ARIANNA MCKEE/THE EXPRESS Mill Hall Volunteer Fire Company is pictured.

MILL HALL — The Mill Hall Borough has decided to create a sub committee to evaluate and meet with emergency service providers to find solutions for the borough to fill the requirements of their ordinances.

A battle between the borough and the Mill Hall Volunteer Fire Company has been at a stalemate for years, with neither side budging on expectations.

Tony Walker, fire chief and borough council president, gave a brief overview of the timeline of events during the meeting. Though some of his points were argued by company member Donald Grant, Walker pointed out the statistics he offered could be found in his Chief’s Report in previous years.

The timeline for this issue begins in 2020 when the fire company began working on the ordinance, according to Walker.

The borough adopted an ordinance on June 6, 2022, which required fire company officers to have the proper training certifications.

In November 2022, the company was given a year to achieve the required training.

“In 2023 when we had our ISO report, the fire company did not get very good marks in that. That was reported in a company meeting, if you check the first meeting of May in 2023. We got three zeroes in the fire company. All three of them were training related, we had nothing on paper — nothing for officers, nothing for members to get so many hours of required training in a year. We didn’t have that. There were nine scorable points, we got a 1.39 out of that,” said Walker.

According to Walker there were 50 total points available for the company to receive. The Mill Hall Volunteer Fire Company received a 20.95.

Towards the end of 2023, council voted to start the process of decertifying the company.

When the new council came on in the beginning of 2024, they rescinded that vote and the company members argued a year was not enough time to get the required training.

“We were supposed to have a committee between the borough council and the fire company. There were supposed to be members on each side.That never happened,” said Walker.

In October 2024, council sent a certified letter to the fire company requesting current training records by the December meeting as described in the Mill Hall Borough Ordinance. Council requested to receive these records by Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. in order to have time to review.

At the beginning of 2025, council elected to change the amount it donates to the volunteer fire company.

A unanimous roll call vote (minus Walker, who abstained) was held, with council agreeing to donate $3,000, and then trickle in the remaining amount as training takes place.

The borough wasn’t the only municipality to have concerns about the requirements not being met.

Bald Eagle Township Supervisor Steve Tasselli attended a council meeting in June to hear updates about the fire company.

When Bald Eagle Township held their monthly meeting for July, Tasselli brought back concerns about the lack of movement on the issue. A discussion will be held about the future of funding for the company from the township.

As of July 2025, the company still has not met the requirements asked of them years prior.

“We go through all of 2024, nothing. Here we are again in 2025. That training has been held — just because it wasn’t here in this county — it’s been held,” said Walker.

Grant was in attendance at this month’s meeting to talk to the council on behalf of the fire company.

The argument that unpaid volunteers are struggling to receive the required training due to having full time jobs was brought up again.

“The company is completely volunteer. They all have jobs and families. They try to find these things but they’re mostly not offered,” Grant said.

He gave each council member a list of trainings offered in Clinton County during the year.

“If you compare (the list) you will realize no training was offered that (Mill Hall) required we needed to have. That’s one of the big problems. Of all of the training that we need to fulfil this ordinance, it’s not here,” said Grant.

According to members of council, there are more training events offered at different locations throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Clinton County’s neighbors, Centre and Lycoming, each have training events scheduled throughout the year.

Council also acknowledged the issue of the company being made up of volunteers, but noted the amount of time given to the company to comply.

“People have families. I understand that,” said Council Member Derek Berry, who pointed out council member Michelle Kunes’ husband works at the borough, volunteers for a fire company and has three kids, and still finds time to get the training he needs.

“(Council member Rick) Hetzel has a job. If his job requires him to go get training (he gets it). I understand that it’s volunteer, but if you hang your hat on the fact that you’re a volunteer firefighter, and you take pride in that, then why would you not take pride in getting the training to give yourself a better set of tools to use in any situation?” said Berry.

“You’ve adopted (the ordinances) as your operating guidelines. You yourself are holding yourself accountable for what needs to be done, and you’re not doing it. I just don’t understand. I can’t wrap my head around the fact that there’s no will or want from anybody with the exception of Tony and one or two other people that give a (sic). Yourself included,” he continued.

Berry pointed out the entire purpose of a board of trustees is to make informed decisions on behalf of the fire company and lead them along the path of success.

“You guys are doing a (terrible) job at that. There’s no if, ands or buts about it. You can be upset, but I’m calling a spade a spade. Do your job. Put these guys in a place to win (and) succeed. If you don’t do it, then I suggest that you and the other board of trustees members that can’t do that and aren’t doing it step back and let someone else do it,” said Berry.

