complete. So in practical terms, that means that the project

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is only a couple months away from full completion. And once the project is complete, we look

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forward to celebrating with a ribbon-cutting ceremony officially open in the doors to the

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museum in its permanent home.

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And so the restoration of the farmhouse

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will not only serve as a museum, but a living,

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historical landmark for education, reflection,

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and community connection.

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Now, commissioners, before I open up for questions, which

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you may have some, I'm not sure.

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But I just want to take a moment to sincerely thank

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you for your continued support, your leadership,

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and your vision, because the project would not

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be possible without it. And in the more than 25 years that I've known the three of you,

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and we've worked on all sorts of initiatives, long before I joined the county of Bucks here

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five and a half years ago, your leadership has always been consistent and unwavering.

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And for that, I thank you. And on a personal note, having lived in Chalfont here, right

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in the heart of beautiful Bucks County, with my family for more than 21 years, I

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will tell you, it truly warms my heart to know that Bucks County will be home

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to an African-American museum and that I was also fortunate enough to play a role in helping

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bring this historic restoration to completion.

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So with that, I'd be happy to open up for any questions that you may have or comments.

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Hearing none, I'll entertain them.

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Oh wait, you're supposed to say that.

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Mr. Harvey?

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Sure.

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Now, I think really, you know, the four of us up here especially, and leaving out

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Mr. Grease Room because he came in slightly after the rest of us, we want to thank you

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because make sure that we don't minimize the role you played. Having the construction background

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you have is reason that you were hired in this job originally back in 2020. And then

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handed to you, this may have been the first project we gave you and said, you know, make

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this happen. And so it is an incredibly difficult project. It's an incredibly complex project.

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And so I really appreciate everything you've done to make this happen because it really would

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not have happened without you.

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You're welcome.

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Thank you.

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And I just want to add the same thing.

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It was great to be able to work with you on this.

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The one thing I'm noticing though is I wish we had pictures back from 2021 because I

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might actually have some on my phone.

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If you could see what it looked like in 2021 with dust and just I can't believe the

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miraculous change.

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So, when we come back and show pictures again, we've got to get some before we started anything.

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And also, thank you.

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I have hoped for years that we would be able to turn this place over.

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And you were the first person who said that physically we could do it.

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And Ms. McKevitt was the first person who said, yes, we absolutely can do it.

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So I'm very proud to have this.

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I drive past it every day.

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It makes me smile.

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So, thank you.

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Thank you very much.

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Oh, that's right.

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We should take a picture.

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Good morning.

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Good morning.

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Good morning.

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This month is also Career and Technical Education Month, and I'm going to turn that over to

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Commissioner Harvey to introduce our guests and read the proclamation.

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Thank you very much.

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As some may know, I spent 26 years as a public school teacher before I was elected to this

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position.

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Twenty of those years was at Bucks County Technical High School in Lower Bucks County,

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me, where I was hired in 2000. The school had undergone a $35 million upgrade in expansion

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to make it a comprehensive technical school, which meant the kids went there full time.

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They didn't go back and forth between their schools as they had since 1959 when that

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school opened. It is certainly one of the, you know, kind of the formative times of

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my life to be brand new at a school. I was 29 years old. I had six years experience as

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a teacher. I was made department chair of a department of 10 people. I had more experience

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than all other nine teachers in my department combined. And so at 29 I was the old man

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in the group and then starting out with really no curriculum to speak of and having

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to write that. But the tech schools we have here, Upper Bucks Technical School, Middle

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Bucks Institute of Technology, and Bucks State Technical High School and Lower Bucks serve

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thousands of students who leave their schools, not just with the technical knowledge they

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have to enter into that field if they choose to, but having the hands-on experience

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to build the confidence they need to be successful in whatever they choose to do.

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I used to talk to the students I had and tell them about, you know, when you leave the school,

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you're leaving here, you know, with not just, let's say, knowledge of how to be a carpenter,

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or how to be a diesel mechanic, or how to write code for computers, or how to be a first responder.

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better. You know, you can use those skills obviously to go to college. If you want to

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advance that career, you can go right into the workforce. You're coming out way ahead

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of every other 18-year-old who's coming out of a traditional high school. But you also

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have skills that you're never going to lose. And so certainly you graduate with a degree

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in carpentry, let's say. If you choose not to go into that field, you choose to

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do something else, you never lose that carpentry skills. And so I used to say,

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and you can save yourself a lot of money

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not having to hire a carpenter to do stuff at your house.

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No offense to the carpenters out there

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who are trying to look for a living,

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but it is practical knowledge

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that helps literally build futures.

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So it is my pleasure to be here

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and to thank the three directors of our schools

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who are here, I'll introduce them in a minute.

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Whereas career and technical education, CTE,

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provides students with the opportunity

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to build both the academic and technical know-how

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necessary for success across countless industries

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and disciplines and whereas CTE students engage in hands-on learning with academics honing real

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world skills that open doors to career exploration and promote opportunities for high achievement

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and whereas in these programs businesses and industry leaders work hand in hand with academia

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to bridge skill gaps in the workforce and to connect professionals with careers in critical

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fields and whereas technical schools and Buckskin I prepare students for fulfilling careers

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through integrated educational programs that develop the skills and knowledge necessary

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for attaining industry-recognized credentials, and whereas by building a workforce ready

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to succeed in technical fields, CTE programs promote a strong national economy that keeps

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our nation competitive on the world stage.

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Now therefore do we, the Board of Commissioners of Bucks County, hereby proclaim February

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20, 2026 as Career and Technical Education Month throughout the county of Bucks.

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In doing so, we commend the Upper Bucks County Technical School, the Middle Bucks

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Institute of Technology, and the Bucks County Technical High School for providing meaningful

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pathways to careers, post-secondary education, and lifelong learning to ensure that today's

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students are ready for tomorrow's emerging technologies and global marketplace.

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And joining us today from Middle Bucks is Dr. Mark Kavell from Bucks County Technical

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High School, my former boss, Hank DeGeorge.

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And from upper box we have Michael Herrera, so please come forward.

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Thank you.

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Thank you very much. Well said.

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We believe that CT is not an alternative pathway but

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as a primary driver of economic mobility. Our model is built on deep industry alignment.

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At Upper Box, we have 200 occupational advisory committee members that serve helping that

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ensure our students are ready.

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Along with my colleagues, our school to work program is nationally known.

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Just during the school day, over two years, our students earned over $1.8 million dollars

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In the school to work, our students leave with industry-recognized credentials and certificates.

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During CTE month, we not only thank our students, but our staff and community members, the commissioners

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and Bucks County, which we're very proud to be a part of, and I'll turn it over to

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Mark.

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Thank you, commissioners. Thank you very much for the recognition this month. We're super

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proud to be in CTE as a classic K-12 teacher and administrator myself. Finding CTE made

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all the difference in my pathway in my career, and I'm thrilled to speak out loudly and

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proudly about CTE now. So thank you for the recognition. This is a time where Korean

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Technical Education is experiencing record interest, record enrollments, and record

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achievement for our students just as Mike had mentioned. So thank you very, very much.

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Thank

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you commissioners for honoring CTE this month. I told Mr. Harvey as his

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former boss this was a formal observation today so I will be sending it

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to you afterwards Bob. But career and technical education is no longer the

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best kept secret in Bucks County. We have more kids than we have seats so

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hopefully going forward with a little bit of assistance from the state we'll

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be able to give each student that career and technical education that they're seeking.

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We don't want to stop until every student who wants a career and technical education

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can get one. So, thank you, commissioners.

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Yep.

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Can I just... Hey.

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Just one more thing to point out, just as we travel around, talk to business owners

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throughout this county, and since I've been in this job, one of the things I kind

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you know, when they say, well, we're having trouble finding people to work, we're having

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trouble finding engineers, we're having trouble finding welders, we're having trouble finding

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this, that. My first reply to them is, have you talked to the tech school? And usually

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the reply is, what tech school? And depending on where this business is, I point out, well,

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you've got one down the street, you've got one here, one there, and all the schools

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have co-op programs, where seniors especially, who have learned as much as they can in

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the building actually can go out to work and get credit for working. It is a pipeline

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for skilled workers. Kids who are coming right out who have learned the latest technology

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as Mr. Herrera mentioned, those occupational advisory committees, they meet a couple times

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a year to help the teachers make sure they're teaching the most up-to-date technology

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in whatever field they're teaching. If you're a business owner out there, you're

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looking for workers, find out which tech schools near you

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and call them and ask for help,

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because they'd be happy to help you, so thank you.

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Thank you very much.

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And we'll go to public comment.

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Ed McHouse.

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Ed McHouse from Buckingham, former teacher,

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engineer, scientist,

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physicist, discoverer, discoverer of the structure of matter,

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electron, proton, and neutron.

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I'd like to comment all the work that's being done by all the great workers and the technical

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schools and the outstanding technical schools.

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With the lack of vision, people perish.

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America has been the greatest nation in the world and is still the greatest nation

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in the world in many ways.

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However, America, being the greatest nation in the world, should be producing wealth.

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we should be having a making trillions of dollars.

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However, America has been barring trillions of dollars every year

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and enriching nations like China,

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which are our greatest enemies,

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corrupted, taken away our technology,

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and threatened us with nuclear war,

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offering nuclear weapons to any nation to threaten us.

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So President Trump and Netanyahu saved America

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from being destroyed by nuclear weapons.

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Iran has reduced thousands of warheads, rockets,

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but they haven't had the uranium and risk uranium

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to make the warheads so that they can obliterate us.

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As a physicist, I understand that if nuclear war occurs,

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we could lose 50% of our people.

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The liars will say, well, nuclear war is impossible.

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people, Russia is threatening it and all, if there's a limited number of nations, China

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feels they can get away with it.

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So it's sort of like before Trump came in like we were in the Titanic, it was able to

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stop, I ran in the nick of time, but the threat of nuclear war will not get away as long as

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nations have nuclear weapons. And if every nation had nuclear weapons, we couldn't please

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hundred people with nuclear weapons. We couldn't appease them and protect our people. So we

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We have all these divisions on our campuses,

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tacking Jews, Christians, Europe used to be Christians

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being overrun by people who don't have the same,

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or invaders who come in for money, monetary things.

