Fire Company Consolidation Meeting Minutes

Note:  Several times over the last several weeks, these pages have contained news story and commentary on the merger talks taking place between the Parkesburg, Atglen and Pomeroy fire companies and the 8 municipalities they serve.  These talks, which began in 2010, are moving quickly toward a single consolidated fire fighting organization with the eight municipalities, including Parkesburg, footing more of the total cost of fielding and maintaining an all volunteer fire fighting force.

Beginning with these minutes from the July meeting, Parkesburg Today will publish details of the discussion to both educate and keep our readers informed.

Western Chester County Fire Company

Reorganization Committee Minutes

                                                           

Tuesday, July 19, 2011 (Approved on August 16, 2011)

Meeting was called to order by Brad Sinrod at 1905 hrs

Attendees: Brad Sinrod, Ray Stackhouse, Leo Scaccia, Willard Marsh, Bill Winters, R.P. Scott, Gene Ratcliff, John R. Ford, Barry Edwards, Jim Reagan, Ray Campbell, Steve Webb, Danny Tribbett, Frank Haas, Ed Haas, Tom Scott, Stephanie Silvernail

Excused: Tony Sirna, Larry Constable, Rich Klinger, Chuck Persch, Brian Gathercole, William Kochel

New members: None

Special Guest: Russ Guthrie

Approval of June Minutes: Approved as written by the group with three grammatical changes.

Handouts: Agenda, June minutes, Items developed by Russ Guthrie including CD of June presentation, If you want a CD of Russ’s presentations, call or e-mail Ray and he will get you one. The material is too large to send through most e-mails.

Old Business:

Received: Copy of payment invoice from Atglen Fire company to Russ Guthrie amt of 250.00 dollars, Payment of 4,500 dollars from Chester County EMS Council to Russ Guthrie. The only township still outstanding is Atglen boro, who has commented that the check has been approved/written and is being sent to Russ.  The next round of 250.00 dollars is due at the September meeting. Total given to Russ as of tonights’ meeting. 6,500.00 dollars

All municipalities have accepted and have presented signed resolutions.  All fire companies have completed MOU’s

Russ has Power point slides that outline current run district, representatives of each municipality, fire companies and business/citizen reps. 

All members present had time to review. There were no changes, yet several positions are still open.

New Business:

Russ Guthrie will be running each meeting from this date forward. Brief minutes will be kept and copies of material and power point presentations will be available for members to review.

There was discussion to shore up and tie down the representatives of each municipality and fire companies

There was a service map review.

Open discussion on Fire Administrator role in initial set up of organization.

Open discussion on Fire District Board Makeup continues.

Russ displayed a potential/possible budget with numbers he does know. As numbers become more exact, we will know true budget for new organization. Russ feels his numbers tonight are very accurate but will still need some information for final budget.

Russ explained 10 tables to the attendees and has handouts available if you would want one. Please see Leo at the next meeting.

At this point, other than a few number changes, Russ states that his job of investigation is complete. He asks that before the next meeting that all municipalities and fire companies take a straw poll to see if the members are in or not in and to make the final decision to move forward with the consolidation. He asked also that the group needs to decide if we would chose process one with an “authority” versus the simple consolidation process number 2.

He applauds the efforts and willingness of the group to make this happen with little difficulty. The August meeting, he will ask officially if all parties are in agreement with moving forward. Members are urged to attend or have representation for potential vote. From the group, the sense is that we will continue to move forward.

Russ will be meeting with East Fallowfield Township on September 13 during their work meeting. All entities are invited to attend for information gathering and dissemination.

Wrap-up, round table. The “quarter” was passed and in general, all members were happy with progress tonight and the plan for the future meetings.

Next meeting will be August 16 at 7pm at the Huston Center at Brandywine.

Meeting adjourned at 2100hrs by Brad Sinrod.

Respectfully submitted: July 21, 2011

Leo Scaccia

Secretary

Thanks to Parkesburg Fire Commissioner Ray Stackhouse for making these notes available.

Parkesburg And Two Neighboring Fire Companies Receive Daily Local Red Rose

Parkesburg's, Atglen's and Pomeroy's volunteer fire companies and the communities they serve, received a Rose over the weekend from West Chester's Daily Local News.

Each Saturday, editors at the paper take a moment to recognize positive, and not so positive, events, accomplishments and developments around Chester County on the editorial page of the paper, awarding an editorial 'Rose' or 'Thorns' to distinguish the development/accomplishment

Saturdays was our volunteer fire company's turn and those leaders participating in regional talks focused on merging the Parkesburg, Atglen and Pomeroy fire companies.

Here's what the daily local wrote at the top of their Roses and Thorn column Saturday morning.

