Luzerne Township to continue ‘dual response roles of Fayette, Hiller EMS
LUZERNE TWP.-The Luzerne Township supervisors have decided to continue “dual response” from Fayette and Hiller EMS in the township. Supervisors said, during their regular meeting, that the Hiller Ambulance situation had been settled.
Through a prepared statement, the supervisors said that a private meeting held Monday between the township’s EMS providers and Brownsville EMS “did not produce evidence of a deficit in patient care or prolonged response times.”
The issue, which has been a hot topic at the last couple of township meetings, was not discussed at Thursday’s meeting.
The supervisors’ decision to continue dual response means that Fayette EMS and Hiller Volunteer Ambulance Service are the primary emergency service providers in the township. Both are called to respond to emergencies in Hiller, East Millsboro and LaBelle areas. If both life-support teams cannot answer the call then Brownsville Ambulance is called.
Richard Lenk Jr., supervisor of the Brownsville Ambulance, a full-time ambulance provider, has disputed the supervisors’ decision to change to dual response.
It used to be that Brownsville Ambulance was Hiller’s backup network and responded to calls in Hiller, East Millsboro and LaBelle when and if Hiller, a volunteer emergency-response team, could not.
The initial change came after Brownsville Ambulance complained to township supervisors that Hiller was not answering a number of their calls.
The supervisors have concluded that they believe all issues and complaints are the result of “internal conflicts.”
“To this date, there had been no written complaints to the Township of Luzerne regarding the same (deficit in patient care). All existing issues between Hiller VFC and Brownsville EMS are internal and must be dealt with at their organizational level,” the statement read. “The Office of Emergency Services has recommended in writing to the board of supervisors that the dual response of Hiller EMS and Fayette EMS should remain. The inquiry has concluded.”
In other business, supervisor Ron DeSalvo said, in response to complaints about state routes 4020 and 4022 or Academy and Hopewell roads and Alicia/LaBelle roads, respectively, that those roads will be repaired.
Rod Schad, a township resident complained that the roads are too dangerous, with potholes along the edges of the roads, causing drivers to drive in the middle of the road. Schad said he is concerned that the situation will worsen once the prison is open.
“The road is horrible from here to the prison, with everyone hugging the middle line. It’s horrible at night with lights, shining and you can’t see. Everyone is trying to avoid the potholes on the side,” Schad said.
DeSalvo said he met with officials from SCI-Fayette and PennDOT, who assured him that they planned to repair both roads before the prison opens.
“They are not going to lay four inches of black top, but the maintenance will be good enough for the traveling pubic,” DeSalvo said, noting that the roads are on the state budget for more thorough repair next year.
In other business, supervisors:
– Announced a public meeting to discuss the Redstone/Luzerne Township comprehensive plan on Thursday, June 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Redstone Knitting Guild in Penn Craft.
Schad pointed out that it is important that residents attend this meeting.
He explained that information received at this meeting will help to determine how they will designate areas for an industrial park, agriculture development and condensed housing.
Maps will be available at this meeting and all residents are welcome to attend.
– Agreed to hire Greg Downer as a part-time employee at a rate of $9.50 until he takes office. In the recent primary election Downer was unofficially voted the township’s next supervisor to replace Supervisor Bill Baker.