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So we, as individuals, like a vision,

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impossible dream to keep America and the world safe.

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And we need to cooperate with ICE to protect America

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and not have criminals and murderers come live next to us.

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There's no sure prior way to correct things.

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We have to have more compassion

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for the majority of people who are innocent

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rather than the criminals

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and protect, cooperate with the federal government.

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And congratulations for all that you are doing

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and will do to make America, keep America safe.

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Thank you.

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Adrienne King.

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Good morning, commissioners.

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Good morning.

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I'll start off by saying a hearty thank you to you from the five-year-old whose mother moved us here in the early

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80s, the adolescent who struggled to find herself and see an image of herself in this county,

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the wife who finally convinced her husband that this was the place that we should raise our two daughters and

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the mother who continues to fight for her daughters to see representation of themselves.

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I thank you for the support, the presentation that was done about the African-American Museum.

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It really is going to have a huge impact in this county.

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That's really not the reason I came. I didn't know that was going to happen.

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But I felt like I had to say that.

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So my name is Adrienne King, and I serve as the president of the NAACP Bucks County Branch.

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I'm here today to express my appreciation for Bucks County's decision to file a brief to support

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the preservation of the president's house slavery exhibit in Philadelphia.

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Sometimes it seems like we're so far away and we forget that we are connected.

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Since 1909 the NAACP has relied on the courts as a mechanism to protect civil

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rights and ensure our nation confronts its full honest history. Through the

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work of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Educational Fund legal

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Legal advocacy has been used to defend educational equality and equity protections when those

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principles were at stake.

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The President's House site is not only significant to Philadelphia, it is vital education resource

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for students and families throughout our region, including right here in Bucks County.

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And Bucks County itself carries a meaningful African-American history as we just heard preserved

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through institutions such as the African-American Museum of Bucks County, the gathering place

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in the African-American Historical Society of Bucks County.

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These organizations remind us that our local history is deeply connected to the national

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narrative. Preserving access to complete and accurate history is not about

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politics, it's about civic literacy, it is about educational integrity, it is about

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ensuring that future generations learn full story of our nation, including the

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realities of slavery at the highest levels of early American government. By

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participating in this process the county affirmed that regional history matters

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and that public institutions have a role in protecting historical integrity when

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it impacts their residents. On behalf of the NAACP Bucks County, thank you for

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your leadership and your thoughtful consideration and continued support of

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this issue. Thank

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you Chris Polly.

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Good morning. Truth is not midway

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between the liar and a truth teller.

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The people who tell the truth don't need to make liars

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feel better about what they said.

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Politicians or people that spread fear and hate

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may think of themselves as real Americans,

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but we don't have to.

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Truth tellers certainly don't have to sow out

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our principles for their comfort.

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When you stand on the ground of truth and justice,

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many others will find their way to you,

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of course recognizing sadly that some

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will never find their way.

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Thanking some of the people in this room

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for taking a stand for truth. What you do on this side of the barrier matters a

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great deal. Thank you Sheriff for your focused interest on public safety and

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00:35:30,920 --> 00:35:36,660
core responsibilities for emphasizing to residents with certain concerns that

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Bucks County is not and never has been a sanctuary county that Bucks County

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will continue to cooperate with federal agencies including ICE honoring

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judicial warrants and orders, an established legal precedent that was set in Lehigh County

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00:35:51,880 --> 00:35:58,820
that respects both our residents and our Constitution. I also read recently about waste, saving

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taxpayers $125,000. I'm not familiar with the specifics but thank you for that as well.

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Also in the truth, in the interest of justice and truth, thank you commissioners for supporting

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00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:18,440
item 20 regarding the ICE detainee processing and for allowing Bucks to join the Collar Counties

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00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:24,080
in a pro bono supported lawsuit regarding enslaved persons panels in Independence National Historic

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Park in Philadelphia. Federal politicians have clearly lost the public trust. Hotting

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the past does not help. My questions relate to any federal policing agency request to Bucks

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00:36:36,560 --> 00:36:41,660
County. What happens when an ICE or CBP representative or any federal policing

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00:36:41,660 --> 00:36:46,020
agency calls or emails Bucks County asking for information that the county

385
00:36:46,020 --> 00:36:50,520
may have on a Bucks County resident? Are there controls on the request itself?

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00:36:50,960 --> 00:36:54,740
Is a request forwarded to the sheriff or a designated individual in his

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00:36:54,740 --> 00:36:59,320
department to handle all requests in the same manner? Or can the request be

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00:36:59,320 --> 00:37:03,780
handled directly by any Bucks County employee who receives this request?

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00:37:03,780 --> 00:37:10,140
Are there any controls on the information that may be shared, any areas that are prohibited,

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00:37:10,620 --> 00:37:13,020
such as confidential taxpayer or voter information?

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00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:20,040
Are there always specific verifications, absent fourth amendment probable cause justification,

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to ensure that the federal government is entitled to the help requested?

393
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Thanks for any further clarification you might provide in that area.

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00:37:30,700 --> 00:37:33,620
Thank you. Natalie Pashkett?

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00:37:45,830 --> 00:37:48,630
I'm Natalie Pashkett, currently a resident in Benzalem

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00:37:48,630 --> 00:37:53,690
of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and I'm here today because I'm scared. I'm scared because of the

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00:37:53,690 --> 00:37:58,310
overwhelmingly amount of community members that do not trust any of you in your government capacities

398
00:37:58,310 --> 00:38:04,970
right now. This goes for the local, state, and federal levels. As of today, February 18,

399
00:38:05,130 --> 00:38:08,750
2026, it is to my understanding that the social facts that we hold true now

400
00:38:08,750 --> 00:38:13,270
is that our current federal administration has violated the first, second, fourth, fifth,

401
00:38:13,510 --> 00:38:18,230
tenth, and fourteenth amendments as of our constitutional rights granted to the people

402
00:38:18,230 --> 00:38:23,010
in the United States of America. It is also to my understanding that the current federal

403
00:38:23,590 --> 00:38:27,630
administration is attempting to push the SAVE Act through Congress, effectively violating

404
00:38:27,630 --> 00:38:31,950
our 24th amendment as well. And this is where I would like for you to please lock

405
00:38:31,950 --> 00:38:37,750
in and internalize what I'm about to say to you and ask any acts or amendments

406
00:38:37,750 --> 00:38:43,010
that are going to touch voting will be affecting everyone and there is a lot of

407
00:38:43,010 --> 00:38:46,490
heavy rhetoric going around of what actions are being implemented to ensure

408
00:38:46,490 --> 00:38:50,070
that no voter intimidation will be happening going into this midterm of

409
00:38:50,070 --> 00:38:55,030
season and voting going forward. Will this county speak up and defend its

410
00:38:55,030 --> 00:38:59,030
power to the federal level if need be? Will this county stand firm in its

411
00:38:59,030 --> 00:39:05,050
voter integrity across this county? What does election support mean? The

412
00:39:05,050 --> 00:39:08,970
The proposed SAVAC looks to add more required documentations to vote.

413
00:39:09,230 --> 00:39:10,630
One example being the passport.

414
00:39:11,570 --> 00:39:14,230
I am somebody that has to reapply for my passport right now.

415
00:39:14,970 --> 00:39:17,010
I have to go through the reapplication process.

416
00:39:17,250 --> 00:39:23,210
When I opened up the Ben Salem Free Library webpage to see that effective February 13th,

417
00:39:23,270 --> 00:39:27,410
the Bucks County Free Library can no longer offer passport services as the U.S. Department

418
00:39:27,410 --> 00:39:30,750
of State has determined that the Bucks County Free Library is no longer authorized

419
00:39:30,750 --> 00:39:35,530
to operate as a passport acceptance facility and must seize accepting passport applications.

420
00:39:37,450 --> 00:39:43,070
What are those parameters that no longer authorize a free public library to operate in

421
00:39:43,070 --> 00:39:48,570
this manner? And offer that what is the county doing to open up more avenues to make obtaining

422
00:39:48,570 --> 00:39:53,890
these documents easier if this is to go through? What precautions and conversations are the

423
00:39:53,890 --> 00:39:58,230
county having if the Senate gets through with this and it becomes law, right?

424
00:39:58,230 --> 00:40:04,310
what are the guardrails in place that you are pushing to the public that this

425
00:40:04,310 --> 00:40:09,890
county can feel secure and safe and carrying out their civic duty. I am

426
00:40:09,890 --> 00:40:16,040
scared but thank you and please if you can't answer any of those that would be

427
00:40:16,040 --> 00:40:16,400
appreciated.

428
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Thank you.

429
00:40:21,640 --> 00:40:22,580
Jill Wallweiser.

430
00:40:32,670 --> 00:40:35,370
Good morning. I spoke at the last

431
00:40:35,370 --> 00:40:39,630
meeting here regarding hearing, vision, mobility and orientation services for

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00:40:39,630 --> 00:40:41,590
infants and toddlers in Buck's County.

433
00:40:42,370 --> 00:40:44,250
I know that the county has found providers

434
00:40:44,250 --> 00:40:45,550
for all the families affected,

435
00:40:46,070 --> 00:40:47,990
but there are still concerns about the quality

436
00:40:47,990 --> 00:40:49,930
and longevity of these providers.

437
00:40:50,870 --> 00:40:52,490
No one is addressing these concerns.

438
00:40:53,190 --> 00:40:54,850
Questions about who will provide evaluations

439
00:40:54,850 --> 00:40:57,510
for babies with visual impairments have not been answered.

440
00:40:58,270 --> 00:41:00,510
I wanna try to explain some of the impact

441
00:41:00,510 --> 00:41:01,330
of these changes.

