PA Borough Closing Fire Station to Hire Police

Dec. 11--PLYMOUTH, PA-- It looks like one of three fire stations in the borough will close next year after all.

Plymouth borough council on Sunday decided to advertise a 2018 budget that calls for more police and fewer paid firefighters next year. Bolstering the borough's police presence to fight a sharp increase in crime is Plymouth's most urgent need, council members said.

At the end of a contentious meeting that saw residents and council members spar over how to provide essential emergency services without a large tax hike, council President Gary Kochinski said the budget council will advertise for adoption includes:

A 7.4 percent property tax increase, which would increase by $26.66 the annual tax paid on a property at the borough median value of $63,481. The millage rate would increase from 5.70 mills to 6.12 mills.
Hiring more police officers, with the goal of four full-time officers and eight part-time officers providing a 25 percent increase in police coverage in Plymouth.
Laying off one full-time paid fire truck driver and reducing the work hours of part-time paid drivers, leaving nighttime and weekend shifts to be covered by volunteer drivers. Paid drivers currently provide around-the-clock coverage.
Closing Goodwill Hose Company No. 2, the fire station on West Main Street, as of Jan. 1. Plymouth's other two fire stations would provide full coverage for the borough.

Sunday's decision reversed the course of the debate over whether council should close Goodwill Hose Company to save about $6,200 in next year's budget.

The first two 2018 budget proposals council considered called for closing the fire station. That sparked protests from borough residents worried about public safety. Following mostly negative reaction at a standing-room-only council meeting two weeks ago, council members submitted new budget proposals that called for Goodwill Hose Company to stay open.

On Sunday, Kochinski said council changed its mind again based on both the immediate financial savings and the long-term need to consolidate fire coverage in Plymouth.

Councilman Frank Coughlin said he agonized over whether to support the reduction in paid driver coverage and the potential closing of a fire station.

"If I had my way I would give these guys a raise and not cut anyone," Coughlin said.

The spike in drug-related and violent crime makes hiring more police officers imperative, according to Coughlin.

"I see drug activity all over town," he said. "Hard decisions have to be made. ... It comes down to hard choices."

Firefighters and borough residents pleaded with council not to close the station or reduce fire coverage. Some urged council members to support an alternate budget proposal, that called for hiring more police officers but leaving fire stations and manpower unchanged, along with a 17.9 percent tax increase.

"We need more police and we need fire companies exactly the way they are," said borough resident Charles Lewis. "If it takes more in tax money, that's what we have to do."

Joshua Evans, a member of Goodwill Hose Company and a police officer in Larksville, for the second time in two weeks told council that closing the fire station would be a mistake. Evans urged council to make budget cuts anywhere else, if needed, but to keep all of the borough's emergency services running at full strength.

"You need a strong police department," Evans said. "You already have a strong fire department. Don't minimize that."

Council will vote on the final budget proposal on Dec. 31, Kochinski said.