PORT MATILDA -- Elected officials from the five municipalities served by the Port Matilda Fire Company have agreed to work with it to hash out an agreement that will keep the fire house open.
But time is of the essence. A balloon payment on the fire house and a engine must be made by March 31 or the bank will begin repossession.
And the bank already has extended the deadline three times, Port Matilda Councilwoman Kim Klingler said.
Progress was made Tuesday during a special meeting called by Mike McCafferty, of the state Department of Community and Economic Development. McCafferty is in the process of completing a study on the fire department.
The municipalities previously had said the contract was not negotiable. But Tuesday night, elected officials present at the meeting opted to hear the company's grievances with the contract.
"Let's forget about the past," said Bob Neff, a Halfmoon Township supervisor. "There are too many problems in the past and we need to forget about them. We are all adults here. It can be done."
Officials also heard concerns about the agreement from residents and firefighters, many of whom expressed concern about the possibility of going without fire protection.
There are many details that must be hammered out before next week's deadline. Officials and fire company representatives must meet to amend the contract.
And furthering the need for haste is the state's Sunshine Act, which says municipalities must advertise adoption of the contract seven days prior to a vote.
Still, the fire company and the municipalities remain at odds over wording that indicates the municipalities will have administrative control of the building. The group appeared to be in consensus that the controversial pumper truck will stay in the fire house.
Worth Township Supervisor Jadine Reese said the municipalities needed control of some parts of the fire company to get the support of taxpayers. She said that the municipalities would not give in to every demand of the fire company, but would seek input from officers of the company while amending the agreement.
Fire company representatives and elected officials are slated to meet and amend the proposal Monday.
McCafferty suggested that it may be wise to keep the pumper truck because money is invested in the vehicle and the loan must be paid even if the fire company gets rid of the truck. Selling the truck would not likely bring enough money to cover the loan, he said. And the loan contract will not allow for an early payoff on the truck.
The municipalities have been approved for a low interest Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency loan to cover the balloon payments for the building and the fire engine. It is awaiting a signature.
Port Matilda does not have enough collateral to sign for the loan by itself, Klingler said.
Halfmoon Supervisor Jim Andrews said that the township would be willing to look into being a "big brother" and signing the loan on behalf of the other four municipalities -- Huston, Worth and Taylor townships and Port Matilda -- because of the time constraints.
However, all five municipalities would be responsible for payments to the loan, Andrews said.