442
00:41:02,330 --> 00:41:04,290
When I brought my son home from the hospital

443
00:41:04,290 --> 00:41:06,910
10 years ago, I was overwhelmed

444
00:41:06,910 --> 00:41:09,230
with all the regular things new parents

445
00:41:09,230 --> 00:41:14,950
have to deal with the feedings, the changeings, the lack of sleep. But I also suddenly, unexpectedly,

446
00:41:15,330 --> 00:41:21,270
had to deal with this entire new landscape. I had a million questions. My son's father

447
00:41:21,270 --> 00:41:27,410
and I had not known anyone with hearing loss. We had no resources. We didn't know are we

448
00:41:27,410 --> 00:41:33,330
going to give this perfectly healthy child infant elective surgery to help him hear

449
00:41:33,330 --> 00:41:39,290
and communicate before he turned one year old, do we have to teach him a whole new language

450
00:41:39,290 --> 00:41:41,170
just to communicate with my son?

451
00:41:42,290 --> 00:41:44,550
I didn't know what cute speech was.

452
00:41:44,790 --> 00:41:46,730
I didn't know what a speech pathologist was.

453
00:41:46,830 --> 00:41:49,250
I didn't know the difference between that and a teacher of the deaf.

454
00:41:50,570 --> 00:41:54,030
I did not know what kind of future my son would have.

455
00:41:54,690 --> 00:41:58,470
But luckily for us, providers from the IU knew.

456
00:41:58,470 --> 00:42:04,190
They visited us at home and they explained all the options without pushing any of them on us.

457
00:42:04,490 --> 00:42:10,110
They answered my questions, they gave me resources, they educated us and made us feel, most of all,

458
00:42:10,690 --> 00:42:15,210
in a time of complete chaos and overwhelm that things might be okay.

459
00:42:16,130 --> 00:42:20,410
Right now, other families in Bucks County don't have that anymore.

460
00:42:21,270 --> 00:42:26,170
This county used to be known for its exemplary services for hearing loss.

461
00:42:26,170 --> 00:42:31,390
Like when I took my son to chop for appointments, other people would say, wow, Bucks County is

462
00:42:31,390 --> 00:42:31,850
so great.

463
00:42:33,290 --> 00:42:37,950
And in neighboring areas they didn't have that, and now we risk that same fate.

464
00:42:39,530 --> 00:42:43,630
We do have warm bodies filling these roles, and some of them, yes, may have the right

465
00:42:43,630 --> 00:42:44,190
qualifications.

466
00:42:44,950 --> 00:42:49,870
But in general, overall, there are still big concerns about the quality, longevity

467
00:42:49,870 --> 00:42:54,610
of these services, and they do not have the knowledge, dedication, and compassion

468
00:42:54,610 --> 00:42:56,470
that the IU was able to provide.

469
00:42:57,710 --> 00:42:59,950
Bucks County has not just a legal obligation

470
00:42:59,950 --> 00:43:02,150
to these children, but a moral one as well.

471
00:43:02,830 --> 00:43:04,930
The program as it stands is flawed.

472
00:43:05,630 --> 00:43:07,450
It's not offering the same quality of services

473
00:43:07,450 --> 00:43:10,470
my son received, and it's not sustainable long term.

474
00:43:10,950 --> 00:43:14,570
We're still relying on providers to pull second shifts.

475
00:43:14,890 --> 00:43:18,270
They're seeing babies, literal newborns late

476
00:43:18,270 --> 00:43:20,350
in the evening hours because it's all that's available.

477
00:43:21,110 --> 00:43:22,890
Families have expressed to me concerns

478
00:43:22,890 --> 00:43:24,630
about how this is sustainable.

479
00:43:25,910 --> 00:43:28,970
When my son was born, I became a disability rights advocate,

480
00:43:29,470 --> 00:43:31,210
but none of us should have to personally experience

481
00:43:31,210 --> 00:43:32,410
these things to know what is right.

482
00:43:33,010 --> 00:43:34,710
As public servants, and I am one,

483
00:43:35,130 --> 00:43:37,270
we take oaths to protect and serve our constituents,

484
00:43:37,990 --> 00:43:40,870
and the most vulnerable among them surely deserve...

485
00:43:48,550 --> 00:43:52,090
Your microphone is still going, but your time's up.

486
00:43:57,060 --> 00:44:00,460
Okay, we're going to move right on to Steve Nolan.

487
00:44:14,520 --> 00:44:15,680
Steve Nolan, Newtown.

488
00:44:16,360 --> 00:44:23,360
Since our current president celebrated Black History Month by superimposing the faces of

489
00:44:23,360 --> 00:44:29,240
a former president wife onto a couple of apes, let me read from an op-ed that I just started

490
00:44:29,240 --> 00:44:30,040
writing this morning.

491
00:44:31,020 --> 00:44:32,180
Try to educate a little bit.

492
00:44:32,580 --> 00:44:34,220
It's called, Hitler was duly elected.

493
00:44:34,620 --> 00:44:37,700
Why America must understand malignant narcissism.

494
00:44:38,920 --> 00:44:43,520
If the United States is going to escape the fate of Germany, we must understand something

495
00:44:43,520 --> 00:44:44,280
very simple.

496
00:44:44,280 --> 00:44:49,660
After 10 years of a grown man engaging in totally inappropriate behavior on a daily basis,

497
00:44:50,360 --> 00:44:53,340
we freeze and refuse to acknowledge an obvious truth.

498
00:44:54,120 --> 00:44:57,500
For the first time in American history, we have a president who is mentally unfit for

499
00:44:57,500 --> 00:44:57,860
command.

500
00:44:58,380 --> 00:44:59,960
In fact, he has such...

501
00:45:08,700 --> 00:45:14,960
I'm a retired military officer who had to evaluate and discharge personality disordered

502
00:45:14,960 --> 00:45:20,960
people throughout my career. It's a disorder that renders the person incapable of adapting

503
00:45:21,260 --> 00:45:28,200
to military or societal norms. This is an instant disqualification because you have someone

504
00:45:28,200 --> 00:45:32,940
who cannot work with others as a team, cannot alter their personal beliefs even for our

505
00:45:32,940 --> 00:45:38,900
regulations, and they cannot delay gratification or sacrifice their own needs for the sake

506
00:45:38,900 --> 00:45:44,080
of others in an environment where selfless service is required even unto death.

507
00:45:45,240 --> 00:45:48,900
The phenomenon of Donald Trump is made possible by three factors.

508
00:45:49,440 --> 00:45:54,040
Number one, personality disorder is easily the least known mental illness outside

509
00:45:54,040 --> 00:45:55,940
the military and our prison system.

510
00:45:55,940 --> 00:46:01,920
Number two, narcissism has a common lay meaning for people who are merely full of themselves.

511
00:46:02,540 --> 00:46:10,000
So people, even members of Congress, can believe that a narcissist and a narcissistic personality disorder are synonymous.

512
00:46:10,660 --> 00:46:17,200
This is a dangerous mistake. Number three, personality disorder people are what we call ego-syntonic.

513
00:46:17,660 --> 00:46:23,180
They feel normal to themselves, not symptomatic, so they do not go to mental health voluntarily.

514
00:46:23,180 --> 00:46:27,900
They are almost always referred to mental health after doing something inappropriate.

515
00:46:28,740 --> 00:46:34,660
Almost all sex offenders, for example, are personality disordered, but rarely have a

516
00:46:34,660 --> 00:46:35,380
mental health record.

517
00:46:36,280 --> 00:46:41,020
The sexual assault, the crime is the symptom, not anxiety, depression, or any other mental

518
00:46:41,020 --> 00:46:41,620
health symptom.

519
00:46:42,260 --> 00:46:47,020
Needless to say, we do not allow a rapist or a pedophile to continue to wear the

520
00:46:47,020 --> 00:46:51,740
uniform of the United States of America, but we are allowing a sex offender to

521
00:46:51,740 --> 00:46:59,220
sit in our White House. We have betrayed our military by giving them a leader who is a convicted

522
00:46:59,220 --> 00:47:04,260
felon, an adjudicated sex offender, when every member of the military would face a court

523
00:47:04,260 --> 00:47:10,980
marshal or jail time had any of them committed the same crimes. Or as I said to Sheriff

524
00:47:10,980 --> 00:47:16,940
Harron, when he contracted with ICE, unless you're arresting murderers, you won't

525
00:47:16,940 --> 00:47:19,560
be arresting anyone who has committed worse crimes.

526
00:47:24,620 --> 00:47:25,920
I'll take care of it.

527
00:47:27,320 --> 00:47:28,060
Thank you.

528
00:47:31,510 --> 00:47:33,090
Andy Warren.

529
00:47:47,670 --> 00:47:54,690
As a one-time, long-time, dues-paying, card-carrying

530
00:47:55,250 --> 00:48:01,350
member of the NAACP, I commend the commissioners

531
00:48:01,350 --> 00:48:03,950
for the recognition today.

532
00:48:03,950 --> 00:48:12,230
I also bring to anyone's attention who may not be aware the federal judge who

533
00:48:12,230 --> 00:48:19,950
ruled favorably with the placing of signs back was is a Bucks County resident

534
00:48:19,950 --> 00:48:26,470
all of which we should be proud now hopefully somebody will get together

535
00:48:26,470 --> 00:48:32,550
and start putting back statues of Columbus Jefferson Jackson and many other

536
00:48:32,550 --> 00:48:38,910
historical figures, but so far we're doing good. The two points that I have today, one,

537
00:48:39,950 --> 00:48:49,050
item number 15A, new found incorporated approved contract with the opioid settlement, but

538
00:48:49,050 --> 00:48:58,130
it doesn't have any statement as to how much the adjustment is. Do we have a figure

539
00:48:58,130 --> 00:49:11,970
year for how much that adjustment is, and while I speak of money, I bring back to the meeting

540
00:49:11,970 --> 00:49:20,750
of May 21st where there were three million dollars worth of projects on that list, one

541
00:49:20,750 --> 00:49:33,690
of which was $400,000 for a facility that had a 90 days from notice to proceed construction.

