ALLENTOWN – Borough officials have confirmed what the president of the Allentown First Aid Squad said earlier this year in an interview – that the squad’s per diem responders will definitely be employed through at least Sept. 30.
The provision of emergency services coverage in Allentown was a topic of discussion once again when the mayor and Borough Council met on Aug. 8.
During 2017, municipal officials have been weighing their options for the future provision of first aid services in Allentown.
The need for action has come to the council table because representatives of the Allentown First Aid Squad have informed municipal officials there may come a time when the squad can no longer employ paid per diem staff and the sole reliance on volunteers may no longer be possible, according to the mayor and council members.
The first aid squad has been serving residents of Allentown and Upper Freehold Township since 1943.
Earlier this year, borough officials said they had been informed by the first aid squad that because of funding issues, the squad would have to suspend its paid per diem responders effective May 1.
However, Mike Conroy, the squad’s president, said on April 20 that the per diem responders would be employed through Sept. 30, giving the squad, Allentown’s elected officials and elected officials in Upper Freehold additional time to come up with a long-term solution.
The per diem responders answer calls from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., volunteers answer calls for assistance.
Allentown provides financial assistance of $23,850 per year to the first aid squad. Upper Freehold Township provides financial assistance of about $66,000 per year to the organization, according to Conroy and Allentown officials.
During the Aug. 8 meeting in Allentown, council members passed a resolution authorizing the release of the $23,850 contribution to the first aid squad. The resolution states the money had not been released until this time “due to the unknown nature of the organization’s future.”
In the resolution, the council members said they will increase the municipal contribution by $5,500 in November if the first aid squad can provide full coverage of emergency medical services in the borough 24 hours a day, seven days a week through Dec. 31.
Councilman Thomas Fritts said the borough’s representatives are continuing to examine options such as the provision of emergency responses by a third party.
“Volunteer organizations are slowly going away and our main concern is that we have coverage,” Fritts said, adding that a resolution to the situation may be forthcoming in about a month.
The first aid squad raises between $40,000 and $45,000 per year in donations, Conroy said in an earlier interview. The per diem employees cost the squad about $130,000 per year in salaries ($11,000 per month), he added.
In other business at the Aug. 8 meeting, council members voted 6-0 to authorize the hiring of Kelly Tyers as Allentown’s new full-time deputy borough clerk, water billing/rent collector, sewer billing/rent collector and office clerk.
The position pays $35,000 per year, the employee is eligible for medical benefits and the appointment was effective Aug. 21, according to a resolution.
And, Allentown’s council members agreed to share the cost of refurbishing a fire engine with Upper Freehold Township. Fire engine 8282 is part of the inventory of equipment of the Hope Fire Company, which serves both municipalities.
A shared service agreement that will be in place until June 30, 2024 calls for Allentown to pay 27.5 percent of the costs of fire protection services, according to a resolution.
According to the resolution, the Township Committee in Upper Freehold took action on Aug. 3 committing an amount not to exceed $16,000 toward the refurbishment of the fire engine. On Aug. 8, Allentown committed an amount not to exceed $4,400 toward the refurbishment of the fire engine.
Finally, the council authorized American Quality Remodeling, Burlington, to replace the roof on the gazebo in Dr. Farmer’s Park. The job will be completed for an amount not to exceed $6,090, according to a resolution.
Council members said the Buildings and Grounds Committee recommended the replacement of the roof on the gazebo. The vote to award the contract was 6-0.
