By Dan Sokil
Ambler Gazette
UPPER GWYNEDD, Pa. — Talks on a controversial topic for four local towns could pick up again this fall.
Upper Gwynedd’s commissioners heard an update Tuesday night on a study examining possible regionalization of fire services.
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“We’ve gotten to the point where doing nothing about the crisis in volunteer fire services is not an option,” said township Manager Sandra Brookley Zadell.
Back in March 2022, Upper Gwynedd’s fire company leadership asked the township commissioners to approve a study examining options for a new fire station, citing aging infrastructure, a need for more space, and stricter standards for equipment, training, and maintenance at their current station, located on Garfield Avenue and parts of which date as far back as 1942. That company said it was looking at several possible sites for a new station, and later that month the commissioners approved a contract with the state Governor’s Center for Local Government Services to perform a study.
That study was presented in spring 2023 and recommended formal evaluation of regionalizing several area companies to see where they could find savings and share services. A joint study was subsequently authorized by all four towns in spring 2024, and at that time the four said they hoped the study “will guide us in creating a more efficient and sustainable framework for fire services delivery.”
That study was presented by state Department of Community and Economic Development officials in a joint meeting on May 31 in partnership with the four towns and their fire companies, and North Wales officials said in June they planned to take up talks with the other three towns and the fire companies in the following months.
During her manager’s report on Sept. 15, Zadell gave an update, summarizing the steps so far and the reasons why the towns decided to do the study.
“The study concluded that regionalization represented, and I’m quoting from the study, ‘A proactive, strategic approach, to ensuring that fire protection services remain resilient, responsive, and sustainable for years to come’,” the manager said.
“The regionalization study also identified real challenges facing fire services across the region, including volunteer recruitment, daytime staffing, increased call volumes and rising costs,” she said.
The study has been publicly posted on the websites of all four municipalities, with conclusions and warnings for the towns and their residents.
“While the potential benefits of consolidation are significant, this initiative also comes with substantial challenges and risks that must be carefully considered and managed,” she said, reading from the study.
“Consolidating multiple volunteer fire companies involves not just merging organizations, but also blending peoples, cultures, and politics,” she said.
Since then, Zadell told the public, staff and the commissioners have held extensive meetings with the fire companies involved to discuss “operational soundness, capital expenditures, and service to our community,” with talks happening at least monthly if not more often.
As talks on the township’s budget pick up this fall, the fire study and steps toward regionalization will likely be part of the discussion.
“There will definitely be more to come in our October meetings on this topic, as a decision needs to be made sooner rather than later due to the need for increased daytime coverage,” she said.
The fire companies involved “struggle to have adequate staffing” during weekdays, a trend seen across the region and country, despite several recent changes to try to spur more involvement.
“We have a stipend program, and have recently made policy changes allowing our municipal staff who are firefighters to leave and respond to a fire if necessary,” she said.
“These strategies may not be enough, in an age of declining volunteerism, when most employers don’t let firefighters leave their nine-to-fives to respond to a call,” Zadell said.
Over the next several weeks, commissioners will hear requests from department heads for their 2027 budgets in October, adopt a draft budget for public vetting and feedback in November, then finalize it in December, all in public meetings with resident input welcome.
“In the end, the decision the board will need to make comes down to providing the best and most responsive fire services our residents are accustomed to,” Zadell said.
“I wanted to alert our residents that this is going to be a public discussion in October, and also in our budget meetings, as we move forward and decide what the best next step is for Upper Gwynedd,” she said.
No public comments were fielded on the topic, and the commissioners took no formal action on the regionalization study. During the finance and administration portion of the agenda minutes later, board President Rebecca Moodie announced that budget work sessions to discuss the 2027 financial plan have been scheduled for 11:15 a.m. on Oct. 13 and 4 p.m. on Oct. 22, both at the township administration building.
Board VP Denise Hull then introduced one formal item related to the fire company: a resolution declaring the town’s annual Fire Prevention Week will be commemorated on Oct. 4 through 10.
“This year, the theme is ‘Charge into fire safety,’ safe charging is a superpower. So it’s all different kinds of fire safety, including our computer safety, but it’s a great time of year for all of our fire departments to interact with the public a little more intentionally, and with our schools, and for us to do a shoutout to them, a huge ‘Thank you’ to all of our fire department,” Hull said.
Upper Gwynedd’s commissioners next meet at 7 p.m. on Oct. 6 and 12, both at the township administration building, 1 Parkside Place; for more information visit www.UpperGwynedd.org.
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