542
00:49:34,530 --> 00:49:44,970
Now I know $400,000 doesn't go as far today as it used to, however, I would think that

543
00:49:44,970 --> 00:49:53,470
But after nine months, certainly, we ought to have more than two potties, job potties,

544
00:49:53,750 --> 00:50:01,530
and an outhouse if this is in fact a good expenditure of county dollars and who's keeping

545
00:50:02,050 --> 00:50:09,130
track of the little things while there's each week you all pass over three, four million.

546
00:50:09,630 --> 00:50:12,150
And don't think this isn't being actively used.

547
00:50:12,150 --> 00:50:26,590
We've got every day, I mean every two days, these job jobbies are cleaned, which is wonderful for use.

548
00:50:27,110 --> 00:50:35,550
But what about the $400,000 that you passed nine months ago, perhaps we could go back to the tech school

549
00:50:35,550 --> 00:50:43,390
and get some of the seniors to help construct a what looks like a basically

550
00:50:43,390 --> 00:50:51,470
prefab facility I'm sure they could do it in less than nine months. Watch our

551
00:50:51,470 --> 00:50:52,310
tax dollars.

552
00:50:54,580 --> 00:50:57,000
Thank you. Reverend Kevin Jago?

553
00:51:16,250 --> 00:51:17,910
Hello I'm Reverend Kevin Jago

554
00:51:17,910 --> 00:51:24,230
resident of Doylestown and minister of Bucksmont UU fellowship. I want to

555
00:51:24,230 --> 00:51:33,310
to speak in support of the regulation opposing ICE detainee processing of detention facilities

556
00:51:33,310 --> 00:51:39,990
being located in Bucks County warehouses. I was recently in Minneapolis for the massive

557
00:51:39,990 --> 00:51:46,110
protests. I'm a native Minnesotan and now resident of Bucks County. And what is happening

558
00:51:46,110 --> 00:51:53,010
there is something horrific. It is devastating to witness my friends, my family, and the

559
00:51:53,010 --> 00:52:00,110
entire community ripped apart by illegal operations by our federal government. We don't want that

560
00:52:00,110 --> 00:52:06,710
here. Already too much is happening in Bucks County. Residents of our county are being abducted

561
00:52:06,710 --> 00:52:13,350
around the corner from my congregation in Ben Salem across our county. We don't want more

562
00:52:13,350 --> 00:52:17,530
of this. We actually want less of it. What's going on, what's going to be built in Berks

563
00:52:17,530 --> 00:52:21,970
This is going to amplify what's happening here as well already.

564
00:52:22,570 --> 00:52:30,270
So I want to just publicly and vocally support what this commission is doing, and I hope

565
00:52:30,270 --> 00:52:34,550
that it is not the end of what you are doing, but just the beginning.

566
00:52:35,250 --> 00:52:38,450
Again, this is something that we don't want to see here.

567
00:52:38,670 --> 00:52:44,530
We don't want our residents, our citizens, and non-citizens terrified to talk to our

568
00:52:44,530 --> 00:52:49,710
police terrified to interact with our government because it's already happening, we've already

569
00:52:49,710 --> 00:52:55,250
had the breakdown of relationship between our communities and our representatives and

570
00:52:55,250 --> 00:53:00,070
our law enforcement. Everything that happens from here on out could either make things

571
00:53:00,070 --> 00:53:06,710
better or make things worse. And I hope our elected officials will continue to do what

572
00:53:06,710 --> 00:53:13,110
is necessary to keep us safe and safer rather than more endangered and more attacked by

573
00:53:13,110 --> 00:53:16,410
the people that we've elected. Thank you. Thank you.

574
00:53:22,250 --> 00:53:23,150
Susan Day.

575
00:53:32,670 --> 00:53:34,230
Good morning. My name is Susan

576
00:53:34,230 --> 00:53:39,490
Day. I'm from Wrightstown. I want to thank the commissioners and our county representatives

577
00:53:39,490 --> 00:53:45,270
for what they do for us. I really appreciate it. I'm here to talk about issues with drinking

578
00:53:45,270 --> 00:53:51,850
water here in Bucks County. We've had most recently a notice that Wrightstown wells

579
00:53:51,850 --> 00:53:58,130
may be affected by PFAS. Upper Makefield has the jet fuel pipeline contamination,

580
00:53:59,130 --> 00:54:05,450
and according to ArcGIS, there are over 10 different pipelines criss-crossing

581
00:54:05,450 --> 00:54:10,690
Bucks County. I want to thank Steve Santocero and Frank Ferry for introducing

582
00:54:10,690 --> 00:54:14,830
the Pennsylvania Environmental Cleanup and Responsibility Act this month in

583
00:54:14,830 --> 00:54:19,130
Harrisburg. This act will address both pipeline and other environmental

584
00:54:19,130 --> 00:54:26,370
contamination, but it addresses contamination, post-accident, not prevention.

585
00:54:27,810 --> 00:54:30,410
This is more than Brian Fitzpatrick has done.

586
00:54:30,850 --> 00:54:38,230
He signed on as one of 24 co-sponsors to a 2025 bill by Representative Mary Gleason-Camp

587
00:54:38,230 --> 00:54:43,830
Perez from Washington State, where Boeing is located regarding PFAS cleanup.

588
00:54:43,830 --> 00:54:49,850
this bill has been referred to multiple committees. Brian Fitzpatrick is one of

589
00:54:49,850 --> 00:54:55,490
24 co-sponsors. He did not author the bill. That bill has now been referred to

590
00:54:55,490 --> 00:55:02,570
multiple committees where it sits at the whim of the speaker. That being said, we

591
00:55:02,570 --> 00:55:07,370
need to do more here in Bucks County. Residents of Mount Erie are still

592
00:55:07,370 --> 00:55:12,390
without potable water. It will take time for any of these bills to go

593
00:55:12,390 --> 00:55:20,210
anywhere and do anything. They have no remediation plans in sight. Their homes are unsalable.

594
00:55:21,230 --> 00:55:27,930
As an additional note, that jet fuel pipeline goes under the Delaware River. We have no

595
00:55:27,930 --> 00:55:33,970
idea if there's any contamination occurring from that. We need to have the owners of all

596
00:55:33,970 --> 00:55:38,930
these pipelines in Bucks County prove that there is no additional contamination through

597
00:55:38,930 --> 00:55:43,370
active monitoring and not wait for contamination to happen.

598
00:55:43,850 --> 00:55:44,230
Thank you.

599
00:55:48,020 --> 00:55:48,980
Beth Curcio.

600
00:56:03,870 --> 00:56:09,170
The data center project at the Keystone Trade Center in Fairless Hill will cover about 247

601
00:56:09,170 --> 00:56:13,710
acres and include 2 million square feet of data center buildings, 10 structures with

602
00:56:13,710 --> 00:56:21,010
range between 112,000 and 217,000 square feet and they are planning a standalone

603
00:56:21,010 --> 00:56:24,430
building potentially reaching 1 million square feet within the campus.

604
00:56:24,430 --> 00:56:29,630
Eventually, this could span up to 15 million square feet with the campus.

605
00:56:29,950 --> 00:56:34,210
This is one of the largest data centers in the country, and the data center is in the

606
00:56:34,210 --> 00:56:35,270
very early stages.

607
00:56:35,690 --> 00:56:40,470
Many counties across the country have halted and actually stopped data center projects.

608
00:56:40,950 --> 00:56:46,150
When the community pushes for public hearings, petitions, and environmental reviews, over

609
00:56:46,150 --> 00:56:51,770
64 billion in U.S. data center projects have been blocked or delayed by community

610
00:56:51,770 --> 00:56:52,470
campaigns.

611
00:56:52,470 --> 00:56:55,610
Residents organizing can have a real impact.

612
00:56:56,190 --> 00:57:00,090
Data centers can significantly environmental impacts.

613
00:57:00,710 --> 00:57:03,530
They use the amounts of electricity globally.

614
00:57:03,850 --> 00:57:09,210
Data centers use 460 terawatt hours in 2022.

615
00:57:09,790 --> 00:57:15,410
And in the U.S., they admitted over 150 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2023.

616
00:57:16,090 --> 00:57:18,770
They also use enormous amounts of water for cooling,

617
00:57:19,070 --> 00:57:21,210
sometimes 50 million gallons per day.

618
00:57:21,210 --> 00:57:24,030
and they can strain along the infrastructure.

619
00:57:24,530 --> 00:57:31,410
Five million gallons per day is the equivalent to the water usage of a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people.

620
00:57:31,850 --> 00:57:36,710
They bring pollution impact since they rely on diesel backup generators,

621
00:57:37,050 --> 00:57:41,650
which release nitrogen, oxygens, and fine particles,

622
00:57:41,930 --> 00:57:45,730
raising air pollution risks, especially within a mile of the site.

623
00:57:46,110 --> 00:57:49,510
And these projects have been tied to billions of public health costs.

624
00:57:49,510 --> 00:57:53,910
Plus, e-waste from frequent hardware updates and chemical

625
00:57:53,910 --> 00:57:57,190
pollutions from cooling can also harm the environment.

626
00:57:57,590 --> 00:58:01,330
Josh Shapiro has been pushing to bring data centers to PA for jobs,

627
00:58:01,670 --> 00:58:04,350
which they create only short-term construction jobs.

628
00:58:04,550 --> 00:58:06,290
They actually employ very few people.

629
00:58:06,750 --> 00:58:08,850
I think the people of Bucks County and especially of

630
00:58:08,850 --> 00:58:12,210
Fairless Hills need to start asking a lot more questions.

631
00:58:12,530 --> 00:58:14,890
Number one, is there a decommissioning clause?

632
00:58:15,330 --> 00:58:17,410
How is a data center being generated?

633
00:58:17,410 --> 00:58:22,690
Are they being in their own micronuclear reactions bringing in?

634
00:58:23,190 --> 00:58:27,970
Will they guarantee that no electrical charges they generate are passed on to the residential customers?

635
00:58:28,370 --> 00:58:32,030
Are they paying all the taxes and not being giving tax abatements?

