Fire Department Consolidation Moving Along

As the meeting was winding to a close on Tuesday, Councilman Dave Gautreau (R-East) brought a big issue to the table in his role as fire department liaison.

For 18 months, the borough has been encouraging consolidation efforts. Gautreau read a prepared statement that went over progress made and how the three fire companies may shake out after the consolidation.

“I would like to recognize Phoenix Hook and Ladder No. 1 as our sole provider of fire and rescue services within the borough of Phoenixville,” Gautreau said. “They will man fire apparatus with a combination of volunteer and paid drivers and firefighters. Their responsibility will not be limited to fire suppression, rescue and hazardous material instances.”

West End Fire Company will still be part of Phoenixville Fire Department and will solely provide EMS services, Gautreau said. Friendship Fire Company will not be part of the Phoenixville Fire Department but will be an emergency services provider for the borough.

“They chose not to be part of our fire department,” Gautreau said of Friendship.

However, Friendship Fire will still house apparatus for dive and water rescue and will still provide dive and water rescue services to the borough.

Gautreau said when he started on council in January 2010 and when he took over as fire department liaison, the chief and deputy chiefs were very concerned about the state of affairs and told Gautreau that if changes were not made, the borough could face a disaster.

Lately, representatives from the three departments along with their relief representatives have been meeting to hash out details of the consolidation efforts. Gautreau commended them for working together to come to a solution.

Following a statement, Gautreau read a motion he asked council to pass regarding the role of Friendship Fire as an emergency services provider for dive and water rescues.

Borough Manager Jean Krack asked for some clarification at that point, noting that the motion on the table would conflict with language already in borough ordinances. Gautreau rephrased the motion into a statement of intent to give direction to borough staff to work on getting the ordinance rewritten.

“It’s going to take some work,” Krack said.

The motion on making Friendship the dive and rescue services provider passed 6-1, with Councilman Marc Reber (R-Middle) voting against it and Councilman James Evans (D-North) absent.

When it came to the West End motion, Gautreau said West End would still be a part of Phoenixville Fire Department and read a statement of intent that went into specifics like how the service would be staffed, lease details for the use of three bays at West End and more.

Council President Richard Kirkner (D-North) said he wouldn’t be voting for the motion.

“As a statement of intent it is way too specific,” Kirkner said.

Council Vice President Kendrick Buckwalter (R-West) agreed. Mike Speck, who represents the East Ward and serves as a firefighter, said council should move forward.

“This process has been going on for 18 months, and this is the direction that council needs to provide the department,” Speck said.

The vote on the original, detailed statement failed 3-4, with Reber and Councilwoman Jennifer Mayo (D-Middle) joining Buckwalter and Kirkner in dissent.

Gautreau came up with a broader statement of intent, and that passed 6-1, with Reber the lone "no" vote.