He also noted that Flemington is held accountable for following their ordinances put in place.

“They have been given leeway that we don’t have. We were only given a year. We had to ask for it. Flemington has guys in their third year waiting for classes,” Grant said.

“I’ve been here three and a half years waiting for any kind of participation from anybody,” said Berry.

Council member Derek Caris said there has been no participation in those years.

Mill Hall Police Chief Brandon Coleman spoke up, saying at least three of the required trainings were offered in Clinton County on the list Grant provided. Though they were offered, the trainings were not completed.

“I understand that. They’re going to be offered again,” said Grant. “Seventy five percent of our fire fighters had to be at certain levels that were never there before. It’s an unrealistic stat you put in the new ordinance. It seems like every time we turn around the ordinance is being increased.”

Caris said the ordinance follows a specific build up.

“It pretty much starts you out as a junior and it’s just your basic stuff. It’s just working your way up, just as it should be. It’s not just Mill Hall’s company. All companies should be doing that,” said Caris.

“If you look at the 75 percent they’re asking for, it says ‘active’ people. If you would take the active people we have right now, you would have your 75 percent of active people actually going on a call,” said Walker.

Grant noted that some of their members are also active members of other fire companies who choose to not take Mill Hall Volunteer Fire Company calls.

“If everyone has such good ideas here, come on over and take an application and help us out,” said Grant.

Walker noted some of the additions to the ordinance came from a consultant when the new borough council was sworn in at the start of 2024. Council asked for DCED assistance in an attempt to get information.

“All the changes that needed to be made were made at the request of the consultant. As the prior ordinance was written, it didn’t make any sense,” said Walker.

Grant said the consultant was considering full time, paid fire companies in how they operate when expressing what they were looking for. Walker disagreed with that statement.

“(Regarding) having a committee of some sort, something should be there. We aren’t communicating,” said Grant.

Berry urged Grant and other members of the company to attend meetings.

He noted that typically, outside of Tony Walker who is already on council, the other members of the fire department only attend meetings when specifically requested.

“I don’t see any representation other than Tony here on a consistent basis willing to talk, work with and try to make an end to this matter. You guys only show up when you’re asked. You say you don’t know about this, you don’t know about that, we had this discussion last year. I looked at you as you sat in that crowd and told you to please attend any and every meeting you feel is necessary. Guess who I haven’t seen until now?” said Berry.

Grant argued the company feels as though their input is not getting them anywhere.

“You can’t have a conversion with no one here. You have to send some sort of representation other than Tony. He can’t be the middle man for everything,” said Berry.

It was Grant’s opinion that the Mill Hall Borough was “bullying” the fire company.

“Our company feels like the borough is on us for what has been (almost four) years. It doesn’t create any camaraderie, it doesn’t create any incentive for people to come join if we continue to be sort of bullied by our borough. We need to do something in regards to this. You said you wanted to decertify us. We might just say we’re done anyway,” said Grant.

Grant pointed out that it would cost $150,000 for the borough to contract with the City of Lock Haven. When this number was rebuffed, Grant continued, “It’s going to cost you a lot more than $9,000 a year, of which you’ve only paid $3,000 this year because our certifications aren’t where they’re supposed to be. $9,000 a year for fire protection? No.”

“I don’t think you’re being bullied by this council,” said council member Rick Hetzel. “I think this council is doing its job making sure that you do things safely. We protect the public. That’s what we’re sworn to do. We’re making sure you get the training you need so you can do your job when you’re out there performing your duties. I don’t think we’re asking too much. You knew what you were in for when you volunteered.”

One audience member, identified as Skip, pointed out the fact that when he joined the fire company 50 years prior, it was because he wanted to help the community. He said young members aren’t joining anymore.

Walker directly addressed these statements, noting the company as it stands is not promoting retention of members.

“Two weeks ago I went to a recruiting and retention seminar,” said Walker. “There was interesting (information) there. We have a very good habit of chasing people away. We should be trying to retain some of our other members.”

Berry encouraged the company members to self-reflect on why they aren’t getting new members when it seems as though other companies in the area are doing alright with recruiting and retention.

Council, minus Walker, unanimously voted to create the sub committee. Once the vote was cast, Berry read a prepared statement:

“In putting this sub-committee together, Mill Hall Borough Council has great interest in fire protection and emergency services for the residents of Mill Hall Borough. Mill Hall Borough is going to create a sub-committee that is evaluating and going to meet with other emergency service providers to look at possible solutions for the borough to fill the requirements of the borough’s ordinance.”