636
00:58:32,590 --> 00:58:37,450
They aren't getting exempt or special tax privileges, correct?

637
00:58:38,990 --> 00:58:44,410
No nondisclosure agreements between the center and the township and or the county, correct?

638
00:58:44,410 --> 00:58:49,390
cooling process. They are not taking from the water sources our residential

639
00:58:49,390 --> 00:58:55,170
communities need, correct? There is new technology that says these data centers

640
00:58:55,170 --> 00:59:00,190
should be using air cooling. Is that being looked at? I don't see the benefits

641
00:59:00,190 --> 00:59:04,290
to collect more data. It seems like a risk to the community and the county.

642
00:59:04,790 --> 00:59:08,290
This is absolutely not worth it for our environment. Thank you.

643
00:59:11,320 --> 00:59:12,620
Jake Zizinski?

644
00:59:24,040 --> 00:59:27,640
Good afternoon. Give me a minute. My first time speaking in front of you also,

645
00:59:27,900 --> 00:59:33,200
really excited, but also I have autism so bear with me. I came here to say a

646
00:59:33,200 --> 00:59:36,900
couple things but I'm going to start by saying those and I kind of want to pivot.

647
00:59:37,400 --> 00:59:40,600
My big ask of this commission is we need a commission advisory board for

648
00:59:40,600 --> 00:59:43,240
people with disabilities. We don't currently have one we're supposed to.

649
00:59:43,860 --> 00:59:47,800
1966 law in the state says we're supposed to have one. We don't. I have

650
00:59:47,800 --> 00:59:50,920
like I said autism, I have a medical disease. That board needs to exist.

651
00:59:51,320 --> 00:59:58,000
I'm happy to serve on it. Let's make that happen, please, because, like, we really need to do that secondarily.

652
00:59:58,460 --> 00:59:59,960
Some of the things that I've heard today...

653
01:00:00,960 --> 01:00:04,420
I'm new to Buckstown County. I'm moving back home from Montgomery County, Maryland, where

654
01:00:04,420 --> 01:00:10,280
I served on the IDDC commission there and created that, so I was pretty proud of that. Just want

655
01:00:10,280 --> 01:00:14,280
to remind people that even at these hearings, despite how we feel, we need to maintain some

656
01:00:14,280 --> 01:00:17,980
sense of decorum about how we speak and how we sit in the audience. That is important.

657
01:00:18,080 --> 01:00:21,440
Otherwise, nothing gets done and we become no better than anybody else running around

658
01:00:21,440 --> 01:00:26,600
screaming in the middle of the streets. As you've heard today from various people,

659
01:00:27,740 --> 01:00:33,680
you know ice is a problem I would argue but it's how we talk about that that

660
01:00:33,680 --> 01:00:36,620
matters I think someone here in the audience actually mentioned they're

661
01:00:36,620 --> 01:00:40,540
scared hell I'm scared I've had friends dragged away I have a friend and who's

662
01:00:40,540 --> 01:00:45,280
from Peru who's going to school at American University who is I have to

663
01:00:45,280 --> 01:00:47,920
text them every time they go back from class to make sure they get back to

664
01:00:47,920 --> 01:00:50,680
their dorm because I'm afraid they're gonna get picked up and shipped out to

665
01:00:50,680 --> 01:00:54,100
some country they don't belong to like that that's the reality of what

666
01:00:54,100 --> 01:00:58,180
we're talking about here. I heard someone bring up a nuclear apocalypse. We have this

667
01:00:58,180 --> 01:01:00,460
thing called nuclear assured destruction that's not going to happen.

668
01:01:00,580 --> 01:01:04,560
Anybody fires a nuke at anybody, we're all going to die. We got one rock. We got to

669
01:01:04,560 --> 01:01:07,380
share it. That's just the reality of the situation. Physicists are not,

670
01:01:07,540 --> 01:01:12,460
everybody should know that. I have an insane amount of respect for what you

671
01:01:12,460 --> 01:01:16,940
guys do as public servants. It is what I have dedicated my life to being a

672
01:01:17,520 --> 01:01:20,500
spokesperson for people like me who have always been told that we can't speak

673
01:01:20,500 --> 01:01:24,500
for ourselves. I've been told I'm too autistic and not autistic enough at the

674
01:01:24,500 --> 01:01:28,860
same time sometimes which is genuinely impressive let me tell you. I'm wearing

675
01:01:28,860 --> 01:01:32,660
this USA hockey jersey not necessarily because on the world's most happy

676
01:01:32,660 --> 01:01:35,420
American right now because some of the stuff going on in this country right now

677
01:01:35,420 --> 01:01:39,180
is definitely questionable but because I really want the USA to beat Sweden

678
01:01:39,180 --> 01:01:43,500
today at the Olympics and I think like at the end of the day there's a lot

679
01:01:43,500 --> 01:01:48,300
more here that we can agree on than would separate us. I have never been

680
01:01:48,300 --> 01:01:53,080
more proud in my entire life to say I am from the Commonwealth. Yes, for those of you not from

681
01:01:53,080 --> 01:01:58,720
here, we are a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I am a proud Philadelphia sports fan. Go birds.

682
01:01:59,000 --> 01:02:03,860
Thank you for firing Kevin Petillo. And I just really, really, really want to stress that all

683
01:02:03,860 --> 01:02:08,540
of these conversations, they matter as long as they're taken in the tone that is helpful.

684
01:02:09,140 --> 01:02:14,060
Yelling and accusing gets us nowhere. I can quote the Constitution too. Everybody can,

685
01:02:14,460 --> 01:02:17,600
but no one's going to do anything with that. And then you're just going to ignore what I

686
01:02:17,600 --> 01:02:22,940
So in summary, please look into a commission for people with disabilities or with IDD.

687
01:02:23,160 --> 01:02:24,740
Please, I've been trying to call y'all's office.

688
01:02:24,940 --> 01:02:26,280
The website is not autistic friendly.

689
01:02:26,660 --> 01:02:28,160
Thank you for your time. I appreciate it.

690
01:02:29,440 --> 01:02:30,300
Thank you.

691
01:02:33,500 --> 01:02:34,580
Marguerite Chandler.

692
01:02:50,850 --> 01:02:51,630
Good morning.

693
01:02:52,690 --> 01:02:54,370
I'm Marguerite Chandler from Newtown.

694
01:02:55,650 --> 01:03:02,190
I understand that an announcement has been made that there will be no ICE warehouse facility in our county.

695
01:03:03,090 --> 01:03:06,750
I appreciate the stand that the county is taking.

696
01:03:07,810 --> 01:03:14,510
We do not have to speculate about what can happen when an ICE enforcement or detention

697
01:03:14,510 --> 01:03:19,230
facility is placed in a local community without full transparency.

698
01:03:20,650 --> 01:03:24,270
Whatever one's political views, the lesson is clear.

699
01:03:24,270 --> 01:03:32,410
Once such a facility is established, it immediately becomes the focus of lawsuits, environmental

700
01:03:32,410 --> 01:03:41,030
challenges, national media attention, and continued disputes over oversight and detention conditions.

701
01:03:42,090 --> 01:03:49,470
Local governments can't control federal policy, but thank you for insisting on due diligence

702
01:03:49,470 --> 01:03:55,070
before any local land use approvals or cooperation agreements move forward.

703
01:03:56,470 --> 01:04:05,950
The experience of other communities show that the only moment when local leadership has real influence is before approvals are granted.

704
01:04:07,030 --> 01:04:14,650
Thank you for using your influence to protect the stability, transparency and public voice of Vux County.

705
01:04:15,170 --> 01:04:15,650
Thank you.

706
01:04:16,310 --> 01:04:17,630
Thank you very much.

707
01:04:21,000 --> 01:04:23,980
That's it for public comment, just to answer a couple questions.

708
01:04:25,020 --> 01:04:27,160
First of all, we do have a board.

709
01:04:27,360 --> 01:04:32,960
We have the required behavioral health advisory board for mental health and disability programs.

710
01:04:33,540 --> 01:04:34,880
It's been here for years.

711
01:04:36,160 --> 01:04:40,280
We can have someone help you find it on the website, but we have volunteers that are

712
01:04:40,280 --> 01:04:42,920
on that board, and I would encourage you to fill out the application.

713
01:04:44,360 --> 01:04:44,660
You did.

714
01:04:44,860 --> 01:04:45,840
Okay, so then you found it.

715
01:04:45,920 --> 01:04:46,280
All right, good.

716
01:04:46,280 --> 01:04:49,580
So maybe we'll be eager to have you on that board then.

717
01:04:50,340 --> 01:04:54,940
The second thing was that PSI does all our visual and auditory challenges.

718
01:04:55,260 --> 01:04:58,280
The IU never had a role in that. They were just consulted occasionally.

719
01:04:59,180 --> 01:05:04,460
And all of the people who were being seen by IU people have been assigned to someone.

720
01:05:04,680 --> 01:05:08,940
Nobody's having any complaints. I think some emails went out to further clarify that.

721
01:05:09,480 --> 01:05:14,000
And then there was a question as well about 15A.

722
01:05:16,540 --> 01:05:23,080
Yes, Mr. Warren raised about $15,000. So the amendment to the agreement doesn't change

723
01:05:23,080 --> 01:05:31,940
the value. It's about $144,000. It's for improvements to some structures that are being used to help

724
01:05:31,940 --> 01:05:37,980
people who are going through substance use or recovery. What it does is it changes

725
01:05:38,300 --> 01:05:42,060
the work that's being done. They're adding some work being done inside the buildings.

726
01:05:42,580 --> 01:05:46,100
The prices stayed the same, but they just changed what the scope of the work was.

727
01:05:46,240 --> 01:05:47,100
That's what the amendment was.

728
01:05:48,740 --> 01:05:53,880
And finally, it did my heart good that sometimes people complain about Project 2024,

729
01:05:54,220 --> 01:05:57,580
and it's good to see people are worried about the environment, 2040,

730
01:05:57,880 --> 01:06:01,400
and that they are worried about the environment and join us in that concern.

