Good morning. Welcome to Bucks County Commissioner's Meeting of February 18th, 2026. We will do the
Pledge of Allegiance, but afterwards I'd ask for a moment of silence. It isn't lost on me that it is
Black History Month and we lost a great person yesterday in Jesse Jackson.
Thank you.
And we
will begin as we get to do every month with employee recognition. We have several employees here
for their anniversaries, but we'll begin with just telling you who couldn't make it
and that is Tracy Kerwood from Children and Youth, Patricia Arario, mental health
and disability programs, and Christopher Hines from the Department of Corrections.
They are all 20-year awards, so give them a round.
And also for 20 years here
with us today is Danielle M. Stasicki from Children and Youth.
Yes, come on up.
If you wanted to say anything, you can say something if you'd like.
I was really worried. I asked three people about how to pronounce.
Thank you.
And from the Planning Commission for 20 years, we have Matthew M. Walters.
Did you want to say anything on your way back?
Okay, but we'll take a picture.
Thank you.
So,
and here honoring 30 years is Lisa Marie Hearn from Adult Probation and Parole.
And as I mentioned, it is, of course, Black History Month, and we will begin with a proclamation
that Commissioner DeGirolam will read, and then Bernard Griggs will be here to give us
an update on the African American Museum.
Okay, thank you, Madam Chair.
Good morning, everyone.
Whereas the month of February is observed each year in the United States as Black
History Month to commemorate the contributions of African-Americans to our country's foundation,
from the arrival of the very first enslaved people from Africa to the African-American
icons of today.
The commemoration and celebration of black history is essential to enhancing the unity
and strength of our nation, whereas the African-American Museum of Books County has
officially been recognized as Bucks County's African American History Archive celebrating
the African American experience, inspiring pride and heritage, and sharing untold stories
of the diverse African American journey.
Whereas the construction of the African American Museum's permanent home at the historic
at Boone Farm Property in Middletown Township,
marked a critical myersland as months
of builders' transition from core and shell,
work to construction of the museum's interior space.
To commend the beginning of the final stages
of construction, Bernard Griggs,
Director of Operations for General Services Division,
handed over to buildings key to museum president
and executive director,
Linda Sallie during a brief ceremony attended by the museum board members and
the county commissioners. Now therefore do we the board of the Bucks County
commissioners chair Diane Alice Morsagulia, vice chair Robert Harvey, and
myself Gene DeGirolamo hereby proclaim February 2026 as Black History Month
throughout the county of Bucks. And so doing we commend the African American
Museum of Bucks County, its members and supporters for their passion or hard work
and to promote the history and heritage of the diverse cultures and communities of
Bucks County. We encourage Buck Countyans to join us in celebrating the
innumerable contributions African Americans have made to our country and
to our county and the many more years yet to come. Congratulations.
As as
Because Bernard's coming up there, I just want to say something I should have said before.
We are having a problem with streaming, so we will delay show this on the website after
the meeting.
Good morning, Mr. Greggs.
Good morning.
And thank you, Madam Chair.
Good morning, commissioners.
Good morning, Rose.
Good morning, senior staff.
And good morning, public.
As the commissioner said, I am here today to give an update on the African American
Museum.
And today's update marks a meaningful milestone in the project that is both technically
complex and historically significant.
And one that carries the lasting importance for Bucks County.
As you'll see in the images on the slideshow here, we recently reached an important moment
which is the official turnover of the keys to the building to the African American Museum
Board of Directors.
Now that moment represents the transition from construction to near term occupancy
and brings the museum within reach of opening its permanent home.
Today's timing of the presentation could not be better.
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.
Now this is not new construction.
What we are completing is the total restoration of an original farmhouse
that was built nearly in the early 1700s, located at the Boone Farm
property within Core Creek Park. The Boone Farm holds historic significance,
including documented connection to the Underground Railroad,
which makes the site especially meaningful during Black History Month
and entirely fitting for the home of the museum.
So
the project began in late 2020.
From there we spent approximately 18 months
working through architectural design, engineering, historic review,
and required public approvals before construction could even start.
The building itself is a 4,000 square foot,
two and a half storey load bearing masonry structure.
Restoring a building of this age requires careful
and a methodical approach.
And once construction began,
we encountered unforeseen conditions,
which is typical, working with a structure
that's more than 300 years old,
and that had been in significant need of repair.
Addressing those conditions properly was essential
to ensure safety, longevity,
and preservation of the building's historic character.
Now I'm pleased to report,
as you heard from the commissioner,
that the county-funded core and shell portion of the restoration is now complete.
The interior
Build out, which is essentially the responsibility of the museum under the county non-profit lease
agreement, is approximately 85% complete. So in practical terms, that means that the project
is only a couple months away from full completion. And once the project is complete, we look
forward to celebrating with a ribbon-cutting ceremony officially open in the doors to the
museum in its permanent home.
And so the restoration of the farmhouse
will not only serve as a museum, but a living,
historical landmark for education, reflection,
and community connection.
Now, commissioners, before I open up for questions, which
you may have some, I'm not sure.
But I just want to take a moment to sincerely thank
you for your continued support, your leadership,
and your vision, because the project would not
be possible without it. And in the more than 25 years that I've known the three of you,
and we've worked on all sorts of initiatives, long before I joined the county of Bucks here
five and a half years ago, your leadership has always been consistent and unwavering.
And for that, I thank you. And on a personal note, having lived in Chalfont here, right
in the heart of beautiful Bucks County, with my family for more than 21 years, I
will tell you, it truly warms my heart to know that Bucks County will be home
to an African-American museum and that I was also fortunate enough to play a role in helping
bring this historic restoration to completion.
So with that, I'd be happy to open up for any questions that you may have or comments.
Hearing none, I'll entertain them.
Oh wait, you're supposed to say that.
Mr. Harvey?
Sure.
Now, I think really, you know, the four of us up here especially, and leaving out
Mr. Grease Room because he came in slightly after the rest of us, we want to thank you
because make sure that we don't minimize the role you played. Having the construction background
you have is reason that you were hired in this job originally back in 2020. And then
handed to you, this may have been the first project we gave you and said, you know, make
this happen. And so it is an incredibly difficult project. It's an incredibly complex project.
And so I really appreciate everything you've done to make this happen because it really would
not have happened without you.
