Fire District Creation Urged By Warminster Supervisors In Resolution

WARMINSTER, PA —Township supervisors have signed off on a resolution supporting state bills to create a fire district that would help fund firefighters in Warminster.

The resolution calls for the Pennsylvania General Assembly to adopt Senate Bill 698 and House Bill 2537 which township officials said are both held up in committee currently.

"I urge them to move that forward and give us the tools to solve a problem," Supervisors Chairman Kenneth Hayes said at last Thursday's meeting.

The resolution states that volunteer fire departments have long provided fire protection to the township but are seeing declines in recruitment and are having trouble providing around-the-clock shifts for coverage.

Firefighters from the Warminster Fire Department and the Hartsville Fire Company recently appeared before the supervisors to plead for assistance.

The resolution states that the fire companies may not be able to continue to provide adequate fire protection services without the use of career firefighters.

As a Second Class Township, Warminster is limited on its millage rate that townships may levy for fire protection services and to pay salaries and benefits of career fighters, the resolution continues.

Supervisors said in the resolution that municipal budgets are strained and additional funding methods are necessary to fund fire protection services to protect the health, safety and welfare of residents.

The Senate and House bills would authorize the creation of municipal authorities to fund "public safety projects," which include fire protection services.

The authorities can then be created by counties or jointly with municipalities like Warminster totaling either 51 percent of the county's population or 40 percent of the county's number of municipalities, the resolution states.

Supervisors stated that the regionalization of public safety projects, including fire protection services, would provide an alternative method for municipalities to pool resources and fund services that are necessary to protect residents.

The resolution was signed by Township Manager Tom Scott and supervisors Hayes, Katherine Frescatore, Judy Hoover, Mark McKee and Janice Charlton.