731
01:06:01,580 --> 01:06:02,240
I appreciate that.

732
01:06:02,740 --> 01:06:09,260
Moving on to the agenda, is there a motion to approve the minutes of the February 4th, 2026 meeting,

733
01:06:09,260 --> 01:06:13,740
as well as items one through 19B.

734
01:06:14,600 --> 01:06:15,300
So moved.

735
01:06:15,680 --> 01:06:16,280
There's second.

736
01:06:16,560 --> 01:06:16,720
Second.

737
01:06:17,020 --> 01:06:17,540
All in favor?

738
01:06:17,920 --> 01:06:18,140
Aye.

739
01:06:18,440 --> 01:06:18,700
Aye.

740
01:06:19,440 --> 01:06:19,880
Opposed?

741
01:06:21,000 --> 01:06:21,680
No.

742
01:06:25,150 --> 01:06:27,930
We are moving on to number 20,

743
01:06:28,170 --> 01:06:30,370
which is to approve a resolution

744
01:06:30,370 --> 01:06:33,230
opposing the ICE detainee processing

745
01:06:33,230 --> 01:06:34,670
or detention facilities.

746
01:06:34,730 --> 01:06:36,210
And I'll turn this to our solicitor.

747
01:06:37,930 --> 01:06:38,930
Thank you, Madam Chair.

748
01:06:38,930 --> 01:06:44,130
where I will read the resolution, a resolution of the County of Bucks Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

749
01:06:44,130 --> 01:06:49,530
opposing United States immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency establishing ICE detainee

750
01:06:49,530 --> 01:06:55,250
facilities in Bucks County warehouses. Whereas, the County of Bucks follows all state and

751
01:06:55,250 --> 01:07:00,390
federal laws regarding cooperation with law enforcement, including with United States Immigration

752
01:07:00,390 --> 01:07:06,630
and Customs Enforcement ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, DHS. Whereas, on

753
01:07:06,630 --> 01:07:12,050
On January 20, 2025, the White House announced a policy to detain and deport fast numbers

754
01:07:12,050 --> 01:07:16,870
of illegal aliens residing in the United States and directed DHS to allocate all legally

755
01:07:16,870 --> 01:07:22,490
available resources or establish contracts to construct, operate, control, or use facilities

756
01:07:22,490 --> 01:07:24,790
to detain removable aliens.

757
01:07:25,730 --> 01:07:30,070
Whereas recent reports from human rights organizations reveal alarming conditions

758
01:07:30,070 --> 01:07:35,410
of confinement and repeated instances of coercion, physical force, and threats against immigration

759
01:07:35,410 --> 01:07:45,190
facing third country deportations in violation of agency policies and standards, as well as statutory and constitutional protections within ICE detention facilities.

760
01:07:46,050 --> 01:07:56,030
Whereas the federal government, when presented with bipartisan concerns about DHS immigration operations, including the conditions inside ICE detention facilities,

761
01:07:56,030 --> 01:08:01,450
agencies has demonstrated an unwillingness to rein in or acknowledge rampant, flagrant

762
01:08:01,450 --> 01:08:07,350
disregard for public safety and constitutional guarantees of due process, severely affecting

763
01:08:07,350 --> 01:08:13,690
the government's credibility. Whereas the ICE nationwide efforts to lease or purchase

764
01:08:13,690 --> 01:08:17,910
industrial warehouses for the purpose of obtaining additional facilities to process

765
01:08:17,910 --> 01:08:22,810
and detain individuals in the agency's custody have included multiple warehouses

766
01:08:22,810 --> 01:08:25,730
in Bucks County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

767
01:08:26,870 --> 01:08:30,910
Whereas the county of Bucks, as represented by the elected board of commissioners,

768
01:08:30,930 --> 01:08:36,070
opposes the use of warehouses or similar industrial facilities not intended for human occupancy

769
01:08:36,660 --> 01:08:41,590
as facilities to hold jail, detain, house, or otherwise store human beings.

770
01:08:42,550 --> 01:08:47,110
Whereas in addition to humanitarian concerns arising from the reported poor treatment

771
01:08:47,110 --> 01:08:51,450
of individuals in ICE detention, conversion of industrial warehouses

772
01:08:51,450 --> 01:08:58,210
to detention facilities implicates local land use ordinances, whereas such facilities being

773
01:08:58,210 --> 01:09:03,730
hastily erected in areas and structures not intended for human occupation would place

774
01:09:03,730 --> 01:09:09,570
unanticipated demands upon water and sewer systems, creating hazards to public health,

775
01:09:09,990 --> 01:09:18,130
as well as heaping new strain upon public safety services. Whereas under the Federal

776
01:09:18,130 --> 01:09:23,310
Clean Water Act, federal agencies must comply with all federal, state, and local requirements

777
01:09:23,310 --> 01:09:28,230
governing the control and abatement of water pollution, and no facilities can be connected

778
01:09:28,230 --> 01:09:33,470
to a municipal sewage system and no building can be occupied without first obtaining a

779
01:09:33,470 --> 01:09:38,870
permit indicating that the site is in compliance with the provisions of the Sewage Facilities Act.

780
01:09:40,450 --> 01:09:45,870
Whereas Governor Shapiro identified and communicated similar concerns regarding

781
01:09:45,870 --> 01:09:52,350
ice warehouses being converted to Secretary Kristi Noem, DHS, in a letter dated February

782
01:09:52,350 --> 01:10:00,910
12, 2026, whereas echoing the Governor, it is a primary objective of the county to ensure

783
01:10:00,910 --> 01:10:07,950
that public safety and welfare of its residents, business community, and visitors. Whereas

784
01:10:07,950 --> 01:10:13,590
the conversion of industrial warehouses into mass detention facilities does not align

785
01:10:13,590 --> 01:10:20,110
with the goals or shared values of equity, sustainability, resilience, and health and

786
01:10:20,110 --> 01:10:22,990
well-being of the people of the County of Bucks.

787
01:10:24,590 --> 01:10:30,670
Now therefore, be it resolved, the Board of Commissioners is opposed to a conversion

788
01:10:30,670 --> 01:10:37,190
of industrial warehouses into facilities for the processing and or detention of ICE detainees

789
01:10:37,190 --> 01:10:39,950
for the reasons previously set forth.

790
01:10:40,690 --> 01:10:44,990
adopted as a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the County of Box this

791
01:10:44,990 --> 01:10:48,230
18th day of February, 2026.

792
01:10:57,860 --> 01:11:00,140
Thank you. Are there any questions or comments from

793
01:11:00,140 --> 01:11:05,280
Commissioners? Commissioner DiGiorno? Yeah, thank you Madam Chair. I think this

794
01:11:05,280 --> 01:11:09,780
is an important an important resolution and I'm going to support this and vote

795
01:11:09,780 --> 01:11:17,180
yes on the resolution and just leaving just reading now therefore bear it

796
01:11:17,180 --> 01:11:23,900
resolved that the Board of Commissioners are opposed to the conversion of industrial warehouses

797
01:11:23,900 --> 01:11:29,700
into facilities for the processing and or detention of ICE detainees.

798
01:11:30,260 --> 01:11:36,160
And that means all throughout Bucks County, no matter where anybody lives.

799
01:11:37,100 --> 01:11:42,940
Now, I know there has been some talk and conversation, and I don't want to say rumors

800
01:11:42,940 --> 01:11:51,540
because they seem pretty credible about possibly one being put or just talking

801
01:11:51,540 --> 01:11:58,080
about being put in Ben Salem and another one in Middletown and I don't care

802
01:11:58,080 --> 01:12:02,340
where anyone lives in Bucks County whether it be the lower part of the

803
01:12:02,340 --> 01:12:08,880
county the upper part of the county. Bucks County is not a county that needs

804
01:12:08,880 --> 01:12:16,080
needs or wants a detention facility. It is not appropriate for our county, not at all.

805
01:12:18,100 --> 01:12:26,940
And I'm going to support, I'm supporting the resolution and I was very happy to see yesterday

806
01:12:26,940 --> 01:12:36,800
our congressman, Congressman Fitzpatrick yesterday put out a statement that also opposed any

807
01:12:36,800 --> 01:12:43,760
detention facilities here in Bucks County as well. And as part of that statement he said

808
01:12:43,760 --> 01:12:50,820
he had talked to ICE and they had assured him that they are not looking in Bucks County

809
01:12:50,820 --> 01:12:58,920
for a detention facility. Well I've been in government for 33, 32, 33 years and I know

810
01:12:58,920 --> 01:13:04,520
what might be true one day might not be true a day for now, a week for now, a month

811
01:13:04,520 --> 01:13:10,820
for now. So, I wanted to be perfectly clear whether it's right now or a month, a year

812
01:13:10,820 --> 01:13:17,800
for now, we do not want and the commissioners are opposed to a detention facility for ICE

813
01:13:17,800 --> 01:13:19,260
here in Bucks County. Thank you.

814
01:13:19,500 --> 01:13:19,880
Thank you.

815
01:13:24,490 --> 01:13:33,410
Thank you. I appreciate Commissioner DeGiorno's words. You know, we know from just over

816
01:13:33,410 --> 01:13:39,470
less than the week in the past week that there was an effort in the Lanconia section apparently

817
01:13:39,470 --> 01:13:47,790
have been sailing to look at a property for a potential ace warehouse. We know that that attention

818
01:13:48,770 --> 01:13:56,650
was rebuffed by the owner of that property. He was not interested in partnering and selling

819
01:13:56,650 --> 01:14:02,090
release in that property. We know that the eyes then turned to Middletown and a couple of

820
01:14:02,090 --> 01:14:06,790
facilities that are built on the former, what used to be the Redmond Toll property,

821
01:14:07,650 --> 01:14:12,970
you know, where there are warehouses now. And we know from a prominent land development

822
01:14:12,970 --> 01:14:19,390
attorney in this county who's been doing business for probably 30 years that he has communicated,

823
01:14:19,750 --> 01:14:27,990
that he has, you know, clients who are, I think he used the word besieged by phone

824
01:14:27,990 --> 01:14:34,710
calls from people looking to purchase warehouses because they know they can sell them to the

825
01:14:34,710 --> 01:14:40,710
federal government because the federal government has allocated about $38 billion for this particular

826
01:14:40,710 --> 01:14:41,630
kind of endeavor.

