CitizensVoice
RICE TWP., Pa. — Despite pleas from scores of Rice Township residents as well as officials of neighboring Slocum Township to give their volunteer fire department a chance to fix its problems, township supervisors on Tuesday night voted 2-1 to adopt an ordinance decertifying the fire company as its fire service provider and enter into a contract with Wright Township Volunteer Fire Department for fire protection.
More than 60 people jammed into the township meeting room for the special meeting called to consider the ordinance. All but one of the residents who spoke opposed the measure decertifying the fire company. However, when the vote finally was held, after more than 90 minutes of public comment, none of those residents were present.
Prior to the vote, Supervisor Chairman Miller Stella Jr. directed township police to clear the meeting room. Only members of the media were present when Stella, who made the motion to adopt the ordinance, and George Venesky voted in favor. Supervisor Marcia Thomas voted no.
Full story: Rice Twp. fire department’s decertification ignites uproar