Bradford County Garners Two CCAP Awards, One for Ed Bustin

By Rick Hiduk

(Exclusive to EndlessMtnLifestyles.com readers)

The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) was unable to hold their annual fall conference in person as planned, but numerous state-wide awards were distributed over the course of two days of online meetings and educational opportunities.

Bradford County was the only county to garner two: Council Member of the Year and a Bridge Safety Award.

CCAP’s Outstanding County Commissioner/Council Member of the Year Award was presented posthumously to Bradford County’s Ed Bustin, who passed away unexpectedly in the spring of 2020. His wife, Terry Bustin, received the award in his honor.

According to press release issued by CCAP on Tuesday, the award recognizes that through local service and Association participation, Commissioner Bustin contributed significantly to the advancement of county government.

Commissioner Bustin was an advocate for the vulnerable population and the recovering community and was a member of the Local Government Advisory Board for the Chesapeake Bay Commission, as well a member of the National Association of Counties’ Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee and numerous CCAP committees and community boards,” the release reads. “He recognized how the lack of housing impacted the criminal justice system, the mental health system and the drug and alcohol system, and testified before the Pennsylvania House Human Services Committee on the need for the state to increase mental health funding. His legacy will impact the lives of his constituents well into the future.”

It was well-deserved of Ed’s commitment to his community and county, being chosen as 2020 Commissioner of the Year,” said fellow Bradford County commissioner Daryl Miller. “Although his service to our community was cut short, his impact was wide-reaching because of his commitment to be involved serving at other levels of CCAP as a board member and at the national level, serving on the committee with NACO (National Association of Counties).”

Bustin was also cited by CCAP for his understanding of the importance of addressing social determinants of health as a key factor in addressing poverty. He was remembered for his ability to build relationships with the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

And, this year’s Pennsylvania Highway Information Association and PennDOT Road and Bridge Safety Award was also given to Bradford County, acknowledging their Bridge Bundle Project.

We have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars putting them in a bundle and bidding them out,” commissioner Doug McLinko said of the concept, which he credited to a friend from the Allentown area.

Miller and Bustin were immediately on board with the idea, McLinko continued, and county planner Matt Williams was instrumental in executing the plan. Susquehanna Valley Construction has done most of the work on eight bridges that have been replaced. The county’s bridge inventory has also been assessed as part of the project.

Our plan is to continue to replace and rebuild as many of the 52 county bridges we have,” McLinko stated.

About CCAP:

CCAP is the voice of county government; a statewide nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing all 67 counties in Pennsylvania. CCAP members include county commissioners, council members, county executives, administrators, chief clerks and solicitors.

County governments are responsible for a wide variety of critical issues, including provision of human services (i.e., mental health, intellectual disabilities, juvenile justice, children and youth, long-term care, drug and alcohol services, housing) to people in need in our communities. In addition, counties are responsible for emergency management and 911 services, administration of the courts and corrections system, elections, maintenance of county bridges, and the county property assessment rolls, and also are involved in environmental and land use planning, protection of open space and community and economic development.
The Association strengthens counties’ abilities to govern their own affairs and improve the well-being and quality of life for every Pennsylvania resident. It advocates for favorable state and federal legislation, programs and policies on behalf of counties. CCAP is committed to service excellence through education, information, insurance, technology and other programs that support effective county government. Founded in 1886, CCAP is an affiliate of the National Association of Counties. For more information about Pennsylvania counties and CCAP, log on to
www.pacounties.org and visit CCAP’s Twitter page @PACountiesGR.

 

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