827
01:14:45,140 --> 01:14:49,900
I totally agree, obviously. In fact, it was my recommendation that this

828
01:14:49,900 --> 01:14:54,120
resolution be written. I appreciate the work by our staff in putting it together.

829
01:14:54,120 --> 01:14:59,560
I agree obviously with Commissioner DeGirolamo this county is no place for

830
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:04,760
These kinds of facilities, but I'll expand that. This country is no place for these kind

831
01:15:04,760 --> 01:15:13,780
of facilities. We have been down this road before with Japanese Americans during World

832
01:15:13,780 --> 01:15:19,060
War II. We have been down this road before. Most people don't realize that there were

833
01:15:19,060 --> 01:15:25,040
Italian Americans detained during World War II in similar circumstances because they were

834
01:15:25,040 --> 01:15:30,240
seen as untrustworthy and segregated and discriminated against.

835
01:15:32,520 --> 01:15:38,460
At some point, we have to think back to who we are as a country and stand up for what's

836
01:15:38,460 --> 01:15:38,640
right.

837
01:15:39,960 --> 01:15:41,120
This is doing that.

838
01:15:42,100 --> 01:15:45,120
We do believe that there will be more attempts.

839
01:15:45,820 --> 01:15:49,560
I certainly do not trust this administration at all.

840
01:15:50,120 --> 01:15:50,960
There's no reason to.

841
01:15:50,960 --> 01:15:58,200
to. I certainly don't trust the Secretary of Homeland Security. There's no reason to.

842
01:15:59,280 --> 01:16:07,920
And certainly the, you know, behaviors of a lot of the people underneath her, you know,

843
01:16:07,920 --> 01:16:18,820
lead to a lack of trust. And we heard that from some of our speakers today, some of

844
01:16:20,320 --> 01:16:24,800
People who are being detained from where we don't know where, we don't know who they are,

845
01:16:27,720 --> 01:16:30,860
stored in buildings that are not meant for human habitation.

846
01:16:31,620 --> 01:16:35,720
And certainly any effort by the government to say that they would retrofit it appropriately,

847
01:16:37,460 --> 01:16:39,020
we have to be serious.

848
01:16:39,720 --> 01:16:45,160
Did we really trust that that would happen in a way that any of us would accept?

849
01:16:45,840 --> 01:16:46,280
So,

850
01:16:48,740 --> 01:16:53,260
you know, I certainly, you know, I also want to be very honest with the people who

851
01:16:53,260 --> 01:16:56,080
are here and who are watching and who are going to hear about this,

852
01:16:58,520 --> 01:17:00,140
the $38 billion,

853
01:17:00,600 --> 01:17:04,260
which could be spent in a lot of ways to benefit the people of this country, is a lot

854
01:17:04,260 --> 01:17:06,100
of money to retrofit warehouses.

855
01:17:06,720 --> 01:17:11,680
And so although we're focused on the infrastructure improvements and we're focused on the public

856
01:17:11,680 --> 01:17:19,100
safety, I do not put it past this government to spend that money in a way that would allow

857
01:17:19,100 --> 01:17:23,700
them to do something like this. The federal government does not have to follow zoning laws.

858
01:17:25,440 --> 01:17:30,540
And so if you think that where something is zoned, a warehouse can't have the zoning

859
01:17:30,540 --> 01:17:34,240
change without going through the normal procedures that everybody else has to go through, going

860
01:17:34,240 --> 01:17:38,640
to a zoning board, having a hearing, notifying residents and neighbors and letting them

861
01:17:38,640 --> 01:17:43,500
say their piece that does not have to happen here or anywhere in this country.

862
01:17:44,620 --> 01:17:48,540
And so we're going to do our best, especially working with local municipalities.

863
01:17:49,120 --> 01:17:56,980
We're going to continue to keep our ears open and hope that we have the cooperation of

864
01:17:56,980 --> 01:18:02,600
property owners in this county and residents in this county who don't want this in our

865
01:18:02,600 --> 01:18:08,920
county and share my view that we don't want this in our country. We have to be veterans

866
01:18:08,920 --> 01:18:14,020
in the nation. And I think this is a small step that I hope this county is taking to

867
01:18:14,020 --> 01:18:15,200
lead the way in that regard.

868
01:18:17,560 --> 01:18:19,440
Thank you and I

869
01:18:22,640 --> 01:18:26,180
appreciate your leadership on passing this resolution and Mr. Greaser

870
01:18:26,180 --> 01:18:30,940
for all the work you did on it and Ms. McKevitt for following up with all of us. I have

871
01:18:30,940 --> 01:18:35,320
to tell you there was some frenetic texting and emailing over the weekend between township

872
01:18:35,320 --> 01:18:39,540
supervisors and commissioners and attorneys to make sure we are where we are today.

873
01:18:40,100 --> 01:18:42,840
So I proudly ask for a motion on number 20.

874
01:18:43,400 --> 01:18:43,980
So moved.

875
01:18:44,420 --> 01:18:44,980
Is there a second?

876
01:18:45,240 --> 01:18:45,440
Second.

877
01:18:45,760 --> 01:18:46,280
All in favor?

878
01:18:46,680 --> 01:18:46,860
Aye.

879
01:18:46,960 --> 01:18:47,120
Aye.

880
01:18:48,340 --> 01:18:51,860
Now we're on ordinance 175 and

881
01:18:54,930 --> 01:18:56,830
turn this over to the solicitor.

882
01:18:57,570 --> 01:18:57,810
Yes.

883
01:18:57,990 --> 01:18:58,750
Thank you, Madam Chair.

884
01:18:59,330 --> 01:19:01,410
Next on the agenda is ordinance 175.

885
01:19:01,410 --> 01:19:08,790
This is an ordinance that amends, ordinance number 172 pertaining to the Bucks County

886
01:19:08,790 --> 01:19:10,730
active volunteer tax rebate ordinance.

887
01:19:12,090 --> 01:19:20,190
The new ordinance amends the old ordinance by providing simpler criteria for our emergency

888
01:19:20,190 --> 01:19:23,510
service volunteers and application process.

889
01:19:24,490 --> 01:19:30,770
It also standardizes the processing on our end of the county so that we can get

890
01:19:30,770 --> 01:19:38,850
with these worthy volunteers, their funds quicker and process easier. Is there any other discussion

891
01:19:38,850 --> 01:19:39,910
about this ordinance?

892
01:19:40,830 --> 01:19:41,430
Any questions?

893
01:19:42,750 --> 01:19:47,210
No. I mean, obviously we know that this is something we started in a thank emergency

894
01:19:47,210 --> 01:19:53,290
services and I know it's this is quite the undertaking for the fifth floor in terms

895
01:19:53,290 --> 01:19:58,650
of controllers and finance to make this happen. But this is something we are allowed

896
01:19:58,650 --> 01:20:03,350
do by the state program we started to try and you know reward those people who

897
01:20:03,350 --> 01:20:07,750
wanted to volunteer for our for our companies to give them some kind of

898
01:20:07,750 --> 01:20:11,970
an abatement. We've had different ideas but had to do more but unfortunately the

899
01:20:11,970 --> 01:20:15,230
state doesn't allow us to do a whole lot more than this so it is not a perfect

900
01:20:15,230 --> 01:20:19,870
system but it is something we're trying to do to thank those members of our

901
01:20:19,870 --> 01:20:25,910
communities who volunteer and give them some kind of tangible thank you

902
01:20:25,910 --> 01:20:28,530
So instead of just me standing here and saying thank you.

903
01:20:28,770 --> 01:20:29,530
Thank you very much.

904
01:20:29,630 --> 01:20:30,390
Is there a motion?

905
01:20:30,730 --> 01:20:31,430
So moved.

906
01:20:31,590 --> 01:20:32,110
Is there a second?

907
01:20:32,650 --> 01:20:33,510
This is a roll call.

908
01:20:33,830 --> 01:20:34,710
This is a roll call.

909
01:20:35,770 --> 01:20:37,350
Commissioner Alice Marceglia.

910
01:20:37,610 --> 01:20:37,850
Aye.

911
01:20:38,050 --> 01:20:38,610
Commissioner Harvey.

912
01:20:39,150 --> 01:20:39,290
Aye.

913
01:20:39,630 --> 01:20:40,770
Commissioner DeGiorgio Alamo.

914
01:20:41,010 --> 01:20:41,190
Aye.

915
01:20:42,170 --> 01:20:43,050
The motion passes.

916
01:20:43,810 --> 01:20:44,130
Terrific.

917
01:20:45,050 --> 01:20:48,450
Moving on to 30 through 44, budget adjustments.

918
01:20:49,650 --> 01:20:50,650
Thank you, commissioners.

919
01:20:50,710 --> 01:20:53,610
For your consideration today, we have 14 budget adjustments

920
01:20:53,610 --> 01:20:57,390
to allow for final expenditures to post against the 2025 budget.

921
01:20:57,890 --> 01:21:01,450
These adjustments are being balanced by recognizing additional revenue

922
01:21:01,450 --> 01:21:04,310
as well as reallocating available budget.

923
01:21:04,510 --> 01:21:06,250
So there's no impact to the general fund balance.

924
01:21:06,890 --> 01:21:07,490
Thank you.

925
01:21:07,610 --> 01:21:08,010
Any questions?

926
01:21:09,010 --> 01:21:11,510
Is there a motion to approve budget adjustments?

927
01:21:11,770 --> 01:21:12,030
Move.

928
01:21:12,330 --> 01:21:13,170
Thank you.

929
01:21:13,510 --> 01:21:14,030
Is there a second?

930
01:21:14,450 --> 01:21:14,750
Second.

