- Lower Macungie Township officials said Monday that a draft agreement is in the works with the township, Lower Macungie Fire Department and Macungie
- Macungie is considering swapping out the Macungie Volunteer Fire Department after concerns over response times and other worries
- The agreement would require the borough to contribute $70,000 a year to Lower Macungie Fire Department to cover growing costs
LOWER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — Officials at a Lower Macungie Township Board of Commissioners workshop Monday announced that a "draft agreement" is in the works with the township, Lower Macungie Fire Department and Macungie.
Commissioners discussed with the fire chief extending the Lower Macungie Fire Department's service to the Borough of Macungie.
"With our internal discussions with the chief and the president, you know, it's something that we're supporting on at least the manager side, to move forward," Lower Macungie Township Manager Bruce Beitel said.
"We've had a draft agreement; it's not really done yet at this point," Beitel said. "I have to still share it with the fire department."
Beitel said the agreement would require the asked-for $70,000 in annual contributions from the borough if the Lower Macungie Fire Department is chosen to replace its current fire services.
"I know the borough needs this fairly quickly."Lower Macungie Township Manager Bruce Beitel
He said the draft likely would be reviewed for the next township commissioners meeting.
"I know the borough needs this fairly quickly," Beitel said.
Comissioner Maury Robert wondered if the increased call volume would negatively affect the department, but Chief Dave Nosal, who was at the meeting, said the current and envisioned call volume would not do so, and there is a lot of variability.
"The township surrounds them on three sides," Nosal said. "So if not us, who, assuming they want to change? The short of it is, for somebody else to take it over we would just be in there all the time probably anyway.
"We might as well run it the way we see fit, and I'll say get the financial reimbursement for providing that."
Analyzing its options
Lower Macungie Fire Department is a separate volunteer organization from the township, but gets funds and shares ownership of various firefighting equipment with Lower Macungie Township.
Beitel said the agreement would encompass items such as getting "appropriate compensation" for the township-provided workers compensation policy and reporting requirements.
He said the borough is analyzing its options.
"We have assets around them that would allow us to easily help protect the borough."Lower Macungie Fire Department President Joe Thompson
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.
He said the fire department now responds to Macungie Borough Volunteer Fire Company calls and referred to the current situation in the borough as a temporary solution.
Macungie officials recently reviewed a presentation from Lower Macungie Fire Department about becoming the official response agency for the municipality over the existing embattled Macungie Volunteer Fire Company.
"We have assets around them that would allow us to easily help protect the borough," Lower Macungie Fire Department President Joe Thompson said at the Macungie Borough meeting.
Repeated troubles
Macungie Borough Council voted to withhold funding from Macungie Volunteer Fire Company following its failure to supply an audit and other concerns related to its management and performance in August.
Borough Council President Ron Karboski and Macungie Volunteer Fire Company Chief Mike Natysyn both had denied rumors Macungie Volunteer Fire Company has been put out of service, and said it still is the borough's designated fire protection department.
The Macungie Volunteer Fire Company previously came under fire from the borough in 2017 after a borough-ordered report cited a lack of faith due to errors, disrespectful behavior and calls not being responded to.
The report also recommended using neighboring fire departments to fill voids and for the borough to take greater oversight.
The chief said he suspected the borough's consideration was based on the perception of potential cost benefits.
"Honestly? They want to shut us down completely," Natysyn said. "They think it's cheaper to contract out."
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.
For a decision to be made on any future agreement, it will be put to a public decision by the board.
