Council approves DCED letter to continue fire services study after chiefs raise concerns

New Freedom Borough Council approved a letter of intent to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to continue evaluating recommendations from a recent fire-services study, after fire-company leaders and some council members urged stronger language clarifying the borough would only "consider and evaluate" the study recommendations rather than implement them immediately.

The council voted to send the DCED letter, with revised language that replaces wording implying automatic implementation with phrasing that asks DCED to "consider and evaluate the viability of implementing the recommendations." The motion passed by voice vote after discussion and a request that local fire chiefs be consulted before any implementation.

Several speakers — including local fire leaders identified in the meeting as representatives of Shrewsbury and New Freedom fire companies — said they had not seen the revised letter and that the earlier wording read as if the borough had agreed to adopt the study’s recommendations. One speaker summarized the fear: some companies believed the study’s recommendation could mean closing neighborhood stations and consolidating into a single station in Springfield Township.

Kim (council president) and other council members emphasized the revised wording does not commit the borough to change the fire-company structure: "It’s to evaluate the viability of implementing the recommendations. It's not to implement recommendations," a council member said.

Council members repeatedly stressed the next phase is intended to gather more input from local fire companies and explore realistic options, not to force immediate consolidation. The borough clarified that the DCED-funded work would cover further study and engagement; any actual service-consolidation steps would require separate votes by the borough and would likely require agreement from the fire companies.

Some councilors and fire officials voiced distrust of the original study’s tone and its recommendations; others noted the study team praised the borough’s volunteer fire companies as among the strongest in the state. Council supporters said continuing the study would maintain momentum and secure state funding to explore options without local cost implications.

During discussion, council members noted that state funding supports the next phase and that if DCED concluded there was no feasible path forward the state could withhold further funds; conversely, the borough could decline to continue if it preferred not to fund additional work.

Outcome: Motion to approve submission of the DCED letter of intent, with revised language to emphasize evaluation rather than implementation, passed by voice vote. Council directed staff to ensure fire companies receive the revised wording and to continue stakeholder engagement before any implementation decisions are proposed.