City Renews Fire Contract with Glendon Borough

Easton City Council unanimously okayed an agreement with Glendon Borough for the city to continue to provide fire department coverage for the neighboring municipality.

The three-year agreement, an extension of a previous three-year contract, states the borough will pay the city a total of $15,000 the first year, with a four percent increase annually.

"This is a sweet deal (for Glendon)," said Mayor Sal Panto Wednesday evening. "What's the cost to the City of Easton when the trucks roll? It's a lot more than $1,500 per call."

However, the borough's need and proximity to the city makes the cost relatively negligible, the mayor said.

"I believe we have a responsibility to protect and serve beyond our own community and tax payers,” Panto said. "$15,000 out of our $20 to $30 million budget is nothing, but...Mutual aid means if there were a fire, we'd come anyway. They just can't afford (more)."

However, the city is likely to pursue a higher rate on the next contract and officials said they intend to open negotiations in two years, leaving extra time to work out a more equitable deal.

"It's nice to be a good neighbor, but next time they may need to be better neighbors as well," Panto said.

He suggested one solution for the future might be for the borough to consider contracting its police needs from the city as well for one fee.

Currently, Easton police provide coverage for the borough of , while Glendon contracts its police services from .

Glendon had also formerly contracted with the Wilson Fire Department, until in 2009 a bridge replacement project cut the boroughs off from each other. Glendon then approached the City of Easton to provide services due to the logistical situation, and the borough has opted to stay with Easton since, officials said.