You're welcome.
Thank you.
And I just want to add the same thing.
It was great to be able to work with you on this.
The one thing I'm noticing though is I wish we had pictures back from 2021 because I
might actually have some on my phone.
If you could see what it looked like in 2021 with dust and just I can't believe the
miraculous change.
So, when we come back and show pictures again, we've got to get some before we started anything.
And also, thank you.
I have hoped for years that we would be able to turn this place over.
And you were the first person who said that physically we could do it.
And Ms. McKevitt was the first person who said, yes, we absolutely can do it.
So I'm very proud to have this.
I drive past it every day.
It makes me smile.
So, thank you.
Thank you very much.
Oh, that's right.
We should take a picture.
Good morning.
This month is also Career and Technical Education Month, and I'm going to turn that over to
Commissioner Harvey to introduce our guests and read the proclamation.
Thank you very much.
As some may know, I spent 26 years as a public school teacher before I was elected to this
position.
Twenty of those years was at Bucks County Technical High School in Lower Bucks County,
me, where I was hired in 2000. The school had undergone a $35 million upgrade in expansion
to make it a comprehensive technical school, which meant the kids went there full time.
They didn't go back and forth between their schools as they had since 1959 when that
school opened. It is certainly one of the, you know, kind of the formative times of
my life to be brand new at a school. I was 29 years old. I had six years experience as
a teacher. I was made department chair of a department of 10 people. I had more experience
than all other nine teachers in my department combined. And so at 29 I was the old man
in the group and then starting out with really no curriculum to speak of and having
to write that. But the tech schools we have here, Upper Bucks Technical School, Middle
Bucks Institute of Technology, and Bucks State Technical High School and Lower Bucks serve
thousands of students who leave their schools, not just with the technical knowledge they
have to enter into that field if they choose to, but having the hands-on experience
to build the confidence they need to be successful in whatever they choose to do.
I used to talk to the students I had and tell them about, you know, when you leave the school,
you're leaving here, you know, with not just, let's say, knowledge of how to be a carpenter,
or how to be a diesel mechanic, or how to write code for computers, or how to be a first responder.
better. You know, you can use those skills obviously to go to college. If you want to
advance that career, you can go right into the workforce. You're coming out way ahead
of every other 18-year-old who's coming out of a traditional high school. But you also
have skills that you're never going to lose. And so certainly you graduate with a degree
in carpentry, let's say. If you choose not to go into that field, you choose to
do something else, you never lose that carpentry skills. And so I used to say,
and you can save yourself a lot of money
not having to hire a carpenter to do stuff at your house.
No offense to the carpenters out there
who are trying to look for a living,
but it is practical knowledge
that helps literally build futures.
So it is my pleasure to be here
and to thank the three directors of our schools
who are here, I'll introduce them in a minute.
Whereas career and technical education, CTE,
provides students with the opportunity
to build both the academic and technical know-how
necessary for success across countless industries
and disciplines and whereas CTE students engage in hands-on learning with academics honing real
world skills that open doors to career exploration and promote opportunities for high achievement
and whereas in these programs businesses and industry leaders work hand in hand with academia
to bridge skill gaps in the workforce and to connect professionals with careers in critical
fields and whereas technical schools and Buckskin I prepare students for fulfilling careers
through integrated educational programs that develop the skills and knowledge necessary
for attaining industry-recognized credentials, and whereas by building a workforce ready
to succeed in technical fields, CTE programs promote a strong national economy that keeps
our nation competitive on the world stage.
Now therefore do we, the Board of Commissioners of Bucks County, hereby proclaim February
20, 2026 as Career and Technical Education Month throughout the county of Bucks.
In doing so, we commend the Upper Bucks County Technical School, the Middle Bucks
Institute of Technology, and the Bucks County Technical High School for providing meaningful
pathways to careers, post-secondary education, and lifelong learning to ensure that today's
students are ready for tomorrow's emerging technologies and global marketplace.
And joining us today from Middle Bucks is Dr. Mark Kavell from Bucks County Technical
High School, my former boss, Hank DeGeorge.
And from upper box we have Michael Herrera, so please come forward.
Thank you.
Thank you very much. Well said.
We believe that CT is not an alternative pathway but
as a primary driver of economic mobility. Our model is built on deep industry alignment.
At Upper Box, we have 200 occupational advisory committee members that serve helping that
ensure our students are ready.
Along with my colleagues, our school to work program is nationally known.
Just during the school day, over two years, our students earned over $1.8 million dollars
In the school to work, our students leave with industry-recognized credentials and certificates.
During CTE month, we not only thank our students, but our staff and community members, the commissioners
and Bucks County, which we're very proud to be a part of, and I'll turn it over to
Mark.
Thank you, commissioners. Thank you very much for the recognition this month. We're super
proud to be in CTE as a classic K-12 teacher and administrator myself. Finding CTE made
all the difference in my pathway in my career, and I'm thrilled to speak out loudly and
proudly about CTE now. So thank you for the recognition. This is a time where Korean
Technical Education is experiencing record interest, record enrollments, and record
achievement for our students just as Mike had mentioned. So thank you very, very much.
Thank
you commissioners for honoring CTE this month. I told Mr. Harvey as his
former boss this was a formal observation today so I will be sending it
to you afterwards Bob. But career and technical education is no longer the
best kept secret in Bucks County. We have more kids than we have seats so
hopefully going forward with a little bit of assistance from the state we'll
be able to give each student that career and technical education that they're seeking.
We don't want to stop until every student who wants a career and technical education
can get one. So, thank you, commissioners.
Yep.
Can I just... Hey.
Just one more thing to point out, just as we travel around, talk to business owners
throughout this county, and since I've been in this job, one of the things I kind
you know, when they say, well, we're having trouble finding people to work, we're having
trouble finding engineers, we're having trouble finding welders, we're having trouble finding
this, that. My first reply to them is, have you talked to the tech school? And usually
the reply is, what tech school? And depending on where this business is, I point out, well,
you've got one down the street, you've got one here, one there, and all the schools
have co-op programs, where seniors especially, who have learned as much as they can in
the building actually can go out to work and get credit for working. It is a pipeline
for skilled workers. Kids who are coming right out who have learned the latest technology
as Mr. Herrera mentioned, those occupational advisory committees, they meet a couple times
a year to help the teachers make sure they're teaching the most up-to-date technology
in whatever field they're teaching. If you're a business owner out there, you're
looking for workers, find out which tech schools near you
and call them and ask for help,
because they'd be happy to help you, so thank you.
