Mental Health Issues, Climate Change Among Priorities In Bucks County

DOYLESTOWN, PA ? The Bucks County Board of Commissioners reorganized on Tuesday returning the gavel to Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia to begin the board?s second term.

In addition to Marseglia?s appointment by her fellow commissioners as board chair, the afternoon?s reorganization meeting saw the board appoint Commissioner Bob Harvie as vice chair. Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo will remain the board?s secretary.

The three commissioners, all of whom won reelection in November, were sworn in Tuesday morning alongside a slate of four county row officers, including returning treasurer Kristian Ballerini and Register of Wills/Clerk of Orphans Court Linda Bobrin, Esq. Newly-elected coroner
Patti Campi and Clerk of Courts Eileen Hartnett Albillar also took the oath of office.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, Marseglia outlined her priorities for the board?s second term.

Newly-elected Bucks County Commissioner Chair Diane Ellis-Marseglia addresses the gathering. (Bucks County Government)

?I first want to focus on making sure that we can sustain the changes we made in mental health, and the changes that we are going to make in treatment for both mental health and substance abuse,? she said. ?I also want to also make sure that our co-responder program, and our community relationships with police officers is institutionalized.?

Marseglia said she also wants to see the board focus on environmental issues and climate change, as well as making housing in Bucks County attainable for middle- and working-class people.

Commissioner Harvie echoed Marseglia?s priorities, adding that government should work toward solutions to those difficult problems, even if that work seems difficult or unpopular.

?This country was not built or sustained by people who shied away from those challenges,? he said. ?We didn?t win a revolution with that attitude. We didn?t save this nation in the Civil War with that attitude.?

Joined by his family, Commissioner Bob Harvie, left, takes the oath of office to begin his second term as Bucks County Commissioner.

In a call for continued bipartisanship in the board?s second term, Commissioner DiGirolamo said the way to tackle the difficult issues facing government is to work together.

?We?re not always all going to agree,? he said. ?But when we don?t agree we can do it respectfully and look for compromise, and look for solutions to the problem.?

Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo, left, takes the oath of office to begin his second term as Bucks County Commissioner.