DelCo Council Declares Women’s History Month, Engineer’s Week

The unanimously passed two resolutions at its meeting Tuesday declaring Engineer’s Week and Women’s History Month.

Engineer’s Week was declared to be Feb. 20-27 and the theme for this year’s observance is “Engineers: Turning Ideas Into Reality,” Delaware County Councilman Andy Lewis read at the meeting.

The National Society of Professional Engineers observes the week to celebrate the profession that has made this country the world’s most advanced technological society, according to a county press release.

In Delaware County, the week will be marked with seminars and programs explaining engineering to middle and high school students and a dinner will honor the engineer of the year, John Nawn and Joseph Salvucci, recipient of the lifetime achievement award, according to the press release.

Salvucci, Nawn, John Pickett, director of planning for Delaware County and chairman of Engineer’s Week, Eileen Nelson, co-chair of Engineer’s Week and Chris Volkay-Hilditch and Nick Cirilli, both committee members, accepted the resolution from council at the meeting.

In a separate resolution, council declared March to be Women’s History Month. This year’s theme is “Our History is our Strength.”

Delaware County Council Vice Chairman Christine Fizzano Cannon read the resolution at the meeting and said the achievements of women in Delaware County should be recognized and appreciated.

The Women’s Commission will induct Elizabeth C. Price, executive director of the Delaware County Bar Association and who passed away in 2009, into the Hall of Fame and Elaine Humme, a founder of the Delaware County Domestic Abuse Project, will receive the Woman of Achievement Award, according to a county press release.

Theresa Agostinelli, a member of the Women’s Commission and chair of Women’s History Month, and Carol Miller and Sheryl Brown, both of the Women’s Commission, accepted the resolution from council.

In separate council news, the Delaware County Council approved several contracts, applications and agreements at its meeting Tuesday. Here is a list of the approvals.

• Appointment of Daniel P. Massaro, of Upper Darby Township, to the Delaware County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Advisory Board for a three-year term
• Memorial to be erected at the grave of Joseph J. George, of Woodlyn, a deceased service person
• Renewal of a five-month subscription at $26,000 to Live Homework Help from tutor.com for the 28 Delaware County Library Services member libraries, which gives home access, with a library card, to allow students one-on-one professional tutors via the Internet
• Agreement between the county and Community Living and Support Services to provide services for the statewide lifespan respite system for six months at a cost of $59,150, with the funding provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging Block Grant. Respite services are used in helping family members who care for elderly parents or special needs children and need a break.
• Execution of a contract with Parkside Borough for preparation of a zoning ordinance update at the cost of $33, 333, funded by CDBG-$30,000 and Parkside Borough-$3,333
• Submission of an application to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency in the amount of $1,883,093 under the NSP3 program for the Penn Hills Project in Ridley Township, funded by PHFA NSP3
• Contract between the county and S.J. Thomas Company Inc. for Government Center parking garage renovations, in an amount not to exceed $2,904,772
• An agreement between the county and Aqua Pennsylvania, PECO Energy Company and Folcroft Borough regarding utility services of the Grant Avenue Bridge reconstruction and subject to reimbursement by the utility for work performed by the county
• An agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s proposal of temporary construction easements and minor right-of-way changes that will not affect the Clayton Park property negatively.
• Approval of the 2011 county liquid fuels tax fund allocations to municipalities pending receipt of the application and PennDOT’s approval of the project’s eligibility at a cost of $725,758
• Approval for the county to grant itself a $752,670 grant from the 2010 restricted gaming funds to cover operational costs of the Delaware County Economic Development Oversight Board for 2010
• Ratification of a contract between Teamsters Local Union #115 and the county for a four-year term
• Renewal agreement between the county and Elwyn Employment Services to provide custodial services for one year at a cost of $126,000
• Agreements, Contracts and Amendments with the Human Services Provider of Services