MACUNGIE, Pa. — Lower Macungie Fire Department on Monday gave Macungie Borough Council a presentation on its services, in response to discussions of potentially replacing the embattled Macungie Volunteer Fire Company.
- Macungie Borough Council on Monday reviewed a presentation from the Lower Macungie Fire Department about what fire coverage would look like under the nearby company
- The presentation is in response to the Macungie Volunteer Fire Company's failure to deliver a requested audit to the borough and other concerns related to the municipality's current designated fire protection
- Lower Macungie Fire Department is asking $70,000 in annual contributions from the borough if chosen to replace their current fire services
Fire company Chief Dave Nosal led the presentation, going over capabilities and traditional response time of the different stations under the authority of the Lower Macungie Fire Department.
Many volunteers from the fire company were in the audience.
Lower Macungie Fire Department officials said there are no plans to move into the borough in the case of a service merger — it would be served from the company's operational centers in Alburtis, Wescosville and Brandywine.
The primary response station for the borough would be Brandywine, which is next to Willow Lane Elementary School. The presentation stated the station has an assigned staff of 21, with an average turnout of 8.17 and an average response time of 6:45.
Officials said additional departments would respond in the case of greater severities of incidents.
Financial accountability, room to grow
They said the chief currently has no control over finances while the president has no control over scene operations.
In addition, an annual third-party audit is done and provided to partner municipalities (currently Alburtis and Lower Macungie Township) alongside an annual budget submission. A relief money audit also is done by the state every three years.
Council members thanked and applauded the fire department officials for the presentation.
"We have assets around them that would allow us to easily help protect the borough. We already run around 700 calls a year, so adding another 70 is not really going to mess us up too much."Lower Macungie Fire Department President Joe Thompson
"We have assets around them that would allow us to easily help protect the borough," Lower Macungie Fire Department President Joe Thompson said.
"We already run around 700 calls a year, so adding another 70 is not really going to mess us up too much."
Council President Ron Karboski said, “On behalf of the borough and its residents, thank you for the presentation."
If contracted with Macungie, Lower Macungie Fire Company would not provide traffic control services for Macungie Memorial Park events, as the Macungie Volunteer Fire Company has done.
Borough council members asked the fire company about things such as its self-evaluation process and ability to respond to medical distress if needed.
As of now, Macungie Volunteer Fire Company still is the borough's designated fire protection department.
Local fire company comes under doubts
At an Aug. 7 meeting, Macungie Borough Council members voiced frustration over the lack of a requested financial audit, and feelings of being in the dark related to information and performance of Macungie Volunteer Fire Company.
Fire company debts also were discussed as a result of communications to the borough.
"We as a body decided that they were going to be more transparent with their financials. Particularly because as we get ourselves in order with the nonprofits and the donations and so forth, we're expecting that of them. That hasn't occurred. The question is, how do we move forward?"Council President Ron Karboski
"We as a body decided that they were going to be more transparent with their financials," Karboski said. "Particularly because as we get ourselves in order with the nonprofits and the donations and so forth, we're expecting that of them.
"That hasn't occurred. The question is, how do we move forward?"
Council members urged Borough Manager John Brown to seek options to potentially replace the Macungie Volunteer Fire Company, while also taking actions to withhold funds.
Borough officials said nearby fire departments now are dually dispatched to calls alongside the Macungie Volunteer Fire Department.
Which parallel dispatch is made is determined by Lehigh County Emergency Services 911 dispatch and includes Lower Macungie Fire Department.
Macungie Volunteer Fire Company Chief Mike Natysyn, who was at Monday's meeting, said at the prior meeting that the current chief and deputy chief have 51 and 25 years of service, respectively, and there are 18 members on the roster.
An email from the fire company acknowledged that it does "have some problems, but we are working with grants and fundraising. The borough only gives us $50,000 to repair equipment and pay bills."
"Honestly? They want to shut us down completely," Natysyn said. "They think it's cheaper to contract out."
Potential cost changes
Monday's presentation noted expected contributions of about $70,000 between liquid funds and other assets, which Lower Macungie said is comparable to what is given by Alburtis.
The presentation stated that the number is not "written in stone," with increases in costs having the potential to prompt discussion of adjustments.
Nosal listed funding that the fire company gets going toward everyday bills, repair and replacement of trucks and equipment, insurance, training, debt management and capital projects.
Borough Council President Ron Karboski said that under the current borough budget, Macungie Volunteer Fire Company was allocated $50,000, half of which had already been allocated for the year.
The remaining $25,000, which would typically be released in October, is currently withheld.
Also noted was its incentive program for volunteers who get regular and additional training, alongside retirement benefits. In return for service, they also requested that they would be able to send their annual fund drive letter to borough residents.
Lower Macungie Fire Company and Alburtis' fire services announced their merger in 2017 with hopes of increasing service and saving overall cost.
On Monday, Macungie didn't vote on whether to pursue the change, but passed a motion to hear more about the proposals and memorandums of agreement with the borough, fire company and Lower Macungie Township.
Such an agreement would be expected because of the mixed ownership of firefighting equipment between the township and the fire company, which is a separate entity.
Presenters said Lower Macungie Township is "agreeable" with potential service to the borough with an memorandum of understanding being established.
Macungie officials declined to immediately comment on whether they planned to have an additional presentation from nearby Upper Milford Fire Company or on when a potential vote on changing service may take place.
