Newtown Borough Expected To Approve Fire Services Agreement

NEWTOWN BOROUGH — Newtown Borough Council on June 14 is expected to approve of an intergovernmental fire services agreement with Newtown Township for use of its full-time paid fire staff.

The agreement was negotiated by Council President Susan Turner, Mayor John Burke and Councilor Tara Grunde-McLaughlin who have been meeting with township officials since February to negotiate the deal.

Under the terms of the three year contract, the borough will begin paying the township an annual base fee of $147,155 plus an automatic five percent escalation increase each year over the course of the agreement.

After the third year, the agreement can be renewed annually, said Turner.

“The agreement is based on Newtown Borough’s percent of population versus the township’s, the assessed value of our homes and the number of calls,” said Turner. “If you average those three figures our share is 10.3 percent” of the township’s fire services budget.

Up until now, the township has solely been footing the bill for eight career firefighters and a full-time paid fire chief who were brought on board to supplement a dwindling volunteer force.

The full-timers have been covering the township and the borough during the week while volunteers have been handling nights and weekends.

Also under the agreement, the borough will contribute up to 10 percent a year toward capital expenses. This year that figure totals $7,219, which will be put toward the purchase of a new command vehicle.

“There will be a 10 percent cap on all increases unless we agree after discussions to pay more than that,” said Turner. “We can’t impact costs in the township, which is why we put in a cap, but the intent is certainly to pay our fair share. With quarterly meetings we should be able to come to an agreement. Should we not be able to there is a get out clause.”

The agreement also establishes a joint fire services commission to discuss ongoing fire service needs. The committee will be made up of three representatives from the borough, two township representatives, the fire chief and a board member from the Newtown Fire Association.

The commission would serve only as a recommending body with the board of supervisors and the borough council making any final decisions.

According to Mayor Burke, one of the main purposes of the commission will be to keep the municipalities apprised on upcoming capital and operating expenses so there are no surprises come budget time.

“We have to keep communications open and we have to meet regularly,” said Burke.

Although the agreement is for three years, Turner said there is a clause included requiring a special review after the first year to make sure the agreement is working as planned.

In total, the borough would pay the township $154,365 this year, including the base of $147,155 and $7,210 in capital expenses.

This year, the borough will pay the township one lump sum for the months of January to June and then begin making monthly payments to the township in June.

As part of the agreement, the previous invoices sent to the borough by the township beginning last year totaling $220,000 a year will be voided.

Fire service talks between the two municipalities began in early 2021 when the township approached the borough about sharing the cost for fire services, which have been transitioning to a paid department to supplement a dwindling volunteer force.

Talks between the two municipalities failed to produce an agreement between the borough and the township on how much the borough should pay the township annually for fire protection.

While the borough agreed it should be contributing toward the cost of the township’s career firefighters, it had been unable to reach a consensus with the township on what that contribution should be.

Following the November election and with new leadership in both the township and the borough, the township and borough resumed negotiations in February to see if they could reach an agreement.

The township’s board of supervisors is expected to act on the agreement at its second meeting in June.