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‘Revolutionary’ fire, rescue deal halfway sealed

Under the banner of Susquehanna Mutual Aid Regional Team, or SMART, the dwindling manpower of the South Williamsport Volunteer Fire Department was given new legs this week.

Officials involved in a proposed five-year cooperative agreement with Loyalsock Township and its fire department have labeled it as revolutionary and one that could incorporate future municipal partners to provide fire and rescue services for their communities.

South Williamsport Borough Council approved the proposal earlier this week and township supervisors continue to review it as minor revisions get ironed out.

The agreement, a copy of which was provided to the Sun-Gazette, includes provisions for paid fire protection and rescue services that funds the departments and apparatus and equipment through existing fire taxes.

"This is not novel," said Steven W. Cappelli, borough manager and public safety director. "It's been talked about," he said.

Mechanism to move ahead

The cooperative fire agreement, meanwhile, creates a legal mechanism to provide sufficient funding to the participating fire companies from participating municipalities and other third party sources, he said.

SMART will begin with an initial paid staff of five fully trained firefighters and rescue responders consisting of four full-time, 40-hour-per-week positions, Monday through Friday, with one shared administrative position providing the administrative oversight for the services administered under the SMART program, according to the terms.

The four full-time positions will be assigned into two separate firefighter crews, with one crew to be stationed at Loyalsock Township, and with one crew to be stationed at South Williamsport Volunteer Fire Department.

The agreement provides necessary personnel, training, and equipment required to supplement the participating fire companies with paid firefighters that will provide for adequate paid fire protection and rescue services within the participating municipalities.

SMART was created with assistance from solicitors in both communities so that it can grow to include other fire services and municipalities that wish to participate, Cappelli said.

He said in an emergency stop-gap measure, the city of Williamsport's Bureau of Fire on March 4 began assisting South Williamsport Fire Department on fire and rescue calls for 90 days.

Borough officials were very grateful for this existing mutual aid to be enacted as this new cooperative agreement was being drafted.

"This enables the South Williamsport Volunteer Fire Department to be able to fund a first response and be a provider to the citizens firefighters and rescue personnel who are paid who are working with volunteers as one unified entity," Cappelli said.

Bleeding of manpower

The need could not be greater for the volunteers who were hemorrhaging in terms of fire and rescue personnel.

"Our department is in dire straits as far as manpower and that is not to take away from the history that volunteers have done for this community and the heroism they've provided," said Tyler Dickson, South Williamsport Volunteer Fire Department Chief.

"It's going to protect the community long-term," he said.

The hemorrhaging of manpower is a complex situation involving life changes.

"We have members who are getting older and physically can't do the job any more," he said.

Additionally, the scenario includes younger professionals choosing to leave the area, move out of the county, he explained.

Had the council not voted in favor of SMART the borough fire department would no longer be able to sustain itself and operate, Dickson said.

Currently, two to three members actively run calls, with Dickson one of those individuals who is performing the job of fire chief, firefighter and other supporting roles.

"It's hard for me to be able to get caught up to do my job when we are so far behind," he said.

"Your vote today is going to save lives," "It is 2022. It is time to stop operating with the same business model that Benjamin Franklin did in the 1700s.

"It is time to move forward. This is progressive," Dickson said.

Dickson said he sought advice from various fire chiefs around the country who lamented to him they felt this was a perfect model to potentially grow like a monster.

"We have the ability to affect change for the borough," Dickson said. "We have the ability to affect change for this county and for every other fire department and that is what matters most."

He lauded Cappelli who he said approached him when the emergency situation arose and then Dixson said he placed a call to township Fire Co. Chief Mike Minnier.

SMART provides a mechanism by which training can take place, incentivising young men and women interested in fire and rescue services and giving added protection to the community.

"Two political subdivisions jointly working together," Cappelli said smiling as the borough and township begin a journey that could easily incorporate other municipal partners.

It is the immediate intention not to utilize municipal general operating budgets but to fund this with fire tax.

The cooperative agreement is considered by those enacting it to be a first step to begin to address the inherent costs of providing required training and equipment, combined with a dwindling number of qualified volunteers available to provide services as needed on a 24/7 basis.

A fire engine alone today can cost upwards of $1.5 million, for example.

The agreement went through the microscope of the solicitors for the township and borough, Mike Wiley and Joe Orso, respectively.

Under Second Class Township Code and Borough Code, respectively, the authority is given to provide for fire protection and rescue services within their respective municipal boundaries.

The code grants authority to appropriate money for the use of fire companies, for purchase and maintenance of apparatus, for training fire company personnel – to secure fire protection for the inhabitants of these communities.

During the term of the agreement, each participating municipality shall remit an annual payment representing one half of the operating costs and expenses of the SMART program. The township will pay one half and the borough pay half.

The costs will consist of, but not be limited to, salaries and benefits, insurance coverage costs and expense for the insurance coverage The annual budget and budgetary process for the program will be reviewed by the parties. The township is expected to maintain a separate account for the program funds and receipts so that each party may transparently track and review the funds and expenditures, Cappelli noted.

It enables the entities to work cooperatively to jointly seek grants and other funding opportunities to support the goal of the program. End of agreement terms are built in should any party not fulfill its obligations.

Cappelli expressed his appreciation to the borough council, Council President Dave Geise, South Williamsport Mayor Marlin Angelo, township supervisors, including township Board of Supervisors Chairman Marc Sortman, Bill Burdett, township manager, City of Williamsport Bureau of Fire for its assistance since March 4 and the legal team of Wiley and Orso along boards of the fire services.

The agreement will require the vote from township supervisors who heard from the representatives from the fire company Tuesday night and asked for minor revisions, Burdett said.