Luzerne considers new ordinance
LUZERNE TWP. – Supervisors are considering a new ordinance that will require the township’s five fire departments to provide information to the township, including a list of membership. According to Emergency Services Director DJ Angelone, the township has requested the information for some time, but has not had the full cooperation from the departments. He expects the ordinance to spark some cooperation.
“The information has not been filed through us. The big thing we are concerned with is workers’ compensation,” Angelone said. “Basically the whole ordinance surrounds the information being filed through us.”
Supervisor Ron DeSalvo said he hopes the ordinance will bring about better cooperation from the fire departments.
Angelone said the ordinance was developed so the township has the proper information filed for insurance purposes, workers’ compensation claims and also as a way for the township to know exactly what services are available to the township.
He said the township has requested the same information as part of its normal procedure, but this marks the first time they’ve requested information through an ordinance.
According to DeSalvo, the ordinance should benefit both the township as well as the fire departments.
“It does benefit the fire companies, as far as them being able to bill insurance companies for responding to house fires or other emergency responses,” DeSalvo said.
DeSalvo said it is the responsibility of the township to provide fire protection and, therefore, the township provides certain insurance coverage to the departments. The ordinance officially recognizes five fire departments as the township’s primary fire and emergency response organizations, including the following volunteer fire departments: Tower Hill 2, Luzerne Township, Isabella, Hiller and Allison 2.
Hiller VFD and Fayette EMS are recognized in the ordinance as the township’s emergency medical response teams.
According to the eight-page ordinance, the required information will allow the township to provide a comprehensive emergency response plan for the township; maintain workers’ compensation for the township’s emergency services and local governmental immunities and to continue to provide the primary fire vehicle liability and casualty insurance.
The ordinance requests a list of fire department members, the department’s apparatus drivers with a photocopy of driver’s license and members authorized to use blue lights.
The ordinance also requests a notice of injuries or deaths to emergency personnel while on duty within three days of the incident, complete fire incident reports, a report of all traffic accidents involving any fire apparatus, a current list of specialty fire operations and/or rescue equipment carried by fire departments and an annual certified list of fire police nominated to the township.
If the fire departments fail to provide the requested information the ordinance allows for the township to suspend the departments, but Angelone does not expect any problems.
“We had a preliminary draft discussion with the fire chiefs at a special meeting and reviewed the ordinance, and besides some language, no fire chief voiced great opposition and seemed pleased with the ordinance. Some said they see a need for an ordinance,” Angelone said, adding that the supervisors and not the Office of Emergency Services will enforce the ordinance.
Angelone added that the ordinance in no way is designed to govern the fire departments or suppress any of their current activities.
“The supervisors have made it clear, they do not want to make this a dictatorship and I can concur. Actually, if you read the ordinance, the office of emergency services has a greater responsibility to the five fire departments than the departments have to the township,” Angelone said.
“We have five excellent fire departments. I think this ordinance though will help out in the future with new developments such as the prison coming.”
The ordinance is on file at the township municipal building and is available for review between 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Supervisors will vote on the ordinance at its reorganization meeting at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 6.