Jan. 24--A cooperative fire protection agreement between Hazleton and West Hazleton came a step closer to becoming a reality on Wednesday.
The agreement could possibly expand to include neighboring Hazle Township, pending talks between city fire Chief Donald Leshko and township Chief Scott Kostician.
Hazleton City Council voted 4-0 Wednesday when approving an intermunicipal cooperation agreement that would allow firefighters from the city and West Hazleton to assist one another in major emergencies.
In the absence of city council Vice President Keith Bast, council approved a resolution that authorizes the city to execute the agreement. In an attempt to control costs, the governing body approved an amendment presented by Councilman Jack Mundie that bars either community from having to pay overtime as a result of the agreement.
"If this results in any overtime, I will be totally against it," Mundie said. "I just don't want it to cost Hazleton taxpayers (additional money)."
Although city council ratified the agreement on Wednesday, it does not become effective without approval from officials in West Hazleton. Borough council will vote on the pact on Feb. 12.
Leshko also said he plans to discuss the arrangement with Kostician, with the version approved Wednesday making no reference to Hazle Township.
A key provision of the intermunicipal cooperation agreement gives borough and city fire crews the ability to "continue to meet and discuss a long-term plan to deliver fire protection on a regional basis," Leshko said.
Leshko said the intermunicpal agreement is an important first step in working to develop a possible regional department.
"Our goal is to have one modern building, with both West Hazleton and our station combined," Leshko said. "And (to) put it in the most feasible location."
If approved by the borough, the agreement allows Hazleton and West Hazleton fire crews to make equipment and personnel available to one another, provided those services do not result in staffing shortages, overtime costs or operational issues.
Leshko told city council that city and borough fire officials will continue exploring a regional force with officials from the state Department of Community and Economic Development -- and have been talking with officials from York Area United Fire and Rescue, which has regionalized six years ago.
When asked by Councilman Kevin Schadder, Leshko said the agreement doesn't differ much from a "verbal agreement" the city has with West Hazleton and McAdoo, which have worked together on incidents in the past.
The city has also teamed with the township when conducting "joint dispatch" for incidents that happen along Club 40 Road and 22nd Street, Leshko noted.
Police vehicles
With council approving a city budget earlier this year that was balanced with a 45 percent property tax increase and cuts to various departments -- including police -- council members publicly grilled police Chief Frank DeAndrea over a proposal to enter a $196,921.75 lease-purchase agreement for new police vehicles.
DeAndrea, however, said the 2013 police budget has always contained a $44,160 minor capital purchase line item for a vehicle lease -- and the agreement will cost about $42,000 per year.
When directed by council to cut the police budget, DeAndrea said he decided to eliminate roughly $125,000 reserved for salary and benefits for hiring two police officers. No other part of the police budget was impacted by cuts, he said.
The lease-purchase of five new Ford Interceptor sport-utility vehicles will save the city on fuel and vehicle repair costs, the chief said.
Financing will be available at 3.3 percent interest and the city will enter a separate lease-purchase agreement for each SUV, DeAndrea said. That way, if the city defaults on a loan or if the police department budget falls short on making annual payments, Ford would not take the entire fleet of lease vehicles away from Hazleton, DeAndrea said.
The arrangement contains no financial penalties or added fees in the event of a default, DeAndrea noted.
A sport-utility vehicle costs about $3,300 more than a Ford sedan, he said. Each vehicle will be street-ready, meaning they will be outfitted with new radios, light bars, emergency lettering and other equipment.
Council approved the agreement 4-0. Vehicles could be delivered in three months at the soonest, the chief said.
Copyright 2013 - Standard-Speaker, Hazleton, Pa.
