SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - The wait for a new fire protection agreement between Schuylkill Haven and North Manheim Township is over.
In a unanimous vote Wednesday, Schuylkill Haven's borough council approved the agreement effective Jan. 1, 2013, and expiring Dec. 31, 2014. The North Manheim Township supervisors had already approved the agreement.
The current fire protection agreement would have expired Dec. 31 because Schuylkill Haven decided not to extend it earlier this year. The agreement divided North Manheim Township's fire protection fund equally among six municipalities - North Manheim Township, the boroughs of Schuylkill Haven, Orwigsburg, Landingville and Cressona and the City of Pottsville - as annual compensation for the municipalities' fire companies responding to emergency calls in the township.
The three Schuylkill Haven fire companies are responsible for most of North Manheim Township, according to a map of the assigned coverage areas. As a result, the borough fire companies respond to substantially more calls each year but were paid the same as the other fire companies.
In bringing up the proposed agreement Wednesday night, borough Manager Scott Graver said, "I do recommend that we approve that agreement as it now is read."
There was very little discussion on the matter Wednesday night before the agreement was approved.
Negotiations on the newly approved contract have been ongoing for months.
Schuylkill Haven Councilman Donald Gerber said the final product was an effort by several people, including Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125.
"It's not a perfect agreement but it is a step in the right direction," Gerber said.
Among other things, the agreement states the borough will provide "first-call response for the fighting of fire and dealing with similar emergencies customarily handled by fire companies," within a certain portion of the township. The agreement refers to a map of the coverage area but the map was not provided.
"First-call response," according to the agreement, is defined as structure fires and vehicle incidents in which the Schuylkill County Communications Center dispatches fire units.
Responding to downed trees or fallen limbs is not covered unless they are associated with a "common emergency" like a blizzard or hurricane, the agreement states.
Furthermore, the borough would provide as needed for fighting fires and other responses in the township that are normally handled by fire companies as dictated by the Southern Schuylkill Mutual Aid Association or by the Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency.
Schuylkill Haven will be paid two-sevenths of the net revenue from the 0.5-mill fire tax on all non-exempt real estate after necessary expenditures or requirements are allotted for, such as fire hydrant rental fees.
After the meeting, Graver said the borough could see as much as an extra $4,000 a year because of the new agreement.
The two-sevenths figure is "something the township requested of us," Graver said but didn't elaborate.
Tobash, who was sitting in the audience Wednesday night, thanked everyone involved.
"It's a regional effort. There's a lot of communities involved in this and it's the best thing for the citizens of the region, and I commend Schuylkill Haven Borough for playing a big part in the safety of our citizens ... Without the emergency responders, we would not be talking about this right now, so they absolutely have the biggest part to play in this and I thank them for their service, and I thank you for recognizing that they do good work for us."
Of the new agreement, council President Marlin Berger Jr. said, "we are satisfied at the present moment."
"I'm just glad that the matter's resolved," borough solicitor Mark Semanchik said.
"I'm happy that it's resolved and now we'll have time to look at it and fine tune it" for the future, said Mayor Mike Devlin.
Charles Reed, fire police captain for the borough, was also relieved that the agreement was approved.
"I'm just happy that it's settled and over and done with for the next two years," he said.