Oct. 7—Volunteer fire companies can receive $25,000 from Delaware County through Nov. 30.
This week, Delaware County Council voted unanimously to approve setting aside $1.7 million from American Rescue Plan Act funds so that active fire companies throughout the county can obtain $25,000 grants each.
"Volunteer fire companies rely to a large extent on the ability to fund raise," county Executive Director Howard Lazarus said. "Those efforts were hampered during the pandemic and they are now facing some fiscal constraints."
The funds can be used by companies for training, operations, maintenance and repairs but not travel or social events.
There is a provision that grant recipients will allow county officials to inspect their records and bookkeeping.
"It will also include the right to recover monies not spent within the guidelines provided," Lazarus explained.
County leaders expressed the need to unveil such a program to assist fire companies and also a safeguard that monies are being spent in appropriate ways in light of recent examples of misuse of company funds.
In 2020, the former South Media Fire Company treasurer pleaded guilty to theft and related expenses for stealing more than $50,000 from the company and in 2015, an investigation into the finances of Colwyn Borough Volunteer Fire Company has resulted in felony theft charges against three fire company officials after $50,000 was found to have been taken.
"There have been from time to time instances where bookkeeping was not everything it was supposed to be so it is important that we retain the right to review expenditures and make sure that the money is spent in accordance with the grant," County Councilwoman Christine Reuther said.
She noted the responsibility placed on these individuals.
"I do think that ... a lot of these volunteer fire companies also rely on volunteer bookkeepers and volunteer treasurers and sometimes, the burden can be a lot," she said.
County Controller Joanne Phillips said Delaware County has a fiduciary responsibility to make certain that the taxpaying public has "confidence that we're doing as best as we can and that we're monitoring as best as we can."
Delaware County Chair Dr. Monica Taylor noted all of the assistance these companies gave the county during the pandemic in distributing flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
County Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer said many of these volunteers experienced more trauma than the general public during the past few years.
"They didn't have the option of stopping what they were doing and staying home," she said, adding that these grants are one way to thank them. "It's ... a way for us to recognize and acknowledge what they do for our community, what they went through during this pandemic and try to get them back on track."
County Councilman Kevin Madden noted that volunteer fire companies faced challenges with fundraising and gaining volunteers even before COVID that were exacerbated during the pandemic.
"This is certainly a worthy spending of ARPA funds for our community," he said.
County representatives will be reaching out to fire companies regarding applying for grants. Application forms can be viewed here.
Payment will be made within 45 days of a completed, signed application and companies have until Nov. 30 to apply for the grants.
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