Bucks County Government and Courts System
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AN EDUCATIONAL GUIDE BUCKS COUNTY Government & Courts System www.BucksCounty.org BUCKS COUNTY, ea’s reputation as an artists’ colony and the Bucks County Playhouse PENNSYLVANIA as a popular summer theater. HISTORY Today, over 625,000 people reside One of the original counties in a county with approximately established by William Penn 8,800 acres of county-owned in the 17th century, Bucks parks, 13,000 acres in state parks County was named for Buck- and gamelands, colleges and uni- inghamshire, England, Penn’s Founded: versities, museums, quaint villag- ancestral home. .It is located 1682 es, sprawling farms, verdant rolling in the southeastern portion County Seat: hills, woodlands and waterways. of Pennsylvania between Doylestown Philadelphia, Allentown and Population: Despite a changing landscape and Trenton, NJ and bounded 625,249* rapid residential, commercial, and on the east by the Delaware Geography: industrial growth, the county is River. Bucks County was a 608 square steeped in its rich traditions and frontier territory when Penn miles of land demonstrates an enduring com- entered into a purchase treaty and 15.8 mitment to its natural resources. with the native Lenni Lenape square miles Bucks County remains an historic on July 15, 1682. The land of water. blend of scenic beauty, agricul- was soon settled by Quakers, Comprised of ture, arts and economic growth. Swedes and Germans, skilled 23 boroughs tradesmen and farmers who and 31 THE SEAL OF established a government in townships. BUCKS COUNTY 1683. In March, 1683, Wil- *U.S. Census liam Penn’s Council The county seat was at Bris- Bureau, ordered “that the tol from 1705 to 1726 when 2010 Census seal of the County of it was moved 10 miles north, Bucks be a tree and to Newtown, which served as a vine.” Penn had written that in Bucks the county seat for 87 years. In 1752 the county, which County “the woods yield us plums, grapes, peaches, originally extended to the New York Colony line, was strawberries and chestnuts in abundance.” The shield reduced to its present boundaries. As settlement crept came from the Penn family crest. Used to certify official northward, agitation documents until the American Revolution, the seal was began for changing the eventually supplanted by one with the official device of county seat to a more the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The old insignia is central location. In 1810, still used on County stationary and vehicles to denote Governor Simon Snyder Bucks County’s rich heritage. Large replicas of it in tile, signed an Act appointing made by Dr. Henry Chapman Mercer, may be seen at the a commission to select a Mercer Museum in Doylestown and the State Capitol in new site. The hilltop tract Harrisburg. they chose has contin- ued to serve as the seat THE FLAG OF BUCKS COUNTY of Bucks County for 200 The Bucks County flag incorporates the county seal that years. Since 1812, three was inspired by William Penn. With blue and gold adopt- successive courthouses ed as the official county colors in 1962, the Bucks County William Penn have occupied the site. Commissioners designed the flag as a “gold emblem on field of blue.” The green band around the seal represents Indeed, the county is rich with history. It is where the natural beauty that continues to inspire people who Gen. George Washington and his beleaguered troops come to Bucks County. The field of blue is standard flag camped before setting out across the Delaware to wage proportion-2 units vertically to 3 units horizontally. The the pivotal Revolutionary War battle in Trenton. Later he gold emblem is centered and takes roughly the center would lend his name to the Bucks County site: Washing- third (width-wise) of the flag. It is trimmed in standard ton Crossing. gold color fringe. At one time, several, important colonial figures visited or lived in Bucks County and the small, riverfront commu- nity of Morrisville was being considered to become the site of the new nation’s capital. While farming dominated early Bucks County, the past includes a fascinating arts scene. Less than a two-hour drive from New York, the county was a popular retreat for many prominent 20th century writers, artists and Broadway celebrities who established the New Hope ar- BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MISSION STATEMENT OF BUCKS COUNTY Serve the public effectively and efficiently by: Robert G. Loughery * Being responsive to the changing health and welfare, safety Chairman and informational needs of Bucks County taxpayers and public * Delivering quality service and administering county, state and federal programs in a people sensitive and professional manner * Managing and targeting our available resources based on the prioritizing needs of the county * Conducting county business with focus on integrity and fiscal responsibility Charles H. Martin * Coordinating the efforts of the county divisions and depart- Vice Chairman ments, and working together for the common good Each of us is commited to achieving this mission. BUCKS COUNTY GOVERNMENT ROW OFFICERS Each of the county’s 10 row of Judges makes an