BUCKS COUNTY CONSORTIUM

Thursday, January 13, 2005

Meeting Minutes

A meeting of the Bucks County Consortium was held at Warwick Township on January 13, 2005. The following individuals were present:

Preliminary Remarks

Jeffrey Vey called the meeting to order, announced the morning's agenda, and thanked Warwick Township for sponsoring the January meeting of the Bucks County Consortium.

Approval of Minutes

A motion was made by Stephanie Mason, and seconded by Mark Fournier, to approve the Minutes of November 4, 2004. Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report

The Treasurer’s Report for October was presented. A motion was made by Bob Pellegrino, and seconded by Paul Williams, to approve the Treasurer’s Report for December. Motion carried.

Presentation: “Airport Authority”

John Mininger, Secretary of the Bucks County Airport Authority, presented. He is a partner in a wholesale lumber company, Sherwood Forest Products Ltd., holds a commercial pilot license with single engine land and instrument airplane ratings, and is currently a co-owner of a Piper Archer based at Quakertown Airport. He can be reached at the Authority’s telephone number of 215.345.1970 or via electronic communication at bcaa@bellatlantic.net.

The Bucks County Airport Authority was formed in 1961 under the provisions of the Municipality Act of 1945 by Bucks County. The Authority was chartered for the purpose of acquiring, holding, constructing, improving, maintaining, and operating airports and all facilities necessary in such formation within the County. The Authority’s office is located in the Doylestown Airport Terminal building.

Doylestown and Quakertown Airports are owned and operated by the Authority. Both facilities are complete with administrative offices, aircraft storage and fueling services. Many area businesses and residents use these two airports. Both airports are investments that pay off in many ways to the county, including employment and the flow of new industry and business into Bucks County. Since its inception, the Authority has received over $6 million from federal and state grants for capital improvements at both airports.

All the operations and facilities of these two county airports are overseen and administered by the Bucks County Airport Authority, a five member board. This official group establishes policies, management operations, and functions of both airports. Members are appointed by the Bucks County Commissioners for five year terms. Authority members are Bucks County residents interested in aviation and its future.

Included in Mr. Mininger’s presentation were the following topics as they relate to the Bucks County Airport Authority’s airport administration: balancing community interests, economic impact, future airport layouts, existing configurations, obstruction spaces, capital programming, flight schools, noise reduction / abatement procedure, noise factors, tree grant program, aviation funding, current and future aircraft, passenger movement from Bucks County to Philadelphia, etc.

Presentation: “Municipal Insurance”

Chuck Barrett, Matthew Gardner, Michael Joseph, and Michael Smith of Commerce Bank presented. Commerce Bancorp, Inc. is a bank holding company that operates four nationally chartered bank subsidiaries: Commerce Bank, N.A. (Commerce NJ), Commerce Bank/Pennsylvania, N.A., Commerce Bank/Shore, N.A. and Commerce Bank/Delaware, N.A., and one state chartered bank subsidiary, Commerce Bank/North. As of December 31, 2003, the banks had 270 full-service retail branch offices located in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York. The banks provide a range of retail and commercial banking services for consumers and small and mid-sized companies. Lending services are focused on commercial real estate and commercial and consumer loans to local borrowers. The banks' lending and investment activities are funded principally by retail deposits gathered through each bank's retail branch office network.

Included in the Commerce Bank presentation on employment practices were the following topics: median jury awards for employment related lawsuits, anti-discrimination laws (e.g., Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act), expanded employee protections (e.g., American Disabilities Act), employment related lawsuits, anti-discrimination policy enforcement (e.g., Federal Equal Opportunities Commission), vicarious liability related to hostile work environments, employee complaint policies, effective work environment monitoring mechanisms, punitive damage awards, maintaining personnel files, communication policies, employee evaluations, disciplinary action procedures, requests for references and employment verification, etc. The Commerce Bank presentation also included a discussion on health care pooling. Matthew Gardner can be reached at One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103, by telephone at 215.282.2789, or by e-mail at matthew.gardner@yesinsure.com.

Committee Formation & Meeting Schedule

Jeffrey Vey stated that the next meeting’s agenda would include a discussion of Consortium committees and meeting schedules. The next meeting will be held at Doylestown Borough on 3 February 2004. The membership discussed meeting locations and concluded that attendance was better when meeting in a central county location.

New & Old Business

Gail Weniger stated that the next meeting would deal with the issue of police regionalization. The membership concluded that the meeting would only be open to Municipal Managers and Asst. Municipal Managers.

John Mininger stated that he would offer municipal administrators the opportunity to see their municipalities from the air, and encouraged members to contact him for that purpose.

Bob Pellegrino introduced Elizabeth Sunday of Plumstead Township.

Mark Fournier reported that Greg Lippincott accepted a position with the Elliott Group.

Gail Weninger reported that Tom Scott has been named Assistant Township Manager and will continue in his role with land development.

Adjourn

Bob Pellegino made a motion, seconded by John Cornelius to adjourn the January meeting of the Bucks County Consortium. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

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