Thank you very much.
And we'll go to public comment.
Ed McHouse.
Ed McHouse from Buckingham, former teacher,
engineer, scientist,
physicist, discoverer, discoverer of the structure of matter,
electron, proton, and neutron.
I'd like to comment all the work that's being done by all the great workers and the technical
schools and the outstanding technical schools.
With the lack of vision, people perish.
America has been the greatest nation in the world and is still the greatest nation
in the world in many ways.
However, America, being the greatest nation in the world, should be producing wealth.
we should be having a making trillions of dollars.
However, America has been barring trillions of dollars every year
and enriching nations like China,
which are our greatest enemies,
corrupted, taken away our technology,
and threatened us with nuclear war,
offering nuclear weapons to any nation to threaten us.
So President Trump and Netanyahu saved America
from being destroyed by nuclear weapons.
Iran has reduced thousands of warheads, rockets,
but they haven't had the uranium and risk uranium
to make the warheads so that they can obliterate us.
As a physicist, I understand that if nuclear war occurs,
we could lose 50% of our people.
The liars will say, well, nuclear war is impossible.
people, Russia is threatening it and all, if there's a limited number of nations, China
feels they can get away with it.
So it's sort of like before Trump came in like we were in the Titanic, it was able to
stop, I ran in the nick of time, but the threat of nuclear war will not get away as long as
nations have nuclear weapons. And if every nation had nuclear weapons, we couldn't please
hundred people with nuclear weapons. We couldn't appease them and protect our people. So we
We have all these divisions on our campuses,
tacking Jews, Christians, Europe used to be Christians
being overrun by people who don't have the same,
or invaders who come in for money, monetary things.
So we, as individuals, like a vision,
impossible dream to keep America and the world safe.
And we need to cooperate with ICE to protect America
and not have criminals and murderers come live next to us.
There's no sure prior way to correct things.
We have to have more compassion
for the majority of people who are innocent
rather than the criminals
and protect, cooperate with the federal government.
And congratulations for all that you are doing
and will do to make America, keep America safe.
Thank you.
Adrienne King.
Good morning, commissioners.
Good morning.
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
80s, the adolescent who struggled to find herself and see an image of herself in this county,
the wife who finally convinced her husband that this was the place that we should raise our two daughters and
the mother who continues to fight for her daughters to see representation of themselves.
I thank you for the support, the presentation that was done about the African-American Museum.
It really is going to have a huge impact in this county.
That's really not the reason I came. I didn't know that was going to happen.
But I felt like I had to say that.
So my name is Adrienne King, and I serve as the president of the NAACP Bucks County Branch.
I'm here today to express my appreciation for Bucks County's decision to file a brief to support
the preservation of the president's house slavery exhibit in Philadelphia.
Sometimes it seems like we're so far away and we forget that we are connected.
Since 1909 the NAACP has relied on the courts as a mechanism to protect civil
rights and ensure our nation confronts its full honest history. Through the
work of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Educational Fund legal
Legal advocacy has been used to defend educational equality and equity protections when those
principles were at stake.
The President's House site is not only significant to Philadelphia, it is vital education resource
for students and families throughout our region, including right here in Bucks County.
And Bucks County itself carries a meaningful African-American history as we just heard preserved
through institutions such as the African-American Museum of Bucks County, the gathering place
in the African-American Historical Society of Bucks County.
These organizations remind us that our local history is deeply connected to the national
narrative. Preserving access to complete and accurate history is not about
politics, it's about civic literacy, it is about educational integrity, it is about
ensuring that future generations learn full story of our nation, including the
realities of slavery at the highest levels of early American government. By
participating in this process the county affirmed that regional history matters
and that public institutions have a role in protecting historical integrity when
it impacts their residents. On behalf of the NAACP Bucks County, thank you for
your leadership and your thoughtful consideration and continued support of
this issue. Thank
you Chris Polly.
Good morning. Truth is not midway
between the liar and a truth teller.
The people who tell the truth don't need to make liars
feel better about what they said.
Politicians or people that spread fear and hate
may think of themselves as real Americans,
but we don't have to.
Truth tellers certainly don't have to sow out
our principles for their comfort.
When you stand on the ground of truth and justice,
many others will find their way to you,
of course recognizing sadly that some
will never find their way.
Thanking some of the people in this room
for taking a stand for truth. What you do on this side of the barrier matters a
great deal. Thank you Sheriff for your focused interest on public safety and
core responsibilities for emphasizing to residents with certain concerns that
Bucks County is not and never has been a sanctuary county that Bucks County
will continue to cooperate with federal agencies including ICE honoring
judicial warrants and orders, an established legal precedent that was set in Lehigh County
that respects both our residents and our Constitution. I also read recently about waste, saving
taxpayers $125,000. I'm not familiar with the specifics but thank you for that as well.
Also in the truth, in the interest of justice and truth, thank you commissioners for supporting
item 20 regarding the ICE detainee processing and for allowing Bucks to join the Collar Counties
in a pro bono supported lawsuit regarding enslaved persons panels in Independence National Historic
Park in Philadelphia. Federal politicians have clearly lost the public trust. Hotting
the past does not help. My questions relate to any federal policing agency request to Bucks
County. What happens when an ICE or CBP representative or any federal policing
agency calls or emails Bucks County asking for information that the county
may have on a Bucks County resident? Are there controls on the request itself?
Is a request forwarded to the sheriff or a designated individual in his
department to handle all requests in the same manner? Or can the request be
handled directly by any Bucks County employee who receives this request?
Are there any controls on the information that may be shared, any areas that are prohibited,
such as confidential taxpayer or voter information?
Are there always specific verifications, absent fourth amendment probable cause justification,
to ensure that the federal government is entitled to the help requested?
Thanks for any further clarification you might provide in that area.
Thank you. Natalie Pashkett?