interim officers is elected at large in appointment to the Office of the county for a four-year District Attorney. term. As specified by the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- The row officers receive office vania law, row officers include space and budget allocations Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia the following: Clerk of Courts, from the commissioners’ of- Controller, Coroner, District fice, but primarily function Attorney, Jury Commission- independently. ers, Prothonotary, Recorder of Deeds, Register of Wills, Sher- iff and Treasurer. Mary Smithson The Board consists of three members who are The title of row officer came Clerk of Courts elected countywide to four-year terms. Both about in the early years of Raymond McHugh major political parties are represented in ac- the constitution when the de- cordance with the laws of the Commonwealth. partments were first listed in Controller Votes are cast for two of four Commissioner a row on the election ballot. Dr. Joseph Campbell candidates, ensuring minority party represen- Their services might be more tation. The Commissioners choose one of their familiar to residents than their Coroner members as chairperson each year. actual office titles - residents get passports, marriage li- David Heckler The duties of a County Commissioner are censes, and death certificates District Attorney wide-ranging. The Commissioners appoint all from these offices. Dog and department heads and most members of the hunting licenses are issued, Debra DeBlasio county’s 37 boards, authorities and commis- as well as sportsman firearm Jury Commissioner sions. They approve the hiring of all county em- registrations. Row officers ployees and, as members of the county salary prosecute cases, maintain the Theresa Farley board, determine employees’ compensation county’s auditing responsibil- Jury Commissioner along with the County Controller and elected ity, enforce the law in court row officials. matters, and provide for juries Patricia Bachtle They are responsible for all county finances of peers. Prothonotary and county properties; compile and execute Some of the row officers run Joseph Szafran the county budget and set the real estate tax for election in the same year rate. A county budget is adopted annually by as the County Commission- Recorder of Deeds January 1. ers; the others run two years Donald Petrille Among their other responsibilities are: voter later. In case of death or res- registration, elections, maintenance of the ignation of a row officer, the Register of Wills county’s 115 bridges, all county buildings, governor may make an in- Edward Donnelly Bucks County Community College and the terim appointment until a successor can be elected, The Sheriff county’s extensive parks system. Court of Common Pleas Board BUCKS COUNTY WORKFORCE The county has approximately 2,600 full and part-time employees. A vast majority are employed in the 24-hour-a- day, seven-day-a-week operations - Neshaminy Manor nursing home, Correction facilities, Youth Center, Emergency Services, Security and 9-1-1. COURTHOUSE/ADMINISTRATION BUILDING BUCKS COUNTY’S The current Bucks County Court- Bucks County is currently in the COURTHOUSES house/Administration Building process of constructing an $84 is a seven-story building at 55 million Justice Center, which East Court St., Doylestown was officially broke ground in July, built at a cost of $3.5 million and 2011. When the existing court- dedicated in 1960. Three succes- house was constructed, Bucks sive courthouses have occupied County had 310,000 residents the present site. and four judges. Today, there are 625,000 residents and 13 judges. The round portion of the build- Since 2005, the number of crimi- ing houses the Bucks County nal cases has grown more than Court of Common Pleas, which 18 percent. In addition, Domes- includes seven courtrooms, tic Relations’ caseload – con- judges’ chambers and jury and ducted at 30 N. Main St – has led conference rooms. Family Court to overcrowding in that facility. proceedings are held in a sepa- The new facility will feature ad- 1813-1878 rate building across the street. ditonal courtrooms and confer- The County Commissioners, ence rooms, and provide for im- Chief Clerk and Chief Operating proved security measures. Officer have offices on the 5th floor of the administration build- ing. Bucks County provides a variety of services to its residents in offices and facilities located throughout the county: 1878-1960 GOVERNMENT OFFICES A) Almshouse Center B) Bucks County Courthouse C) Government BUCKS COUNTY GOVERNMENT Services Center (Lower) D) Government Services Center (Upper) E) Neshaminy Manor 1960-Present F) 9-1-1 Center PARK FACILITIES 1) Churchville Nature Center 9) Churville Nature Center 2) Core Creek Park 10) Peace Valley Park 3) Ervin Stower House 11) Playwicki Park 4) Frosty Hollow Tennis 12) Ringing Rocks Park Center 13) Silver Lake Nature Center 5) Lake Towhee Park 14) Silver Lake Park 6) Moravian Pottery & 15) Stover-Myers Mill Park Tile Works 16) Tinicum Park 7) Oxford Valley Golf Course 17) Tohickon Valley Park Rendering of future Bucks County 8) Oxford Valley Pool 18) Tohickon Valley Pool Justice Center.