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MILL HALL -- The Mill Hall Fire Company is working towards required training measures.
The fire company recently rejected a letter sent to them, via Mill Hall Borough Council, requesting they meet training requirements. Such requirements include CPR and first aid. The company has recently been unable to do a majority of lifting assists in the area due to a lack of training. However, an ambulance is the first call for such events by the communication center. Goodwill Hose Fire Company has recently stepped up to answer lifting assist calls as a secondary responder.
During Tuesday's monthly meeting, Mayor Thomas Bossert announced the rejected letter by the fire company.
"The letter this council prepared and sent to the fire company -- in good faith -- was an encouragement to meet a goal that we all understand and is necessary. The response from the fire company was that they rejected the letter," he said.
The reasons for the rejection, according to council president Dan McCloskey, was due to the letter coming from the safety committee. He reiterated that council is the safety committee.
The other reason was due to McCloskey's illegible signature in the letter.
Bossert deemed the company's response as "immature."
"It is a struggle and a positive note by the council to reach or attain a goal that we all know is necessary," he said.
The only thing the fire company wanted to know was what would happen if they did not meet the training requirements, according to McCloskey. The company has a six month period, until Nov. 1, to meet training requirements -- with flexibility.
"We requested questions and concerns, so that we could get everything aired out. The only thing they wanted to know was what would happen to them if they didn't meet the training requirements. We wrote the letter to the fire company, letting them know they hit the six month mark and they had till Nov. 1 to meet those requirements; and that if they weren't met, then the borough was prepared to deal with them at that time," McCloskey explained.
Borough council did not give the fire company members a specific breakdown of what would occur after Nov. 1.
According to McCloskey, the letter sent to the fire company did indicate if somebody is trying to get the required training and they are not going to be able to make it by the deadline, the borough is flexible. The borough will address those instances when they come up.
"It is not cut and dry that by Nov. 1 you don't have them. If you are demonstrating that you are going to get them, I think this council is flexible enough that we will work with the person," he said.
Mill Hall Fire Chief, Tony Walker, clarified the fire company is in the works of training and receiving necessary certifications.
"Through the county's training committee we have, we are trying to take some steps -- not only for Mill Hall but the whole county in general -- to meet more of the requirements," he said.
The fire company is also working on training requirements that go beyond the borough's requirements. Such as requirements that other companies in the county have in place.
Last week the fire company members took CPR training, according to Walker. They are in the works of first aid training as well.
Until more members are trained, Flemington will continue to pick up lift assisting if an ambulance cannot, Walker said.
"Until we get all of these little things worked out to get our people trained," he said.
The Mill Hall Fire Company can still do lift assisting, but is limited at this time.
In other business, supervisors voted to approve ordinance No. 05-23-2023 for the vacation of a portion of Jay Street between Wasson Street and West Church Street. A hearing was held prior to the borough's regularly scheduled meeting by solicitor Paul Ryan. No public comment was made regarding vacating the portion of roadway.
Council also approved a $10,000 down payment for the police department cruiser loan to keep the payment budgeted rate of a $634 monthly payment for five years. Along with the approval, council voted to approve a loan update with First Citizens Community Bank for $32,000 with payment of about $34 per month for five years. There will be an interest rate of 6.1 percent, according to Ryan.
The police cruiser was obtained and is in possession of the Mill Hall Police Department, according to Chief Brandon Coleman. He said it will be going out for decaling next week.
Last Friday and Saturday, the Tri County Church volunteered to repaint the Mill Hall Community pool house. McCloskey, with the help of Councilmember Derek Berry, facilitated the volunteer effort with the church.
"Whoever created that opportunity, you did an outstanding job," congratulated Bossert.