I'm Natalie Pashkett, currently a resident in Benzalem
of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and I'm here today because I'm scared. I'm scared because of the
overwhelmingly amount of community members that do not trust any of you in your government capacities
right now. This goes for the local, state, and federal levels. As of today, February 18,
2026, it is to my understanding that the social facts that we hold true now
is that our current federal administration has violated the first, second, fourth, fifth,
tenth, and fourteenth amendments as of our constitutional rights granted to the people
in the United States of America. It is also to my understanding that the current federal
administration is attempting to push the SAVE Act through Congress, effectively violating
our 24th amendment as well. And this is where I would like for you to please lock
in and internalize what I'm about to say to you and ask any acts or amendments
that are going to touch voting will be affecting everyone and there is a lot of
heavy rhetoric going around of what actions are being implemented to ensure
that no voter intimidation will be happening going into this midterm of
season and voting going forward. Will this county speak up and defend its
power to the federal level if need be? Will this county stand firm in its
voter integrity across this county? What does election support mean? The
The proposed SAVAC looks to add more required documentations to vote.
One example being the passport.
I am somebody that has to reapply for my passport right now.
I have to go through the reapplication process.
When I opened up the Ben Salem Free Library webpage to see that effective February 13th,
the Bucks County Free Library can no longer offer passport services as the U.S. Department
of State has determined that the Bucks County Free Library is no longer authorized
to operate as a passport acceptance facility and must seize accepting passport applications.
What are those parameters that no longer authorize a free public library to operate in
this manner? And offer that what is the county doing to open up more avenues to make obtaining
these documents easier if this is to go through? What precautions and conversations are the
county having if the Senate gets through with this and it becomes law, right?
what are the guardrails in place that you are pushing to the public that this
county can feel secure and safe and carrying out their civic duty. I am
scared but thank you and please if you can't answer any of those that would be
appreciated.
Thank you.
Jill Wallweiser.
Good morning. I spoke at the last
meeting here regarding hearing, vision, mobility and orientation services for
infants and toddlers in Buck's County.
I know that the county has found providers
for all the families affected,
but there are still concerns about the quality
and longevity of these providers.
No one is addressing these concerns.
Questions about who will provide evaluations
for babies with visual impairments have not been answered.
I wanna try to explain some of the impact
of these changes.
When I brought my son home from the hospital
10 years ago, I was overwhelmed
with all the regular things new parents
have to deal with the feedings, the changeings, the lack of sleep. But I also suddenly, unexpectedly,
had to deal with this entire new landscape. I had a million questions. My son's father
and I had not known anyone with hearing loss. We had no resources. We didn't know are we
going to give this perfectly healthy child infant elective surgery to help him hear
and communicate before he turned one year old, do we have to teach him a whole new language
just to communicate with my son?
I didn't know what cute speech was.
I didn't know what a speech pathologist was.
I didn't know the difference between that and a teacher of the deaf.
I did not know what kind of future my son would have.
But luckily for us, providers from the IU knew.
They visited us at home and they explained all the options without pushing any of them on us.
They answered my questions, they gave me resources, they educated us and made us feel, most of all,
in a time of complete chaos and overwhelm that things might be okay.
Right now, other families in Bucks County don't have that anymore.
This county used to be known for its exemplary services for hearing loss.
Like when I took my son to chop for appointments, other people would say, wow, Bucks County is
so great.
And in neighboring areas they didn't have that, and now we risk that same fate.
We do have warm bodies filling these roles, and some of them, yes, may have the right
qualifications.
But in general, overall, there are still big concerns about the quality, longevity
of these services, and they do not have the knowledge, dedication, and compassion
that the IU was able to provide.
Bucks County has not just a legal obligation
to these children, but a moral one as well.
The program as it stands is flawed.
It's not offering the same quality of services
my son received, and it's not sustainable long term.
We're still relying on providers to pull second shifts.
They're seeing babies, literal newborns late
in the evening hours because it's all that's available.
Families have expressed to me concerns
about how this is sustainable.
When my son was born, I became a disability rights advocate,
but none of us should have to personally experience
these things to know what is right.
As public servants, and I am one,
we take oaths to protect and serve our constituents,
and the most vulnerable among them surely deserve...
Your microphone is still going, but your time's up.
Okay, we're going to move right on to Steve Nolan.
Steve Nolan, Newtown.
Since our current president celebrated Black History Month by superimposing the faces of
a former president wife onto a couple of apes, let me read from an op-ed that I just started
writing this morning.
Try to educate a little bit.
It's called, Hitler was duly elected.
Why America must understand malignant narcissism.
If the United States is going to escape the fate of Germany, we must understand something
very simple.
After 10 years of a grown man engaging in totally inappropriate behavior on a daily basis,
we freeze and refuse to acknowledge an obvious truth.
For the first time in American history, we have a president who is mentally unfit for
command.
In fact, he has such...
I'm a retired military officer who had to evaluate and discharge personality disordered
people throughout my career. It's a disorder that renders the person incapable of adapting
to military or societal norms. This is an instant disqualification because you have someone
who cannot work with others as a team, cannot alter their personal beliefs even for our
regulations, and they cannot delay gratification or sacrifice their own needs for the sake
of others in an environment where selfless service is required even unto death.
The phenomenon of Donald Trump is made possible by three factors.
Number one, personality disorder is easily the least known mental illness outside
the military and our prison system.
Number two, narcissism has a common lay meaning for people who are merely full of themselves.
So people, even members of Congress, can believe that a narcissist and a narcissistic personality disorder are synonymous.
This is a dangerous mistake. Number three, personality disorder people are what we call ego-syntonic.
They feel normal to themselves, not symptomatic, so they do not go to mental health voluntarily.
They are almost always referred to mental health after doing something inappropriate.
Almost all sex offenders, for example, are personality disordered, but rarely have a
mental health record.
The sexual assault, the crime is the symptom, not anxiety, depression, or any other mental
health symptom.
Needless to say, we do not allow a rapist or a pedophile to continue to wear the
uniform of the United States of America, but we are allowing a sex offender to
sit in our White House. We have betrayed our military by giving them a leader who is a convicted
felon, an adjudicated sex offender, when every member of the military would face a court
marshal or jail time had any of them committed the same crimes. Or as I said to Sheriff
Harron, when he contracted with ICE, unless you're arresting murderers, you won't
be arresting anyone who has committed worse crimes.
I'll take care of it.
