Lower Macungie Township is hiring a consultant to evaluate its future fire protection needs — including the possibility of a third fire station in the western part of the township.
Township officials also are moving ahead with their controversial plan to install two turf fields at Quarry Park this year and are developing a plan to preserve open space.
On Thursday night, township commissioners unanimously agreed to spend $22,500 to hire municipal fire protection consultant Harry R. Carter of Adelphia, N.J.
Township Fire Chief David Nosal said Carter will start working to develop a new fire department master plan for the entire township at the beginning of March and will complete that plan in July or August.
When the study is done, Carter will attend a public meeting to deliver his findings.
Among the many issues Carter proposes to evaluate are the fire risk potential in the township, including special hazards, as well as station locations, staffing and equipment needs — even a review of the fire department’s public education program.
“His plan, as comprehensive as we expect it to be, should take us the next 15 years down the road,” said the fire chief.
“The object is to take you from where you are now to where you should be in the years to come,” echoed Carter.
“The key is to provide as many solutions to your problems as possible. A lot of consultants will just tell you what your problems are. I have never done that. There will be a solution for every problem.”
Township officials believe another fire station eventually will be needed west of Route 100, because of new warehouses and other proposed development.
“If you need a third station, I’ll tell you so,” said Carter. “If you need new equipment, I’ll tell you so. I’ll create a replacement schedule for what you have and what you might need.”
The consultant said he has worked in the fire protection field for nearly 50 years. He is chairman of the board of fire commissioners in Howell Township, in Monmouth County, N.J. “I still drive Mr. Fire Truck. My experience is current.”
Nosal said Carter won’t only be talking to people in Lower Macungie, but also will meet with fire officials of adjoining fire companies that serve the township — including Alburtis, Emmaus, Macungie, Trexlertown and Western Salisbury.
“No single fire department these days can provide sufficient resources for the biggest hazards you will face,” said Carter.
“It’s important to have a good fire department in your community, but you must work well with your friends and neighbors so you can bring all their resources to bear in a timely manner.”
Lower Macungie’s fire chief acknowledged $22,500 may seem like a lot of money for an updated fire protection master plan, but said if it is divided by 15 years, “you’re talking a nominal yearly fee to help us grow with the township.”
The township has $25,000 in this year’s budget for what officials are simply calling “the fire study.”
Why Carter?
Ryan Conrad, president of the five commissioners, asked how Carter was selected.
“We put a few feelers out and he rose to the top, for a variety of reasons,” said Nosal.
The fire chief said one of those reasons is “years of experience” and another is that Carter “is in the business. He’s doing what we’re doing now, but just in another town.”
The chief also mentioned that Carter “has enough letters after his name to make a bowl of alphabet soup.”
“Quite honestly, I’ve worked with a lot of people with initials behind their names that don’t know what the hell they’re doing,” said Commissioner James Lancsek.
The commissioner said doing such a fire study requires a very specialized person.
“We on this board do not have the expertise to know whether this gentleman is good, bad or indifferent,” said Lancsek.
He added the township fire officials seated in the front row during the meeting “know who you want to deal with and why. I support whatever you guys feel is necessary and who you want to work with. What it comes down to is your confidence in him.”
“I support the department in knowing what they need and I’m more than happy to support this,” said Commissioner Brian Higgins.
“I’m happy to support this as well,” said Commissioner Douglas Brown. “It’s needed and now is the time.”
Resident criticizes appointment
Just before the vote, resident Don Richards challenged the credentials of the man township officials referred to as Dr. Carter.
In 1984, the consultant earned a doctor of philosophy degree in fire service administration from Western States University for Professional Studies in Missouri.
Richards said students at that school can earn a doctorate without ever attending a class or taking an exam.
“The PhD in Harry Carter, PhD, comes from this school,” said Richards. “The amount of due diligence that was done in deciding to accept this proposal is somewhat lacking, I would say.”
Carter was unruffled by the criticism, telling commissioners: “I agree with the gentleman, I totally agree with him. That’s why back in 2002 I enrolled in Capella University in Minneapolis. The doctorate I go by these days is a fully accredited doctorate.
“My current PhD is in organization and management, with a specialization in business and leadership. It was awarded in 2005.”
Last fire study done in 1991
Nosal said the township’s last fire study was done in 1991. It had projected needs for about 15 years, including an aerial truck, which was acquired in 1993, and building a second fire station, which was completed in January 2010.