931
01:21:15,030 --> 01:21:15,470
All in favor?

932
01:21:15,810 --> 01:21:16,050
Aye.

933
01:21:16,590 --> 01:21:16,910
Opposed?

934
01:21:18,270 --> 01:21:24,090
Is there a motion to approve the personnel actions for today?

935
01:21:24,710 --> 01:21:25,210
So moved.

936
01:21:25,510 --> 01:21:25,690
Second.

937
01:21:26,030 --> 01:21:26,490
All in favor?

938
01:21:26,870 --> 01:21:27,030
Aye.

939
01:21:27,430 --> 01:21:27,710
Opposed?

940
01:21:28,250 --> 01:21:29,750
Mr. Harvey, do you want to do the board appointments?

941
01:21:30,290 --> 01:21:30,550
Sure.

942
01:21:30,790 --> 01:21:33,190
We have some appointments and reappointments.

943
01:21:34,810 --> 01:21:38,470
For our buckskinning agricultural land preservation board, these are three-year terms.

944
01:21:38,870 --> 01:21:39,310
Reappointments.

945
01:21:39,850 --> 01:21:46,010
Mr. Kenneth Goldenberg, Mr. Bartley Millett, Mr. David Wolfinger, all terms ending 229.

946
01:21:46,670 --> 01:21:51,590
to the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission, a three-year term, Mr. Marlon Williams re-appointing

947
01:21:51,590 --> 01:21:54,150
his term will end 12-1, 2028.

948
01:21:54,970 --> 01:21:58,270
And the Bucks County Workforce Development Board, a three-year term, Mr. Michael Taylor

949
01:21:58,270 --> 01:21:59,890
is being reclassified.

950
01:22:00,470 --> 01:22:04,830
This is a board whereby state ordinance, we have to appoint people who represent certain

951
01:22:04,830 --> 01:22:06,150
industries and certain fields.

952
01:22:06,850 --> 01:22:13,130
Mr. Taylor is going to be reclassified to be part of a youth-serving business.

953
01:22:13,130 --> 01:22:18,710
So I'll make a motion for those five reappointments and reappointments.

954
01:22:19,250 --> 01:22:19,770
Okay.

955
01:22:20,490 --> 01:22:20,910
All in favor?

956
01:22:21,390 --> 01:22:21,430
Aye.

957
01:22:22,330 --> 01:22:32,150
And under other civics, we have animal lifeline for 2,000, rolling harvest food rescue for 2,500, score for 3,500, and shared wellness for 2,000.

958
01:22:32,510 --> 01:22:33,830
Is there a motion to approve those?

959
01:22:34,350 --> 01:22:34,670
So moved.

960
01:22:35,010 --> 01:22:35,190
Second.

961
01:22:35,410 --> 01:22:35,850
All in favor?

962
01:22:36,230 --> 01:22:36,390
Aye.

963
01:22:37,050 --> 01:22:38,650
Our Chief Operating Officers report.

964
01:22:38,930 --> 01:22:39,710
I will be quick.

965
01:22:39,950 --> 01:22:40,670
Thank you, Commissioner.

966
01:22:41,410 --> 01:22:45,430
I just wanted to, I know Bernard is not here, but I wanted to thank him for all his hard

967
01:22:45,430 --> 01:22:47,490
work on the African American Museum of Bucks County.

968
01:22:48,270 --> 01:22:52,570
It's been on a long venture, but he did a great job, and we're looking forward to it

969
01:22:52,570 --> 01:22:53,810
opening soon.

970
01:22:54,490 --> 01:22:58,070
And I encourage everyone to visit it, it is beautiful, beautiful building.

971
01:22:59,050 --> 01:23:04,010
And then second, I know it doesn't look like it outside, but the House with Hazardous

972
01:23:04,010 --> 01:23:06,850
Waste Program is starting again in April, April 4th.

973
01:23:06,850 --> 01:23:10,310
It'll be at Lower Bucks County Community College.

974
01:23:11,070 --> 01:23:13,490
And the information is on the website

975
01:23:13,490 --> 01:23:14,910
on what is acceptable to bring.

976
01:23:15,050 --> 01:23:18,270
So you got a month and a half to get ready to drop it off.

977
01:23:18,450 --> 01:23:19,570
And that concludes my report.

978
01:23:19,950 --> 01:23:20,330
Thank you.

979
01:23:20,890 --> 01:23:22,190
Thank you on our solicitors report.

980
01:23:22,890 --> 01:23:23,770
Thank you, Madam Chair.

981
01:23:24,570 --> 01:23:29,890
One quick comment on the ringing rocks facilities question.

982
01:23:30,130 --> 01:23:31,950
I think it's Mr. Warren who raised it earlier.

983
01:23:33,050 --> 01:23:34,930
This is up in Bridgeston Township.

984
01:23:35,730 --> 01:23:38,950
We've been working with the township to get permits issued.

985
01:23:39,090 --> 01:23:40,430
That's really been the delay here.

986
01:23:41,450 --> 01:23:47,230
This week they did approve the O&M maintenance agreement for that project, so we expect it

987
01:23:47,230 --> 01:23:48,790
to move forward here very quickly now.

988
01:23:50,390 --> 01:23:53,030
Second, we did have an executive session yesterday.

989
01:23:53,710 --> 01:23:58,170
We discussed litigation, and the commissioners received confidential legal advice.

990
01:23:58,530 --> 01:23:59,530
That concludes my report.

991
01:24:00,600 --> 01:24:01,050
Thank you.

992
01:24:01,510 --> 01:24:02,830
Commissioner Comments, Commissioner DiGiorno.

993
01:24:03,190 --> 01:24:04,390
The comments today, Madam Chair.

994
01:24:04,390 --> 01:24:12,270
Yes, just a couple, I want to acknowledge the fact that the county received a letter

995
01:24:12,270 --> 01:24:21,430
from Chester County, which was dated January 28th, and a citation, which recognizes the

996
01:24:21,430 --> 01:24:27,470
Board of Commissioners, but more specifically recognizes some of our Board of Elections

997
01:24:27,470 --> 01:24:37,210
employees. Last November it was well publicized that Chester County had some serious issues

998
01:24:37,210 --> 01:24:45,890
with their processing of election materials and poll books on election day. They were

999
01:24:45,890 --> 01:24:50,670
really scrambling for help and we had some of our employees from our board of elections

1000
01:24:50,670 --> 01:24:56,490
go to Chester County and help them and so they were incredibly thankful for the

1001
01:24:56,490 --> 01:25:01,490
work that our people did and so I wanted to just acknowledge the fact that this

1002
01:25:01,490 --> 01:25:06,950
letter was sent by their Chief Executive Officer and that their

1003
01:25:06,950 --> 01:25:11,650
commissioners did send the citation thanking the county for helping Chester

1004
01:25:11,650 --> 01:25:16,170
County. We have a great relationship with our Collier County neighbors and I

1005
01:25:16,170 --> 01:25:20,350
think this is just a great example not just of that partnership and all of

1006
01:25:20,350 --> 01:25:24,250
us kind of recognizing how important it is to work together, but also the professionalism

1007
01:25:24,250 --> 01:25:30,010
of our staff, that we were conducting our own election, and yet they were committed

1008
01:25:30,010 --> 01:25:34,770
enough and determined enough and capable enough to also help another county.

1009
01:25:36,250 --> 01:25:40,590
Yeah, I will, I will, no, this is my next thing.

1010
01:25:43,630 --> 01:25:51,570
So the sort of sad part of this is because of statements and actions, especially by this

1011
01:25:51,570 --> 01:25:57,630
federal administration that have over the last several many years demonized election

1012
01:25:57,630 --> 01:26:04,810
of workers, the workers here at our county who were helpful and who were mentioned in

1013
01:26:04,810 --> 01:26:11,050
this have asked for their names not to be read because they don't want that publicity.

1014
01:26:11,290 --> 01:26:16,030
So it is a shame that we live in that kind of environment that we can't totally recognize

1015
01:26:16,030 --> 01:26:24,270
them because of the statements of people who care more about getting reelected than

1016
01:26:24,270 --> 01:26:26,130
actually building for the next generation.

1017
01:26:28,030 --> 01:26:30,670
I also want to acknowledge just, you know,

1018
01:26:32,210 --> 01:26:33,530
going back to my teacher days,

1019
01:26:34,870 --> 01:26:38,930
you know, today marks a beginning of a religious holiday,

1020
01:26:40,110 --> 01:26:43,070
a period of reflection, of fasting,

1021
01:26:44,010 --> 01:26:48,050
a period where religious observers,

1022
01:26:48,610 --> 01:26:51,610
you know, in this faith, you know,

1023
01:26:52,210 --> 01:26:58,930
kind of refocus themselves on their energies, think back upon the foundation of their religion

1024
01:26:59,350 --> 01:27:01,150
and think about how they can move forward.

1025
01:27:01,910 --> 01:27:07,830
And I'm talking about two different religions, actually, because today is Ash Wednesday for

1026
01:27:07,830 --> 01:27:10,410
Catholics and today is also the first day of Ramadan.

1027
01:27:11,190 --> 01:27:16,690
And I think it's important to consider something I always just tell my students that religions

1028
01:27:16,690 --> 01:27:19,830
that we sometimes, by some people, are told are so different.

1029
01:27:19,830 --> 01:27:24,750
But actually have a lot in common, more in common than they have different.

1030
01:27:25,430 --> 01:27:33,370
And so for Catholics, myself and others, and for Muslim, you know, neighbors and friends

1031
01:27:33,370 --> 01:27:41,890
here in this county, you know, I wish you a beginning of Lent is today, ending of course

1032
01:27:41,890 --> 01:27:47,330
with Easter and April, and a blessed Ramadan to all those Muslim, our Muslim friends

1033
01:27:47,330 --> 01:27:47,710
and neighbors.

1034
01:27:47,710 --> 01:27:55,370
So that's how I'll end. Thank you. Thank you and is there a motion to adjourn some of second all in favor