A recent conversation between officials of York City and York Area United Fire and Rescue has sparked interest on both sides about the possibility of a future merger of some fire services.
York City Mayor Kim Bracey said she has been encouraged by the willingness of York Area United representatives to consider the city as a potential partner.
Regionalization of services -- even if the departments do not fully merge -- could mean significant cost savings for the cash-strapped city, Bracey said.
"We need to really, really explore that. It's going to take a lot of conversations," Bracey said. "Whatever could be shared ... I'm open to exploring that conversation and those options."
In 2012, pursuing regionalization will be a top priority, the mayor said.
"We're more than interested to sit down and talk with (Mayor Bracey) about them potentially joining us in the future," said Robert McCoy, chief of York Area United Fire and Rescue.
York Area United formed in 2008 with the merger of fire departments in Springettsbury and Spring Garden townships.
While formal decisions would be left to the organization's five-member commission, McCoy said the city's financial issues are not necessarily an impediment to a merger.
But, he added, "these aren't things that just happen over-
night," as each municipality comes with its own set of issues.
Timing: The talks come at a crucial time for the financially troubled city and its professional fire department.
To balance the 2012 budget, Bracey has proposed an 11 percent property-tax hike and the elimination of three vacant firefighter positions, among other revenue-generating and cost-cutting ideas. The York City Council has until the end of the year to approve a budget.
Meanwhile, Councilman Henry Nixon has publicly proposed abandoning the Rex/Laurel fire station on South Duke Street. The 1878 building -- which is on the National Register of Historic Places -- is "in desperate need of major repairs," Nixon said.
"Even if we were willing to spend millions of dollars on it and get it into excellent condition, we still have an antiquated fire house," Nixon said. "It's taking good money and throwing it after bad."
Bracey said she likes Nixon's idea, except for the possibility of another vacant, blighted downtown property. She said she plans to meet with representatives of the volunteer fire companies that own the station.
"We need to talk about it," she said. "We don't own it. Yes, we've been using it and we should have maintained it."
The station is owned by the Rex Hook and Ladder and Laurel fire companies. City business administrator Michael O'Rourke said the city pays the station's expenses in exchange for allowing the companies to use the facility.
"Why would we continue to try to make improvements or try to shore up a building that is not ours?" Nixon said. "The whole thing just doesn't make sense, and we need to get out of it."
Earlier this year, city administrators proposed a fire services modernization plan that included closing the city's two oldest stations and building a new one. However, the proposal was later omitted from a long-term financing plan.
Nixon said he is not proposing to build a new station.
"What I'd like to see happen is exploration with some sort of intermunicipal affiliation with some other fire companies," he said.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