"[We want to] recognize the Atglen, Parkesburg and Pomeroy Fire companies and their participating communities for the ongoing discussions to merge the three companies together into a single western Chester County firefighting organization. Their discussions took another step forward this week. Those involved in the discussion have never seen this level of cooperation and collaboration. Theses municipalities and fire companies, as well as their representatives in the discussions, have earned and deserve a big Red Rose."

A big Red Rose it is! 

Saturday's DLN Roses and Thorn column is here.

Accident Draws Pomeroy, Parkesburg and Honeybrook EMS

This from Pomeroy Fire Company's web site:

On Tuesday evening August 9th, 2011 in the evening hours Parkesburg EMS along with Honey Brook EMS for two ambulances were dispatched to assist Lancaster County Station 4-9 on a Motor Vehicle Accident with entrapment on Route 340 (IFO Baldwins Garage) in Sadsbury Township Lancaster County. The accident involved two vehicles one with entrapment.

Read the entire post here.

Local Paper Weighs In On Fire Company Consolidation

In an editorial published today, The Southern Chester County Weekly wrote glowingly about consolidation discussions currently underway between the Parkesburg, Atglen and Pomeroy fire companies.

Money quote:

"That’s why it’s pleasantly unusual to see three companies actually willing to surrender some of their individuality for the safety and health of those they serve."

Read the entire editorial here and share your thoughts on Facebook or by leaving a comment on Parkesburg Today.

Area Fire Company's Respond To Suspected Gas Leak

Area fire companies respond Saturday evening to a suspected gas leak at the Acme plaza

This short description of a suspected gas leak at the Acme plaza came from Pomeroy Volunteer Fire Company's web site:


Saturday, July 16, 2011 Parkesburg (28), Atglen (26), and Pomeroy (29) Fire Companies were dispatched to 120 W. First Ave at the Family Dollar for a Gas Leak Outside on the evening of July 16th, 2011. 

Units responded right after dispatch due to returning from various motor vehicle accidents and EMS incidents in the coverage area.

Engine 28 (Parkesburg) responded and arrived on-scene to establish Family Dollar Command. Engine 26-1 (Atglen) made the response along with Engine 29-1, Engine 29-5 and Ambulance 29-2 (all Pomeroy).

Chief 29 was on-scene and assisted Parkesburg Command with the operations. The incident was evaluated and the odor of gas was detected and determined to be in the area of construction near Family Dollar where work was taking place for a new store coming into the complex near Family Dollar.

Command requested PECO to the scene and advised while they awaited Atglen and Pomeroy units could clear the scene. After 20:00 hours, Pomeroy and Atglen units cleared the scene leaving Engine 28 on-scene.

Pomeroy and Parkesburg Fire Companies Start Joint EMS Service

This from the Pomeroy Fire Company web site:

On July 1st, 2011 the Pomeroy and Parkesburg Fire Companies started its Joint EMS Staffing. This process is a commitment between the two stations and part of the process of working towards the consolidation which is being put together by the Western Chester County Steering Committee. 

The operations are listed below however this decision was to better serve our municipalities and maintain a response by our two organizations.

Our two stations (28-29) have been working in a cooperative effort to address the problem of Emergency Medical Services in the Western Chester County and have been involved in multiple meetings and quorums to go live with a cooperative effort of getting a dual EMS role with our two fire companies.

In combination Pomeroy and Parkesburg EMS agencies provide coverage to six municipalities: Sadsbury Township, East Fallowfield Township, Highland Township, West Sadsbury Township and Parkesburg Borough. We are working aggressively towards a resolution to address the problem of life safety in western Chester County and benefit the Western Chester County Steering Committee at the same time. 

It will address problems within our services such as manpower, call volume and the need for the service. This cooperative agreement will allow our manpower to combine and jointly get the idea and approach of what the consolidation will have to offer. Its main purpose is to provide 24/7/365 coverage to our coverage areas.

The two stations will be looking at a six-month commitment of a functional cooperative service agreement between the two stations. The staffing will consist of Monday-Wednesday-Friday at one station and Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday at the other station with every other Sunday being rotated amongst the two. One Ambulance with staffing will be logged on seven days a week responding with two (2) Career FF/EMT’s during the hours of 0600-1800. The assigned ambulance (Career Staff) will respond to all emergencies in each respective stations coverage area as dispatched through CCDES. 

The assigned unit, either Pomeroy and/or Parkesburg that is assigned during the daytime hours with Career Staff will remain the primary ambulance with Volunteer Staffing from 1800-0600 hours on their assigned night. With this operating schedule we will be able to provide 24-hour service, seven days a week between the two agencies and maintain a state of readiness with one fully staffed Ambulance.

We want to inform you that the Pomeroy Volunteer Fire Company and Parkesburg Fire Company are committed to providing Emergency Medical Services with the utmost professionalism and service we can provide being one through two stations. Thank you to those who have assisted with this agreement and those who support the process.

Special thanks to Chester County DES for assisting us with moving EMS forward.