Manchester Planning To Buy 2 Ambulances For EMT Squad

MANCHESTER, NJ — The move by Manchester Township to create a paid emergency medical services has had the positive impact that township officials sought when they created the service earlier this year: shorter response times and lower costs for residents.

There was one issue, however, that officials didn't expect would arise so quickly: wear and tear and mileage on the ambulance rigs.

"We didn't realize how many miles would be put on the rigs," Manchester Township Council President Sam Fusaro said Monday evening, as the council introduced an ordinance to bond for $750,000 to purchase two rigs and the equipment to outfit them for service.

The township has 800 to 1,000 first aid calls per month, Mayor Ken Palmer said in January.

Fusaro said it's not just the mileage driving around the township to respond to calls, and driving patients to the hospital. For warranty purposes, mileage accumulates even when the rigs are sitting idling, bringing the environment inside the ambulance to proper levels.

In addition, there have been some repairs that forced ambulances out of service.

"We were down to three rigs," Fusaro said. "We had to borrow one from Brick Township." Repairs have been made, and the township has four rigs operating now.

But all the mileage means the warranties on two of the rigs iare running out fast; Fusaro said they would be up in a couple of months.

In addition to the first reading of the bond ordinance to fund the purchases, the council approved an emergency request to make the purchases.

The bond ordinance, which will be on the Sept. 28 council agenda, includes:

• $450,000 for two ambulances, with an estimated usefulness of five years each;
• $225,000 for stretchers, power load stretcher mounts, defibrillators, stair chairs, and other equipment, with an estimated usefulness of 15 years;
• $45,000 for mobile and portable radios;
• $30,000 for mobile data comupter terminals, and mobile in-vehicle video recording systems.

The township moved to create the paid first aid squad in January, as dwindling volunteer squad members left part of the town with inconsistent first aid coverage, Palmer said at the time. The council removed the Manchester First Aid Squad from its list of authorized first aid providers at that time.

Manchester's paid EMS squad took over March 1, with the squad based at the building on Colonial Drive that has housed the Manchester First Aid Squad. The building is owned by the township and is deed-restricted for use for township emergency services.

At the time, the Whiting First Aid Squad was anticipated to continue to cover calls on that side of the township, but that has since changed.

Palmer said the Whiting squad is in the process of donating money it raised to another 501(c)(3) charity in the township — a condition required of a 501(c)(3) when it ceases operation. The Whiting First Aid Squad building is sitting empty, and Palmer said there are discussions about the township possibly using that building for the paid EMS squad.

The township is involved in litigation with the Manchester First Aid Squad, Palmer said, though proceedings have been up in the air because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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