Township Considers Ending Partnership With Newtown Fire Association

Newtown Township is considering ending its fire services arrangement with the Newtown Fire Association, and instead transitioning fully to its own hybrid paid and volunteer department.

The proposal will have long-term financial and safety benefits, according to Newtown Township Manager Kurt Ferguson, who is recommending the plan.

Ferguson, who outlined the proposal during a meeting this week, is recommending the new setup be in place for 2018. Currently, Newtown Township has eight paid firefighters who work during the day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The other times, such as overnight and during the weekends, the township relies on the services of the Newtown Fire Association.

Fire services in Newtown Township are funded in two ways: a fire tax that is a portion of millage paid by property owners and support from the state that is provided to each municipality using a formula based on factors such as population and community size, Ferguson explained.

Each year, the fire tax generates approximately $275,000 for Newtown Township. Of that, $170,000 goes to the Newtown Fire Association.

In 2016, Newtown Township received $130,000 from the state, all of which went to the Newtown Fire Association.

As part of the proposal, Newtown Township would retain the $170,000 of the tax it allocates to the Newtown Fire Association, plus hold on to the $130,000 of annual state funding. Those funds would enable the township to transition its existing department to establish a volunteer staff that would serve during the times currently covered by the Newtown Fire Association, Ferguson explained.

The plan relies on the creation of partnerships with surrounding fire departments, like Upper Makefield and Lingohocken, he noted.

A deputy fire chief would be hired under Ferguson's proposal. The deputy fire chief would focus on building the volunteer department and work to create those partnerships with surrounding companies. The partnerships could help in the form of sharing volunteers, as well as costly equipment, under Ferguson's vision.

"This isn't anything disparaging against the Newtown Fire Association. This is a model moving forward that from a safety perspective, is the direction I'm recommending," Ferguson said, noting he believes it will save the township money in the long run.

PHOTO: Kara Seymour