| BUCKS COUNTY CONSORTIUM Thursday, September 7, 2006 Meeting Minutes A meeting of the Bucks County Consortium was held at the Bucks County Sewer & Water Authority on September 7, 2006. The following individuals were present: Chuck Barrett, Commerce BankJohn Boyle, Newtown Township Bruce Burkhart, Bucks Votes Dana Cozza, Buckingham Township Joe Czajkowski, Upper Makefield Township Dave Drye, Chalfont Borough Tim Hagey, Warminster Municipal Authority Jeff Hugo, INR Advisors, LLC Brian Jeter, Comcast Benjamin Jones, Bucks County Sewer & Water Authority Ann Klepfer, East Rockhill Township Stephanie Lowe, Comcast Susanne McKeon, Lower Southampton Township Bob Pellegrino, Newtown Township Richard Sabol, Upper Southampton Township Theresa Savage, Bucks Votes Stephen Sechriest, Richland Township Brian Shapiro, West Rockhill Township Kathleen Sullivan, Comcast Elizabeth Sunday, Plumstead Township Chris Tomlinson, INR Advisors, LLC Jeff Vey, Milford Township Gail Weniger, Warwick Township David Woglom, Quakertown Borough Preliminary Remarks Gail Weniger called the meeting to order, announced the morning's agenda, and thanked the Bucks County Sewer & Water Authority for sponsoring the September meeting of the Bucks County Consortium. Approval of Minutes Joe Czajkowski made a motion, seconded by Jeff Vey, to approve the Minutes of June 1, 2006. Motion carried. Treasurer’s Report Richard Sabol presented the Treasurer’s Report, prepared by Treasurer Vivian Bell, for June, July, and August. A motion was made by Jeff Vey, and seconded by Joe Czajkowski. Motion carried. Annual Holiday Luncheon Gail Weniger notified the membership that the annual Holiday Lunch, jointly held with the Montgomery County Consortium, will be held on Friday, December 8, 2006, at Noon. It will be held at the Villa Barolo Restaurant located on Bristol Road and Route 611. She asked that a motion be made to pay $100 in order to reserve the restaurant. The motion was made by Jeff Vey and seconded by Joe Czajkowski. Presentation: “Danaher ELECTronic Voting Machines” Theresa Savage and Bruce Burkhart of the Bucks Votes Program presented. They outlined six steps, or instructions, to cast a ballot using the new County voting machines. The steps are entering the machine, the ballot, selecting a candidate or issue, write-in voting, voting on a question, and casting your ballot. The presentation also included a three minute video, the use of headphones for those needing voice instructions, the unit’s battery back-up system, and how the machine creates a paper back-up. Those in attendance were provided literature - including the pamphlet “Bucks Votes”. Presentation: "Investment Policy Statements” Chris Tomlinson and Jeff Hugo of INR Advisors, LLC, presented the topic “Investment Policy Statements”. INR was founded in 1992, and serves as a consultant to over twenty-five municipalities in the Delaware Valley. The presentation began by identifying the municipal manager’s constituents, and a discussion ensued as to why, in regards to pensions, it is important for municipalities to document their actions. Following this discussion, the speakers identified how public sector pension plans differed from the private sector (eg., municipal plans are exempt from ERISA, regulated by the Auditor General, often are not comprised of “formal processes”). The presentation concluded with identifying five “key components to a successful policy” which were categorized as follows: investment goals and responsibilities, investment policies and procedures, asset allocation policies and investment allocations, performance objectives, and investment guidelines and review. Presentation: “Cable Franchise Agreements” Brian Jeter, the Director of Comcast of Bucks County’s Government and Community Affairs, identified and discussed recent cable franchising issues and events. Of these, he stated that SB 1247 and HB 2880 “pose(d) a serious threat to the right of municipalities across the Commonwealth” for there “is absolutely no guarantee that if Verizon’s statewide franchising is adopted in Harrisburg that local cable franchise agreements negotiated with them today will be granfathered”. Specifically, he remarked that the legislation would do the following: take local franchising away from local municipalities and put it in the hands of a state bureaucracy; preclude municipalities from implementing or enforcing customer service standards; allow Verizon to provide service only where it wants to; and, allow Verizon to simply walk away from their customers and your municipalities. He asked that Consortium members contact state legislators and join the group Keep It Local PA. New & Old Business Joe Czajkowski, on behalf of the Bucks County Consortium, thanked Jeff Vey for his work on the annual picnic that was held at Milford Township on July 21 st. Adjourn Robert Pellegrino made a motion, seconded by Joe Czajkowski, to adjourn the meeting at approximately 10:35AM. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted, ___________________ |