Thank you.
Andy Warren.
As a one-time, long-time, dues-paying, card-carrying
member of the NAACP, I commend the commissioners
for the recognition today.
I also bring to anyone's attention who may not be aware the federal judge who
ruled favorably with the placing of signs back was is a Bucks County resident
all of which we should be proud now hopefully somebody will get together
and start putting back statues of Columbus Jefferson Jackson and many other
historical figures, but so far we're doing good. The two points that I have today, one,
item number 15A, new found incorporated approved contract with the opioid settlement, but
it doesn't have any statement as to how much the adjustment is. Do we have a figure
year for how much that adjustment is, and while I speak of money, I bring back to the meeting
of May 21st where there were three million dollars worth of projects on that list, one
of which was $400,000 for a facility that had a 90 days from notice to proceed construction.
Now I know $400,000 doesn't go as far today as it used to, however, I would think that
But after nine months, certainly, we ought to have more than two potties, job potties,
and an outhouse if this is in fact a good expenditure of county dollars and who's keeping
track of the little things while there's each week you all pass over three, four million.
And don't think this isn't being actively used.
We've got every day, I mean every two days, these job jobbies are cleaned, which is wonderful for use.
But what about the $400,000 that you passed nine months ago, perhaps we could go back to the tech school
and get some of the seniors to help construct a what looks like a basically
prefab facility I'm sure they could do it in less than nine months. Watch our
tax dollars.
Thank you. Reverend Kevin Jago?
Hello I'm Reverend Kevin Jago
resident of Doylestown and minister of Bucksmont UU fellowship. I want to
to speak in support of the regulation opposing ICE detainee processing of detention facilities
being located in Bucks County warehouses. I was recently in Minneapolis for the massive
protests. I'm a native Minnesotan and now resident of Bucks County. And what is happening
there is something horrific. It is devastating to witness my friends, my family, and the
entire community ripped apart by illegal operations by our federal government. We don't want that
here. Already too much is happening in Bucks County. Residents of our county are being abducted
around the corner from my congregation in Ben Salem across our county. We don't want more
of this. We actually want less of it. What's going on, what's going to be built in Berks
This is going to amplify what's happening here as well already.
So I want to just publicly and vocally support what this commission is doing, and I hope
that it is not the end of what you are doing, but just the beginning.
Again, this is something that we don't want to see here.
We don't want our residents, our citizens, and non-citizens terrified to talk to our
police terrified to interact with our government because it's already happening, we've already
had the breakdown of relationship between our communities and our representatives and
our law enforcement. Everything that happens from here on out could either make things
better or make things worse. And I hope our elected officials will continue to do what
is necessary to keep us safe and safer rather than more endangered and more attacked by
the people that we've elected. Thank you. Thank you.
Susan Day.
Good morning. My name is Susan
Day. I'm from Wrightstown. I want to thank the commissioners and our county representatives
for what they do for us. I really appreciate it. I'm here to talk about issues with drinking
water here in Bucks County. We've had most recently a notice that Wrightstown wells
may be affected by PFAS. Upper Makefield has the jet fuel pipeline contamination,
and according to ArcGIS, there are over 10 different pipelines criss-crossing
Bucks County. I want to thank Steve Santocero and Frank Ferry for introducing
the Pennsylvania Environmental Cleanup and Responsibility Act this month in
Harrisburg. This act will address both pipeline and other environmental
contamination, but it addresses contamination, post-accident, not prevention.
This is more than Brian Fitzpatrick has done.
He signed on as one of 24 co-sponsors to a 2025 bill by Representative Mary Gleason-Camp
Perez from Washington State, where Boeing is located regarding PFAS cleanup.
this bill has been referred to multiple committees. Brian Fitzpatrick is one of
24 co-sponsors. He did not author the bill. That bill has now been referred to
multiple committees where it sits at the whim of the speaker. That being said, we
need to do more here in Bucks County. Residents of Mount Erie are still
without potable water. It will take time for any of these bills to go
anywhere and do anything. They have no remediation plans in sight. Their homes are unsalable.
As an additional note, that jet fuel pipeline goes under the Delaware River. We have no
idea if there's any contamination occurring from that. We need to have the owners of all
these pipelines in Bucks County prove that there is no additional contamination through
active monitoring and not wait for contamination to happen.
Thank you.
Beth Curcio.
The data center project at the Keystone Trade Center in Fairless Hill will cover about 247
acres and include 2 million square feet of data center buildings, 10 structures with
range between 112,000 and 217,000 square feet and they are planning a standalone
building potentially reaching 1 million square feet within the campus.
Eventually, this could span up to 15 million square feet with the campus.
This is one of the largest data centers in the country, and the data center is in the
very early stages.
Many counties across the country have halted and actually stopped data center projects.
When the community pushes for public hearings, petitions, and environmental reviews, over
64 billion in U.S. data center projects have been blocked or delayed by community
campaigns.
Residents organizing can have a real impact.
Data centers can significantly environmental impacts.
They use the amounts of electricity globally.
Data centers use 460 terawatt hours in 2022.
And in the U.S., they admitted over 150 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2023.
They also use enormous amounts of water for cooling,
sometimes 50 million gallons per day.
and they can strain along the infrastructure.
Five million gallons per day is the equivalent to the water usage of a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people.
They bring pollution impact since they rely on diesel backup generators,
which release nitrogen, oxygens, and fine particles,
raising air pollution risks, especially within a mile of the site.
And these projects have been tied to billions of public health costs.
Plus, e-waste from frequent hardware updates and chemical
pollutions from cooling can also harm the environment.
Josh Shapiro has been pushing to bring data centers to PA for jobs,
which they create only short-term construction jobs.
They actually employ very few people.
I think the people of Bucks County and especially of
Fairless Hills need to start asking a lot more questions.
Number one, is there a decommissioning clause?
How is a data center being generated?
Are they being in their own micronuclear reactions bringing in?
Will they guarantee that no electrical charges they generate are passed on to the residential customers?
Are they paying all the taxes and not being giving tax abatements?
They aren't getting exempt or special tax privileges, correct?
No nondisclosure agreements between the center and the township and or the county, correct?
cooling process. They are not taking from the water sources our residential
communities need, correct? There is new technology that says these data centers
should be using air cooling. Is that being looked at? I don't see the benefits
to collect more data. It seems like a risk to the community and the county.
