Patterson Township firefighters contest possible funding requirements

Oct. 19--PATTERSON TWP. -- Commissioner Don Inman recalls when a company warned the township in 1993 that deficient records could adversely affect residents' fire insurance premiums.

The township provided the documents, fending off Insurance Services Office Inc., which gives a ranking for insurance companies to evaluate fire risks based on local firefighters' response time and other factors, Inman said.

The issue has surfaced again, though, and township commissioners have a list of 10 changes they want the fire company to make. Township officials and Patterson Township Volunteer Fire Company members gathered Thursday for a nearly two-hour meeting involving accusations and pointed disagreements.

"This has never been a problem in the past," said Greg Lawton, who was the fire company's president for 11 years. "I would really like to know what the board of commissioners is after."

The commissioners' to-do list might have to be completed if the fire company wants to keep receiving township funds. Inman said the township gave the fire company $99,877 in 2011, $88,060 in 2012 and $86,516 in 2013, but part of that included pass-through money such as state funds.

Commissioners Chairman Frank Policaro Jr. said they wanted to have input from the fire company before implementing such requirements.

Fire officials said after the meeting that they fear the township may be looking at the fire company's assets because of financial difficulties. But township and fire officials said they have no interest in merging the fire company.

Retired firefighter Dom Borello said the fire company was the richest department in western Pennsylvania at one time, with $1 million available. But company members also said it isn't loaded with cash the way it used to be.

Fire representatives said that they're willing to comply with eight of the 10 points on the commissioners' list and that they already or can provide the required records. Yet the discussion came to a standstill at times.

One of the two provisions they are balking at involves making the township commissioners the successor to the fire company's assets if the company would dissolve for any reason. The other provision involves submitting annual audits for all of the company's funds, whether they're public or private.

According to the fire company's bylaws, if it disbands, certain assets are distributed among its members, and proceeds of sales would belong to active and retired members, treasurer Mark Utnehmer said.

Several fire company members said they worked for such property. Borello, the retired firefighter, said he and others built an addition on the fire hall. Others suggested fundraising money belongs to the members.

"If we disband, I want my share," retired firefighter Ronald Foster said.

Utnehmer said after the meeting, though, that he'd be receptive to having a successor be someone besides the township, such as a fire-related entity. Fire officials said they need to discuss the issue among themselves.

The company itself owns a ladder truck and part of a rescue truck, plus other items including refrigerators and coolers.

If the fire company disbanded, township assets -- such as the building and a pumper truck -- would still belong to the township, and Utnehmer said assets that belong to a firefighters' relief association would go to the state. Relief associations receive proceeds from out-of-state insurance fees, and that money is audited regularly by the state.

Regarding audits, fire officials said they already give receipts to the township. Fire company President Phil Graeser said Friday that he's fine with having the township audit the public money it receives.

But audits of private money are still a sticking point.

Inman, who used to be the liaison to the fire company for township commissioners, said a concern about finances came about a month ago after the purchase of a thermal imaging camera. The device helps firefighters find people and animals based on body heat they emit.

Although the department had two, one which didn't work, a new one was bought for about $11,000, Utnehmer said. Graeser said firefighters' relief association funds paid for the camera.

Township Commissioner Henry Mahosky Jr., the current fire commissioner for the board, said the township wants to help the fire company help itself by ensuring its long-term viability as well as avoid litigation.

He also said if a lender gives money to the fire company, that lender would need to know whether a company dissolves, what would happen with the money.

"I want to know how we can put a long-term plan in place to make sure this fire department is here for the residents of Patterson Township," Commissioner Eric Hoover said, adding he has no personal interest in knowing about the fire company's private fundraising.

Commissioner Donald Bradow recommended fire and township representatives meet as a committee to develop a plan for township officials for their November meeting.

___

(c)2014 the Beaver County Times (Beaver, Pa.)

Visit the Beaver County Times (Beaver, Pa.) at www.timesonline.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services