STOCKERTOWN, Pa.-- Borough council voted unanimously Monday to remove Liberty Hose Fire Co. No. 1 as the borough's authorized fire service provider.
"They have not performed up to the expectations of the borough council," Council Vice President Paul Zaboy said Tuesday, citing problems with the volunteer fire department's finances, communications and organization.
"I don't understand these people," fire Chief Joe Catino Jr. said. "We did a great job."
Borough officials are reviewing the legal requirements for forcing Liberty Hose to vacate its building and social hall, Zaboy said.
"They're going to definitely have to move out," he said.
Council Monday night asked the Northampton County 911 center to establish Forks Township's Fire Department as Stockertown's primary service provider, Zaboy said.
The borough has a mutual aid agreement with Forks and other surrounding municipalities to provide back-up service as needed. Zaboy said he is "very confident" Forks Township will meet the borough's needs while officials decide how to provide permanent coverage. Upper Nazareth Fire Department will back up Forks, he said.
"There's no lapse in fire coverage. The fire coverage we do have in place is equal to, if not better than, what Liberty Hose was providing," Zaboy said.
Catino, Stockertown's fire chief for eight years, acknowledged Liberty Hose is strapped for cash and has trouble paying the borough rent for its garage and social hall, as well as a long-time outstanding sewer debt.
Stockertown's 2005 budget allocated a $27,116 donation for the fire department, and Catino said the contribution was unchanged this year. He said up to $11,000 pays for insurance, the rescue truck payment is about $8,500, and the remainder of the borough's donation covers utility bills and truck maintenance. The fire department organizes fundraisers to collect additional donations and rents its social hall for functions.
In addition to the chief, Liberty Hose has eight active firefighters, three or four fire police and 20 auxiliary members, all of whom are unpaid, Catino said. The department has four trucks.
Catino said the fire department has tried to improve communication with borough council, but members "don't care" and ignore the reports and concerns he presents to them.
He said the fire department encourages residents to attend borough council's Nov. 20 meeting to protest its decision and support Liberty Hose.
Republished with permission of The Express-Times.
