MACUNGIE, Pa. — Months after Macungie Volunteer Fire Department failed to produce a requested audit and council members voiced suspicions of mismanagement, the borough officially has a new designated fire service.
Lower Macungie Fire Department will serve the borough as its officially designated fire protection unit starting in January.
Macungie Borough Council on Monday unanimously approved an ordinance and deal with Lower Macungie Township, and Lower Macungie Township supervisors approved their side of the deal Thursday.
An agreement of understanding is required because funds will be being directed to Lower Macungie Fire Department through the township, and because of the mixed ownership of firefighting equipment between the township and the fire company, which is a separate entity.
"We just don't want to take the chance," Macungie Council President Ron Karboski said. "And this body, council, wants to ensure that the homes here are protected."
At a meeting in early December, Karboski and other council members pointed to suspicions grown over months that Macungie Volunteer Fire Department had mismanaged finances and had an unclear number of members available to respond to emergencies.
Concerns resulted in Lehigh County Emergency Services dispatch in recent months sending nearby fire companies to assist during all calls in the borough because of concerns about staffing and potential response times, according to council.
The fire company previously came under fire from the borough in 2017 after a borough-ordered report cited a lack of faith because of errors, disrespectful behavior and not responding to calls.
The report similarly recommended using neighboring fire departments to fill voids and for the borough to take greater oversight.
The agreement with Lower Macungie Township is set for three years, automatically extending in one-year terms unless notified of an intent to terminate.
It states that Lower Macungie Fire Department officers and municipal officials agree to meet annually to review services, and would require them all to meet if there are complaints related to fire protection and rescue services.
"We thank the borough, the fire department as well, for their continued efforts in making not only our community safe, but the residents of Macungie," Lower Macungie Borough Manager Bruce Beitel said.
A similar agreement exists between Lower Macungie Township and Alburtis, according to Lower Macungie fire officials during a presentation in August to Macungie about its services.
The presentation detailed how the borough would be served from the company's operational centers in Alburtis, Wescosville and primarily Brandywine.
Borough and fire company officials said this month they aren't sure what will happen to the assets of the Macungie Volunteer Fire Department in the long term after the swap.
Borough fire costs to increase in 2024
The borough will give the township $90,000 a year, split into two payments in April and October, in addition to Pennsylvania Volunteer Fire Relief passthrough payments from the state.
The agreement is reflected in the borough's 2024 budget.
An additional one-time contribution to the township of $10,000 also is listed for capital improvements to the fire department in the first year of service.
Under recent borough budgets, the fire company was allocated $50,000 annually split into halves.
Payments by the borough will be to the township, going toward insurance costs, recruitment and retention incentive programs, station utilities, maintenance and operations expenses, and vehicle and equipment replacement programs.
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Annual funding adjustments may occur up to 5% from the prior annual amount, with 90 days notice before the end of the year required for any cost increase notice.
Each municipality is listed to be entitled to a full right of reasonable audit.
Council members prompted the borough solicitor to see if there was any potential for insurance reimbursement related to the fire coverage that could be received.
No fire department members present for final vote
Some members of Macungie Volunteer Fire Department, including chief Mike Natysyn, were present at prior meetings, but none voiced any concern or complaint at the meeting to finalize the swap.
Borough Manager John Brown said no additional communications were received from Natysyn nor other members of Macungie Volunteer Fire Department between the ordinance's introduction and the final vote, of which the department was notified.
Natysyn had said a group of former fire company volunteers took funds from the department and told the borough council incorrectly that others had quit the fire department and that it was shut down.
He said there's active litigation involving some former members and the department has been "fully active" and fully staffed with 15 to 18 members, and said it was not unusual for some members to live outside of the municipality where they volunteer.
Natysyn also said, in regard to the withholding of half of the annual borough funds in August by the borough, it was a primary cause for invoices brought up as a concern by the council to go unpaid.
Council members, however, were convinced it was time to move forward with their plans, citing the lack of a complete verified audit as requested, as well as other concerns.
Borough council members also discussed the removal of Natysyn from the borough's emergency management coordinator position because of "lack of confidence," but didn't pursue the change officially to allow the borough solicitor to review proper procedure.
Discussed to potentially fill the role and present was assistant chief and former Copley emergency management coordinator Timothy Keller.
"We just hear more different things going on," Councilman Greg Hutchison said. "You know, they owe this money, that money, this money, and people quit.
"The fire company was really good years ago."
"We have assets around them that would allow us to easily help protect the borough," Lower Macungie Fire Department President Joe Thompson said in August.
"We already run around 700 calls a year, so adding another 70 is not really going to mess us up too much."
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