Kari Steinbacher

Mill Hall

This is in response to the article printed on July 25 about the Mill Hall Volunteer Fire Company not “complying.”

Here we go again with another one-sided story between the MH Fire Chief, his position as President of MH Borough Council and lastly the President of the Clinton County Fireman’s Association who talks about all the training he has taken but yet has not encouraged the members he is leading to take. Let’s not forget to mention the trust that the Fire Company had for him to be the spokesman for them.

The answers that were received back were twisted past what is stated in the article. The dates may be accurate but the conversations references were certainly not.

There was supposed to be a 3rd party between the Fire Company and the MH Borough Council to act as a mediator so there was a neutral playing field and so things were being perceived and received correctly. This was going to be handled by the DCED. The DCED sent a survey to the Fire Company and the MH Borough. Information was brought back to the Fire Company from the chief that the MH Borough Council at the present time was not taking the survey due to too many deep-rooted questions. So, in turn, the Fire Company did not fill out the survey either.

Then another MH Council meeting was held throwing the Fire Company to the wolves for not complying and filling out the survey. Another “strike” on the Fire Company’s side.

The whole debate between the Fire Company and the MH Borough started from a power trip with a certain individual who did not get what they wanted when the Fire Company was following their by-laws and going through the proper channels instead of taking shortcuts.

Then, a committee created by the MH Borough Council was changed from being only a police committee to a safety committee because the MH Borough Council felt if they have to oversee the police department, they should involve the fire company as well. Keep in mind this safety committee was created to save the MH Borough Council 5 percent on their workers compensation insurance.

But, to earn that 5 percent discount, select rules needed to be followed by the MH Borough Council from the insurance to consider it effective. No one knows if that is being up held.

Another fact that involved the former secretary of the MH Borough. Information on the workers compensation was requested by the fire company and it was denied. Keep in mind, the fire company members are considered employees for MH Borough under their worker’s compensation insurance so as “employees” they are entitled to know said information.

We should consider the MH Borough be investigated for how they run things and do like the MH Borough Councils in the past have done and allow the fire company to run their INCORPORATED company by their regulations. Some members have been in the fire community as members for 40+ years and are still working to keep their training up to date.

Let’s give a little history on the chief himself who proclaims proudly to have all the trainings required in the ordinance completed. He is retired so all of the trainings he has completed, he is taking HIMSELF. He has time for these classes. Unlike other members, who have full time jobs, families and other additional activities with their families. It was also stated in a MH Borough Council meeting that one of the councilmen trains at work while on their employer’s clock and being paid. This isn’t for their employer’s benefit.

The ORIGINAL training guidelines from the MH Borough ordinance were adopted into the Standard Operating Guidelines of the Fire Company, but let’s not forget that this was recommended or proposed by the chief. The amended ordinance that is being discussed at present has not been. The chief has still not held up his end of the deal to ensure the training is being completed for the company he “leads.” While some of the members still need the training, why not share the knowledge you learned from these classes with the entire company you manage?

This training costs the fire company money if the county doesn’t offer it. The fire company doesn’t have an issue with completing the required training, it’s the time limit to complete it that is unrealistic. Considering outside life events apart from the fire company, some members work 50+ hours a week and make it to a class. The issue is that classes that are needed are scheduled at the same time or if the class isn’t offered in Clinton County, but in a neighboring county, the travel time is too long to make it to the start of class. Members are also not on the same course schedule. Some have years of experience and need a higher level course while others are just starting out. Many of the courses like these are not held at the same time which in turn shows how unrealistic the timeline is.

The fundraising aspect of the fire company is what keeps the doors open and things running. There HAS to be time for it. So where does the extra money come from for the members? The volunteering members have to raise it. Only partial payment has been received by the Fire Company for the insurance as well. MH Borough Council has decided they will not pay the fire company the remainder of the monies until the training has been completed. Why doesn’t the MH Borough use the funds being held hostage to help the fire company pay for the training they require?

Another issue in question is members and retention. The fire company can’t hold onto members because of the toxic environment coming from above and falling through the cracks to make one individual look good. Why is he blaming this on only the members and not himself as well? Isn’t the chief part of the collective? Shouldn’t he point the finger back at himself and ask why people don’t want to join as well? Instead of placing blame?

If there is a call during the day a piece of equipment might respond with two members or maybe three. Some days its driver only. This is another huge deal when it comes to retention. If it weren’t for mutual aid in Clinton County every fire company would be in trouble. It’s not just an issue in the borough. As far as retaining members, a lot of actual members do not respond to calls with Mill Hall but will respond immediately for another company. Volunteering shouldn’t be a pick and choose game.

The toxic environment needs a cure to create a sustainable and enjoyable atmosphere for new members. Not only to retain members but to encourage growth within the Fire Company.

Volunteerism in emergency services refers to the act of donating time and skills, without financial compensation, to support disaster response and recovery efforts. To support the health and recovery of the local community.

How many people in the community have been helped over the many years when their basement was flooded, their house or outbuilding caught on fire, a family member or themselves needed help off the floor when they fell or couldn’t get up or even stopped to say hi or have a conversation with some of the members sitting on the front of the freshly washed trucks taking a break on a Thursday night? Where did the comradery between community members and fire company members go? The toxic environment needs to end within the organization and the community needs to know there are two sides to every story not just one. One that gives the community insight, documentation to support ALL the decisions being made within the MH Borough Council for the betterment of the borough AND its citizens and not only to make themselves look good because they hold a title. One that doesn’t have a huge conflict of interest being president of the MH Borough AND chief of the fire company he is trying to destroy. Where is the fair game at? What about the Fire Company as a whole? Not only the active Firefighters but the associate members as well? What is the ultimate hidden agenda? Because I bet the members of the Mill Hall Volunteer Fire Company and the Mill Hall citizens would love to know.