By Veronica Slaught
The Star-Ledger via The Eastern Express Times
LEBANON TWP., Pa. — The township’s volunteer rescue squad is taking officials to court following a township committee decision to rescind the squad’s duties and give them to the fire department.
The volunteer squad alleges the public was not given any notice of the committee’s action, which was taken April 7.
“They gave us no explanation whatsoever,” said Tino DeSantis, assistant squad captain. “We have sufficient staff, 10- to 11-minute response times. ... Everything shows we were doing our job.”
After the meeting, firefighters trespassed to intimidate squad members and ransack their headquarters, leaving with both ambulances, DeSantis said.
Fire Chief Warren Gabriel, one of three firefighters who went to squad headquarters, denied any intention to intimidate. “The feud isn’t between the fire department and the squad ... it’s between the squad and the township committee,” he said.
The township has stated the squad’s equipment is public property because it was bought with tax dollars and donations. The squad disagrees, saying it is a private, nonprofit and serves areas beyond the township.
The rescue squad and committee are scheduled to appear May 14 before Superior Court Judge Peter Buchsbaum at the Hunterdon County Justice Center.
The township and the squad have been in a dispute about money. The squad, which has 40 volunteers and received 533 calls last year, hired paid staff in November for daytime coverage. According to squad captain Ken Ader, some committee members were opposed to the move, which resulted in billing residents.
“We’ve been talking to the town for a number of years to get this straightened out and it looked like everything was coming to a good end,” said Committeeman Frank Morrison, who voted against the resolution.
The resolution to take away the squad’s EMS duties came out of the blue, he said.
“It’s outrageous, it’s a shame,” Morrison said.
Committee member Patricia Shriver, who voted in favor of the resolution, said her attorney advised her not to talk.
The township’s only public comment is at the bottom of its website: “We have consolidated Fire and EMS under the auspices of the LTVFD (Lebanon Township Volunteer Fire Department). We are confident that this move will streamline the provision of Emergency Service while insuring fiscally responsible oversight and quality emergency care.”
Mayor Jay Weeks and Committeeman George Piazza, who both voted to shut the squad, did not return calls.
Committeeman Brian Wunder, who did not vote because he resigned from the squad last month, called the township’s decision “a big mistake.”
“I think it’s reckless and dangerous,” Wunder said. Of the dispute, he said, "... The public needs to be aware of what’s going on and they need to come out to the meeting because the committee really tried to sneak one over them.”
A public hearing was adjourned last week after nearly 150 residents showed up. It has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. May 3 at Woodglen School, 70 Bunnvale Road.
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