The chief said the fire department has been looking into the need for a new study for the last four or five years, but did not think the cost of doing it should be paid by his department.
Turf fields
Also Thursday, commissioners authorized township manager Bruce Fosselman and his staff to recommend an artificial turf company to do the planned new fields at Quarry Park.
The choice will be between AstroTurf or FieldTurf, which Fosselman called two of the three major artificial turf producers.
He said the price of artificial turf will be the same no matter which of the two companies is selected: $3.25 a square foot.
The township will need 180,000 square feet for the two fields.
“So that’s $585,000,” said Fosselman, adding that price includes installation.
He told commissioners both companies offer the product, and the same installation.
“What I’ve got to do is research these two companies, to see which would be the better value,” said Fosselman.
His research will include contacting other communities that have used the companies. “I will get the pros and cons for each of the two companies.”
He promised commissioners his recommendation will include reasons why he selected that artificial turf company.
“I’d like to keep moving on this,” said the manager, adding he will make a recommendation on which company commissioners should select at their next meeting on Feb. 19.
The township has allocated $3.3 million in its 2015 budget to create the turf fields at Quarry Park, despite opposition from many residents and two of the five commissioners.
Fosselman promised commissioners an updated “rough” estimate of the total project cost.
Officials noted there will be additional costs beyond the $585,000 for the artificial turf, such as engineering and stormwater work.
They also intend to install fencing, lights for nighttime use of the fields, a park trail and even a dog park as part of the project.
The turf purchase from one of the two companies will be made through a cooperative purchasing agreement with The Cooperative Purchasing Network, a national purchasing cooperative that is based in Texas.
Fosselman said he never heard of that co-op, but has learned “Lehigh County uses them quite a bit.”
Preserving open space
Lancsek outlined an initial plan for preserving more land in the township during the commissioners’ budget and finance committee meeting, which preceded their main meeting Thursday night.
“We need to know how much money we have to work with and then find out what parcels might be available — either through a sale or purchasing development rights,” suggested Lancsek.
“We have to see if there is any interest by the property owners.”
The commissioner stressed: “I am not condoning condemnation to do this. The purchasing of the development rights or the parcel has to be acceptable by the property owner.
“We may not have any property owners willing to sell us anything.”
He also noted someone who is willing to sell may want too much money for their land
“We have to start with the money part first and then work out,” said Lancsek.
He proposed using some or all of the surplus money from the 2014 budget. Fosselman said the township should know how much 2014 surplus it has by early April.
Conrad said whatever surplus the township has won’t solely be used land preservation. He indicated some of it may be used for other capital needs.
Lancsek said some of that money may be needed in the future to build a third fire station in the township.
Lancsek also suggested the township staff look into the possibility of Lower Macungie borrowing money by floating a bond for land preservation “without breaking the bank, without having to introduce any new taxes.”
Fosselman promised to look into borrowing. He said bonds can be issued for open space preservation.
Lancsek noted interest rates are low, but also said: “If there’s nothing to buy, then we don’t borrow.”
“I’d like to start some rough conversation, just to kind of keep things rolling,” said Lancsek. “I’m sure a lot of people will be worried that this thing is going to die or we’re not moving forward on it.”
Conrad prefers buying development rights to buying land. “Getting government into property ownership is not necessarily in our best interest.”
Added Lancsek: “Plus our money will stretch a lot further.”
Creating a pond
Also during the meeting, commissioners voted 4-1 to have a detention basin along Mill Creek Road turned into a pond with vegetation rather than usually being dry.
Evergreen trees will be added around that pond.
The basin is near Mill Creek Road, just southwest of Willow Lane Elementary School and the township’s fire station and just north of homes in the Brandywine Village development.
It was created as part of section two of that residential development. Turning it into a naturalized pond will be done and paid for by the developer, but it will be owned by the township.
Lancsek cast the only no vote. “It’s in very close proximity to those residents,” he said. “With standing water, you’re going to get mosquitoes. You’re going to get complaints from those residents.”
Other news
* Commissioners approved spending a total of $309,400 to renovate the barn in Camp Olympic Park off Cedar Crest Boulevard. That work will included adding restrooms on two floors of that structure, known as the camp building.
* Higgins announced he will hold a one-man town hall meeting 7-9 p.m. Feb. 24 in the township community center, “to continue to build transparency in government and dialogue with our residents.” He plans to have such a meeting every month.
from 69News:Home http://ift.tt/1LTMWnH
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire