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New Freedom Council delays vote on York County shelter agreement pending clarifications
Summary
The Borough of New Freedom discussed but did not finalize a shelter agreement with the York County Office of Emergency Management that would designate the borough community center as a southern-county emergency shelter, citing questions about liability, reimbursement, staffing and food service arrangements.
The Borough of New Freedom council discussed a proposed agreement with the York County Office of Emergency Management on using the borough community center as a southern-county emergency shelter but agreed to postpone final approval pending answers on several operational and legal questions. Mayor Moore Freeman and Borough Manager Andrew Schaeffer led the council through a nearly two-hour conversation about the contract’s terms, including indemnification, staffing and reimbursement of overtime, signage and how capacity would be managed during a county-wide incident.
Council members and staff said the county had asked to use the community center because it has a generator and more floor space than other local options. Andrew Schaeffer told the council that the county’s Emergency Management Agency had reviewed other sites and found the community center to be the most suitable for southern York County needs. Council members asked how the county would publicize shelter openings, whether local residents would be prioritized when the shelter filled, how long the borough would be financially responsible for custodial and food-service costs, and who would serve as the borough’s official facility representative during an emergency.
The council raised several legal and operational concerns. Members asked whether the borough or the county would cover overtime pay for municipal staff working at the shelter and whether the borough’s insurer would accept the contract’s indemnification language. Solicitor and staff recommended the council confirm insurance coverage and ask the county whether reimbursement would be “actual” costs rather than a negotiated “reasonable” amount. Council members also requested clarity on whether the county or Red Cross would supply food service workers and whether the borough would be expected to name a local food-service manager in advance of any activation.
No formal vote to approve the contract took place. Instead the council decided to keep the item on a future agenda and asked members to submit written questions to the manager so borough staff could take them to York County EMA and report back. Schaeffer said he would seek answers and, if helpful, invite county representatives to a future meeting to respond in person.
The conversation also touched on emergency operations planning (EOP) updates: staff said the borough is finalizing a revised EOP and a separate “norm” that lists position-based responsibilities (fire chief, mayor, facility representative) and contact details for response partners. Council members encouraged an outreach campaign — including newsletter notices — to ask residents who need special assistance during an emergency to register with borough emergency services so responders can plan for people on oxygen or with mobility needs.
Council members instructed staff to gather written clarifications from York County EMA on indemnity language, overtime reimbursement, signage and capacity management and to return the item to the council once responses are available.
