Newburgh council rejects Ohio Township fire contract amendment, township says equipment will be removed

The Town of Newburgh Town Council voted on July 9 not to accept a proposed fifth amendment to the town’s firefighting agreement with Ohio Township, a move township leaders say will lead to removal of some township equipment.

Councilors rejected the amendment after discussion; the motion to accept the proposed fifth amendment failed and was declared denied by the presiding official. The amendment would have renewed the existing contract for one year instead of two and contained other changes presented by Ohio Township.

Town attorney Christopher Wisher, who summarized the legal effect of the vote during the meeting, said the proposed contract “will expire, July 16 at 11:59.” He added that the outcome “will not impact the service provided inside the town, which will continue by the Newburgh Volunteer Fire Department.” Wisher recommended that Town Manager Christopher Cook reach out to the township trustee to arrange return of any equipment or other matters that result from the contract’s termination.

Ohio Township Trustee Chad Bennett, who spoke at the meeting’s close, said the township and town “have had a great 60 year partnership” but warned of immediate changes to coverage. Bennett said “the township ladder truck, the reserve engine that you have, and the boat and dive team equipment will be leaving,” and that removal of that equipment “will be a change in your coverage.” He said Ohio Township will provide coverage under auto-aid and mutual-aid agreements while Newburgh secures replacement equipment.

Bennett also raised a concern about a town press release describing details not discussed during the meeting. He said that release gave the impression that the decision had been made before the publicly noticed council discussion.

Council roll-call comments recorded during the meeting show at least four council members voting no on the amendment; the minutes reflect the motion was denied. Town Manager Christopher Cook accepted Wisher’s direction to contact the township to address logistics related to equipment and other transition matters.

The council did not adopt alternative emergency-services measures at the meeting; Bennett and Wisher indicated continued mutual-aid arrangements would remain in place while the parties and town staff work through equipment, coverage and logistics.

What happens next: Town staff were directed to coordinate with Ohio Township for equipment pickup and to identify gaps in outside-town coverage created by the contract’s expiration. The council did not set a subsequent deadline or special session to resolve those coverage gaps during the July 9 meeting.