Trending
Williamsport City Council Public Safety Committee discussed a resolution authorizing an intermunicipal fire services agreement introduced by Sam Aungst, chief of the Williamsport Bureau of Fire.
The agreement is between Williamsport Bureau of Fire, Old Lycoming Township, Old Lycoming Township Fire Company, Susquehanna Township and Nisbet Fire Co., he said.
The purpose is to off-set the overtime at the city fire headquarters, he said.
The agreement is designed to help the city with its fire department budget and be fair across the board, he said.
"We have been working on this for the better part of this year," Aungst said.
"We do not anticipate a lot of calls," he said of the smaller communities the city helps out with during working fires.
The agreement was reviewed by the Susquehanna Township solicitor and they are anticipating a vote on it at an upcoming township meeting, Aungst said.
"Is this a new agreement?" asked Councilman Vincent Pulizzi.
"It is a little bit new," Aungst said. "It is not the same thing we have with Old Lycoming, which staffs Engine 14-1 with two city firefighters who respond to all incidents in Old Lycoming Township," he said.
"This would be for a working incident such as a structure fire," he said. "In that event, (they) would reimburse us $450 and Old Lycoming Township $150," he said.
Pulizzi said he was a bit disappointed that an agreement like this had not been in place for many years before.
Aungst noted how a lot of the nearby departments that the city responds to also reciprocate and help the city out when needed.
"We have something formally in writing," Pulizzi said, of the difference with an agreement.
"We make sure we are not eating all of the costs, which has been the thing for years," Councilwoman Bonnie Katz said.
"We are continuing to work for a more regional approach that is fair across the board," Aungst said.
Councilman Jon Mackey, committee chair, asked about the fee schedule.
"The per-call fee is $600, which covers the first three hours of every incident and after three hours it is an extra $200 per hour?" Mackey asked, reading from the proposed agreement. "Who is keeping track of the time and is it on a sliding scale?" he asked.
For example, "should an incident run for three and a half hours, are they gonna pay us the money for going over?" Mackey asked.
"It would be if the city overtime guys are there for say three and a half hours," Aungst said. "That extra hour, we would probably charge $100 dollars," he said.
When we discussed this we did this on a per-hour basis."
Mackey said he would be more comfortable voting on it if it were codified in writing, to prevent any confusion moving ahead and was assured that the time of incidents are recorded at the 911 Center.
Aungst said the agreement is worded in a manner so that any incident that extends beyond three hours is tabulated on an hourly basis.
Additionally, if any incident is found not to be working fire, such as steam from a dryer vent, and Williamsport Bureau of Fire is recalled, there will be no fee assessed to the township or Nisbet Fire Co.
Moreover, WBF will not call any off-duty firefighters until it is confirmed that the incident is a working structure fire.
An updated version of the agreement will be given to council.