This is absolutely not worth it for our environment. Thank you.
Jake Zizinski?
Good afternoon. Give me a minute. My first time speaking in front of you also,
really excited, but also I have autism so bear with me. I came here to say a
couple things but I'm going to start by saying those and I kind of want to pivot.
My big ask of this commission is we need a commission advisory board for
people with disabilities. We don't currently have one we're supposed to.
1966 law in the state says we're supposed to have one. We don't. I have
like I said autism, I have a medical disease. That board needs to exist.
I'm happy to serve on it. Let's make that happen, please, because, like, we really need to do that secondarily.
Some of the things that I've heard today...
I'm new to Buckstown County. I'm moving back home from Montgomery County, Maryland, where
I served on the IDDC commission there and created that, so I was pretty proud of that. Just want
to remind people that even at these hearings, despite how we feel, we need to maintain some
sense of decorum about how we speak and how we sit in the audience. That is important.
Otherwise, nothing gets done and we become no better than anybody else running around
screaming in the middle of the streets. As you've heard today from various people,
you know ice is a problem I would argue but it's how we talk about that that
matters I think someone here in the audience actually mentioned they're
scared hell I'm scared I've had friends dragged away I have a friend and who's
from Peru who's going to school at American University who is I have to
text them every time they go back from class to make sure they get back to
their dorm because I'm afraid they're gonna get picked up and shipped out to
some country they don't belong to like that that's the reality of what
we're talking about here. I heard someone bring up a nuclear apocalypse. We have this
thing called nuclear assured destruction that's not going to happen.
Anybody fires a nuke at anybody, we're all going to die. We got one rock. We got to
share it. That's just the reality of the situation. Physicists are not,
everybody should know that. I have an insane amount of respect for what you
guys do as public servants. It is what I have dedicated my life to being a
spokesperson for people like me who have always been told that we can't speak
for ourselves. I've been told I'm too autistic and not autistic enough at the
same time sometimes which is genuinely impressive let me tell you. I'm wearing
this USA hockey jersey not necessarily because on the world's most happy
American right now because some of the stuff going on in this country right now
is definitely questionable but because I really want the USA to beat Sweden
today at the Olympics and I think like at the end of the day there's a lot
more here that we can agree on than would separate us. I have never been
more proud in my entire life to say I am from the Commonwealth. Yes, for those of you not from
here, we are a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I am a proud Philadelphia sports fan. Go birds.
Thank you for firing Kevin Petillo. And I just really, really, really want to stress that all
of these conversations, they matter as long as they're taken in the tone that is helpful.
Yelling and accusing gets us nowhere. I can quote the Constitution too. Everybody can,
but no one's going to do anything with that. And then you're just going to ignore what I
So in summary, please look into a commission for people with disabilities or with IDD.
Please, I've been trying to call y'all's office.
The website is not autistic friendly.
Thank you for your time. I appreciate it.
Thank you.
Marguerite Chandler.
Good morning.
I'm Marguerite Chandler from Newtown.
I understand that an announcement has been made that there will be no ICE warehouse facility in our county.
I appreciate the stand that the county is taking.
We do not have to speculate about what can happen when an ICE enforcement or detention
facility is placed in a local community without full transparency.
Whatever one's political views, the lesson is clear.
Once such a facility is established, it immediately becomes the focus of lawsuits, environmental
challenges, national media attention, and continued disputes over oversight and detention conditions.
Local governments can't control federal policy, but thank you for insisting on due diligence
before any local land use approvals or cooperation agreements move forward.
The experience of other communities show that the only moment when local leadership has real influence is before approvals are granted.
Thank you for using your influence to protect the stability, transparency and public voice of Vux County.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
That's it for public comment, just to answer a couple questions.
First of all, we do have a board.
We have the required behavioral health advisory board for mental health and disability programs.
It's been here for years.
We can have someone help you find it on the website, but we have volunteers that are
on that board, and I would encourage you to fill out the application.
You did.
Okay, so then you found it.
All right, good.
So maybe we'll be eager to have you on that board then.
The second thing was that PSI does all our visual and auditory challenges.
The IU never had a role in that. They were just consulted occasionally.
And all of the people who were being seen by IU people have been assigned to someone.
Nobody's having any complaints. I think some emails went out to further clarify that.
And then there was a question as well about 15A.
Yes, Mr. Warren raised about $15,000. So the amendment to the agreement doesn't change
the value. It's about $144,000. It's for improvements to some structures that are being used to help
people who are going through substance use or recovery. What it does is it changes
the work that's being done. They're adding some work being done inside the buildings.
The prices stayed the same, but they just changed what the scope of the work was.
That's what the amendment was.
And finally, it did my heart good that sometimes people complain about Project 2024,
and it's good to see people are worried about the environment, 2040,
and that they are worried about the environment and join us in that concern.
I appreciate that.
Moving on to the agenda, is there a motion to approve the minutes of the February 4th, 2026 meeting,
as well as items one through 19B.
So moved.
There's second.
Second.
All in favor?
Aye.
Opposed?
No.
We are moving on to number 20,
which is to approve a resolution
opposing the ICE detainee processing
or detention facilities.
And I'll turn this to our solicitor.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
where I will read the resolution, a resolution of the County of Bucks Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
opposing United States immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency establishing ICE detainee
facilities in Bucks County warehouses. Whereas, the County of Bucks follows all state and
federal laws regarding cooperation with law enforcement, including with United States Immigration
and Customs Enforcement ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, DHS. Whereas, on
On January 20, 2025, the White House announced a policy to detain and deport fast numbers
of illegal aliens residing in the United States and directed DHS to allocate all legally
available resources or establish contracts to construct, operate, control, or use facilities
to detain removable aliens.
Whereas recent reports from human rights organizations reveal alarming conditions
of confinement and repeated instances of coercion, physical force, and threats against immigration
facing third country deportations in violation of agency policies and standards, as well as statutory and constitutional protections within ICE detention facilities.
