Post by Instructor on Nov 3, 2005 13:27:02 GMT -5
Council discusses making fire department independent
By Jennifer Fitch The Record Herald
WAYNESBORO - As Waynesboro Borough Council sat down Wednesday to review the latest draft of its 2006 budget, it began to discuss policies that could be enacted in the future - such as relinquishing control of the fire department.
Fire Chief Ron Flegel said this morning he feels the quality of fire service would be drastically hurt by such a move, especially during the transitional period. He also thinks operations would take a serious hit.
Flegel said when it comes to disbanding a fire department with paid drivers, Pennsylvania law requires a municipality to put the issue on the ballot in the form of a referendum.
Members of council were divided Wednesday on whether they would consider cutting off funding to the fire department and making the department an independent agency.
Currently, “the fire department is a borough department working with two fire companies,” said Borough Manager Lloyd Hamberger.
The situation
The Borough of Waynesboro owns and maintains the South Potomac Street fire station and pays five drivers' salaries for a total annual cost of almost $230,000.
Each driver earns an average of $31,000, according to Flegel, who was not at the meeting and said he was not aware the issue was going to come up.
Sudie Clayton Memorial Fire Hall on Virginia Avenue is owned by the Mechanics Hose Steam Fire Engine Co.
Currently, the volunteers buy the fire vehicles, and once they are paid for, turn them over to the borough. The borough then maintains them.
Each year, Washington Township pays the local fire department about $64,000 for fire service. Quincy Township pays another $12,000.
That money is funneled through the Borough of Waynesboro.
Councilman Stephen Monn said he feels the current operations are handled with a good balance.
Getting out
Councilman John Cook on Wednesday explained how the borough would relinquishits control of the fire department.
“We either pull it (the South Potomac Street station) out from under them, or we give it to them. And we're out of the fire business,” he said.
“That would probably make it all-volunteer. If that was the case, five drivers would lose their jobs,” Flegel said this morning.
He said volunteers would have to undergo extensive training to operate the vehicles - which is one of the main reasons the transition period would be difficult.
Under the proposal discussed last night, the borough would pay for service just like Washington and Quincy townships. The figure mentioned was $100,000 a year.
“They'd be lucky to even operate the department on $100,000 when you take into account insurance, maintenance on the buildings and fuel costs,” said Flegel.
He feels it would be difficult for the volunteers to raise money to run the department, especially with volunteerism down drastically.
“Recruiting is difficult. We're getting regulated to death by federal and state agencies,” he said.
Wednesday's discussion did not end with a decision or a time frame.
Other area companies such as Mont Alto and Greencastle's Rescue Hose Co. are run by volunteers.
By Jennifer Fitch The Record Herald
WAYNESBORO - As Waynesboro Borough Council sat down Wednesday to review the latest draft of its 2006 budget, it began to discuss policies that could be enacted in the future - such as relinquishing control of the fire department.
Fire Chief Ron Flegel said this morning he feels the quality of fire service would be drastically hurt by such a move, especially during the transitional period. He also thinks operations would take a serious hit.
Flegel said when it comes to disbanding a fire department with paid drivers, Pennsylvania law requires a municipality to put the issue on the ballot in the form of a referendum.
Members of council were divided Wednesday on whether they would consider cutting off funding to the fire department and making the department an independent agency.
Currently, “the fire department is a borough department working with two fire companies,” said Borough Manager Lloyd Hamberger.
The situation
The Borough of Waynesboro owns and maintains the South Potomac Street fire station and pays five drivers' salaries for a total annual cost of almost $230,000.
Each driver earns an average of $31,000, according to Flegel, who was not at the meeting and said he was not aware the issue was going to come up.
Sudie Clayton Memorial Fire Hall on Virginia Avenue is owned by the Mechanics Hose Steam Fire Engine Co.
Currently, the volunteers buy the fire vehicles, and once they are paid for, turn them over to the borough. The borough then maintains them.
Each year, Washington Township pays the local fire department about $64,000 for fire service. Quincy Township pays another $12,000.
That money is funneled through the Borough of Waynesboro.
Councilman Stephen Monn said he feels the current operations are handled with a good balance.
Getting out
Councilman John Cook on Wednesday explained how the borough would relinquishits control of the fire department.
“We either pull it (the South Potomac Street station) out from under them, or we give it to them. And we're out of the fire business,” he said.
“That would probably make it all-volunteer. If that was the case, five drivers would lose their jobs,” Flegel said this morning.
He said volunteers would have to undergo extensive training to operate the vehicles - which is one of the main reasons the transition period would be difficult.
Under the proposal discussed last night, the borough would pay for service just like Washington and Quincy townships. The figure mentioned was $100,000 a year.
“They'd be lucky to even operate the department on $100,000 when you take into account insurance, maintenance on the buildings and fuel costs,” said Flegel.
He feels it would be difficult for the volunteers to raise money to run the department, especially with volunteerism down drastically.
“Recruiting is difficult. We're getting regulated to death by federal and state agencies,” he said.
Wednesday's discussion did not end with a decision or a time frame.
Other area companies such as Mont Alto and Greencastle's Rescue Hose Co. are run by volunteers.