Whereas the federal government, when presented with bipartisan concerns about DHS immigration operations, including the conditions inside ICE detention facilities,
agencies has demonstrated an unwillingness to rein in or acknowledge rampant, flagrant
disregard for public safety and constitutional guarantees of due process, severely affecting
the government's credibility. Whereas the ICE nationwide efforts to lease or purchase
industrial warehouses for the purpose of obtaining additional facilities to process
and detain individuals in the agency's custody have included multiple warehouses
in Bucks County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Whereas the county of Bucks, as represented by the elected board of commissioners,
opposes the use of warehouses or similar industrial facilities not intended for human occupancy
as facilities to hold jail, detain, house, or otherwise store human beings.
Whereas in addition to humanitarian concerns arising from the reported poor treatment
of individuals in ICE detention, conversion of industrial warehouses
to detention facilities implicates local land use ordinances, whereas such facilities being
hastily erected in areas and structures not intended for human occupation would place
unanticipated demands upon water and sewer systems, creating hazards to public health,
as well as heaping new strain upon public safety services. Whereas under the Federal
Clean Water Act, federal agencies must comply with all federal, state, and local requirements
governing the control and abatement of water pollution, and no facilities can be connected
to a municipal sewage system and no building can be occupied without first obtaining a
permit indicating that the site is in compliance with the provisions of the Sewage Facilities Act.
Whereas Governor Shapiro identified and communicated similar concerns regarding
ice warehouses being converted to Secretary Kristi Noem, DHS, in a letter dated February
12, 2026, whereas echoing the Governor, it is a primary objective of the county to ensure
that public safety and welfare of its residents, business community, and visitors. Whereas
the conversion of industrial warehouses into mass detention facilities does not align
with the goals or shared values of equity, sustainability, resilience, and health and
well-being of the people of the County of Bucks.
Now therefore, be it resolved, the Board of Commissioners is opposed to a conversion
of industrial warehouses into facilities for the processing and or detention of ICE detainees
for the reasons previously set forth.
adopted as a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the County of Box this
18th day of February, 2026.
Thank you. Are there any questions or comments from
Commissioners? Commissioner DiGiorno? Yeah, thank you Madam Chair. I think this
is an important an important resolution and I'm going to support this and vote
yes on the resolution and just leaving just reading now therefore bear it
resolved that the Board of Commissioners are opposed to the conversion of industrial warehouses
into facilities for the processing and or detention of ICE detainees.
And that means all throughout Bucks County, no matter where anybody lives.
Now, I know there has been some talk and conversation, and I don't want to say rumors
because they seem pretty credible about possibly one being put or just talking
about being put in Ben Salem and another one in Middletown and I don't care
where anyone lives in Bucks County whether it be the lower part of the
county the upper part of the county. Bucks County is not a county that needs
needs or wants a detention facility. It is not appropriate for our county, not at all.
And I'm going to support, I'm supporting the resolution and I was very happy to see yesterday
our congressman, Congressman Fitzpatrick yesterday put out a statement that also opposed any
detention facilities here in Bucks County as well. And as part of that statement he said
he had talked to ICE and they had assured him that they are not looking in Bucks County
for a detention facility. Well I've been in government for 33, 32, 33 years and I know
what might be true one day might not be true a day for now, a week for now, a month
for now. So, I wanted to be perfectly clear whether it's right now or a month, a year
for now, we do not want and the commissioners are opposed to a detention facility for ICE
here in Bucks County. Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you. I appreciate Commissioner DeGiorno's words. You know, we know from just over
less than the week in the past week that there was an effort in the Lanconia section apparently
have been sailing to look at a property for a potential ace warehouse. We know that that attention
was rebuffed by the owner of that property. He was not interested in partnering and selling
release in that property. We know that the eyes then turned to Middletown and a couple of
facilities that are built on the former, what used to be the Redmond Toll property,
you know, where there are warehouses now. And we know from a prominent land development
attorney in this county who's been doing business for probably 30 years that he has communicated,
that he has, you know, clients who are, I think he used the word besieged by phone
calls from people looking to purchase warehouses because they know they can sell them to the
federal government because the federal government has allocated about $38 billion for this particular
kind of endeavor.
I totally agree, obviously. In fact, it was my recommendation that this
resolution be written. I appreciate the work by our staff in putting it together.
I agree obviously with Commissioner DeGirolamo this county is no place for
These kinds of facilities, but I'll expand that. This country is no place for these kind
of facilities. We have been down this road before with Japanese Americans during World
War II. We have been down this road before. Most people don't realize that there were
Italian Americans detained during World War II in similar circumstances because they were
seen as untrustworthy and segregated and discriminated against.
At some point, we have to think back to who we are as a country and stand up for what's
right.
This is doing that.
We do believe that there will be more attempts.
I certainly do not trust this administration at all.
There's no reason to.
to. I certainly don't trust the Secretary of Homeland Security. There's no reason to.
And certainly the, you know, behaviors of a lot of the people underneath her, you know,
lead to a lack of trust. And we heard that from some of our speakers today, some of
People who are being detained from where we don't know where, we don't know who they are,
stored in buildings that are not meant for human habitation.
And certainly any effort by the government to say that they would retrofit it appropriately,
we have to be serious.
Did we really trust that that would happen in a way that any of us would accept?
So,
you know, I certainly, you know, I also want to be very honest with the people who
are here and who are watching and who are going to hear about this,
the $38 billion,
which could be spent in a lot of ways to benefit the people of this country, is a lot
of money to retrofit warehouses.
And so although we're focused on the infrastructure improvements and we're focused on the public
safety, I do not put it past this government to spend that money in a way that would allow
them to do something like this. The federal government does not have to follow zoning laws.
And so if you think that where something is zoned, a warehouse can't have the zoning
change without going through the normal procedures that everybody else has to go through, going
to a zoning board, having a hearing, notifying residents and neighbors and letting them
say their piece that does not have to happen here or anywhere in this country.
And so we're going to do our best, especially working with local municipalities.
We're going to continue to keep our ears open and hope that we have the cooperation of
property owners in this county and residents in this county who don't want this in our
county and share my view that we don't want this in our country. We have to be veterans
in the nation. And I think this is a small step that I hope this county is taking to
lead the way in that regard.
Thank you and I
appreciate your leadership on passing this resolution and Mr. Greaser
for all the work you did on it and Ms. McKevitt for following up with all of us. I have
to tell you there was some frenetic texting and emailing over the weekend between township
supervisors and commissioners and attorneys to make sure we are where we are today.
So I proudly ask for a motion on number 20.
So moved.
Is there a second?
Second.
All in favor?
Aye.
Now we're on ordinance 175 and
turn this over to the solicitor.
Yes.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Next on the agenda is ordinance 175.
This is an ordinance that amends, ordinance number 172 pertaining to the Bucks County
active volunteer tax rebate ordinance.
The new ordinance amends the old ordinance by providing simpler criteria for our emergency
service volunteers and application process.
It also standardizes the processing on our end of the county so that we can get
with these worthy volunteers, their funds quicker and process easier. Is there any other discussion
about this ordinance?
Any questions?
No. I mean, obviously we know that this is something we started in a thank emergency
services and I know it's this is quite the undertaking for the fifth floor in terms
of controllers and finance to make this happen. But this is something we are allowed
do by the state program we started to try and you know reward those people who
wanted to volunteer for our for our companies to give them some kind of
an abatement. We've had different ideas but had to do more but unfortunately the
state doesn't allow us to do a whole lot more than this so it is not a perfect
system but it is something we're trying to do to thank those members of our
communities who volunteer and give them some kind of tangible thank you
So instead of just me standing here and saying thank you.
Thank you very much.
Is there a motion?
So moved.
Is there a second?
This is a roll call.
Commissioner Alice Marceglia.
Aye.
Commissioner Harvey.
Aye.
Commissioner DeGiorgio Alamo.
Aye.
The motion passes.
Terrific.
Moving on to 30 through 44, budget adjustments.
Thank you, commissioners.
For your consideration today, we have 14 budget adjustments
to allow for final expenditures to post against the 2025 budget.
These adjustments are being balanced by recognizing additional revenue
as well as reallocating available budget.
So there's no impact to the general fund balance.
Thank you.
Any questions?
Is there a motion to approve budget adjustments?
Move.
Thank you.
Is there a second?
Second.
All in favor?
Aye.
Opposed?
Is there a motion to approve the personnel actions for today?
So moved.
Second.
All in favor?
Aye.
Opposed?
Mr. Harvey, do you want to do the board appointments?
Sure.
We have some appointments and reappointments.
For our buckskinning agricultural land preservation board, these are three-year terms.
Reappointments.
Mr. Kenneth Goldenberg, Mr. Bartley Millett, Mr. David Wolfinger, all terms ending 229.
to the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission, a three-year term, Mr. Marlon Williams re-appointing
his term will end 12-1, 2028.
And the Bucks County Workforce Development Board, a three-year term, Mr. Michael Taylor
is being reclassified.
This is a board whereby state ordinance, we have to appoint people who represent certain
industries and certain fields.
Mr. Taylor is going to be reclassified to be part of a youth-serving business.
So I'll make a motion for those five reappointments and reappointments.
Okay.
All in favor?
Aye.
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.
Is there a motion to approve those?
So moved.
Second.
All in favor?
Aye.
Our Chief Operating Officers report.
I will be quick.
Thank you, Commissioner.
I just wanted to, I know Bernard is not here, but I wanted to thank him for all his hard
work on the African American Museum of Bucks County.
It's been on a long venture, but he did a great job, and we're looking forward to it
opening soon.
And I encourage everyone to visit it, it is beautiful, beautiful building.
And then second, I know it doesn't look like it outside, but the House with Hazardous
Waste Program is starting again in April, April 4th.
It'll be at Lower Bucks County Community College.
And the information is on the website
on what is acceptable to bring.
So you got a month and a half to get ready to drop it off.
And that concludes my report.
Thank you.
Thank you on our solicitors report.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
One quick comment on the ringing rocks facilities question.
I think it's Mr. Warren who raised it earlier.
This is up in Bridgeston Township.
We've been working with the township to get permits issued.
That's really been the delay here.
This week they did approve the O&M maintenance agreement for that project, so we expect it
to move forward here very quickly now.
Second, we did have an executive session yesterday.
We discussed litigation, and the commissioners received confidential legal advice.
That concludes my report.
Thank you.
Commissioner Comments, Commissioner DiGiorno.
The comments today, Madam Chair.
Yes, just a couple, I want to acknowledge the fact that the county received a letter
from Chester County, which was dated January 28th, and a citation, which recognizes the
Board of Commissioners, but more specifically recognizes some of our Board of Elections
employees. Last November it was well publicized that Chester County had some serious issues
with their processing of election materials and poll books on election day. They were
really scrambling for help and we had some of our employees from our board of elections
go to Chester County and help them and so they were incredibly thankful for the
work that our people did and so I wanted to just acknowledge the fact that this
letter was sent by their Chief Executive Officer and that their
commissioners did send the citation thanking the county for helping Chester
County. We have a great relationship with our Collier County neighbors and I
think this is just a great example not just of that partnership and all of
us kind of recognizing how important it is to work together, but also the professionalism
of our staff, that we were conducting our own election, and yet they were committed
enough and determined enough and capable enough to also help another county.
Yeah, I will, I will, no, this is my next thing.
So the sort of sad part of this is because of statements and actions, especially by this
federal administration that have over the last several many years demonized election
of workers, the workers here at our county who were helpful and who were mentioned in
this have asked for their names not to be read because they don't want that publicity.
So it is a shame that we live in that kind of environment that we can't totally recognize
them because of the statements of people who care more about getting reelected than
actually building for the next generation.
I also want to acknowledge just, you know,
going back to my teacher days,
you know, today marks a beginning of a religious holiday,
a period of reflection, of fasting,
a period where religious observers,
you know, in this faith, you know,
kind of refocus themselves on their energies, think back upon the foundation of their religion
and think about how they can move forward.
And I'm talking about two different religions, actually, because today is Ash Wednesday for
Catholics and today is also the first day of Ramadan.
And I think it's important to consider something I always just tell my students that religions
that we sometimes, by some people, are told are so different.
But actually have a lot in common, more in common than they have different.
And so for Catholics, myself and others, and for Muslim, you know, neighbors and friends
here in this county, you know, I wish you a beginning of Lent is today, ending of course
with Easter and April, and a blessed Ramadan to all those Muslim, our Muslim friends
and neighbors.
So that's how I'll end. Thank you. Thank you and is there a motion to adjourn some of second all in favor