Volunteer fire company seeks vehicle and proposes multi‑year EMS contract amid millage uncertainty
October 30, 2025 | Clarks Summit, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
Representatives of the volunteer fire company asked council to consider two related matters: accepting ownership of a borough police vehicle and approving a three‑year fire and EMS funding agreement drafted to preserve 2026 contributions at the current 1.5‑mill rate.
On the vehicle: Carrie, a borough speaker, said she consulted with the solicitor and explained the borough code's sale/notice rules. "Under the borough code, if the property is over $2,000 you generally have to give it notice and sell to the highest bidder. But there is an exception under the borough code for volunteer fire companies," she said. Council and solicitor confirmed that, because the vehicle was grant‑funded and the code provides an exception, the borough can transfer the vehicle to the volunteer fire company without public notice if council so chooses.
On the contract and millage: the fire company's representative (identified in the meeting as the fire company president) presented a draft three‑year contract that proposes keeping the 2026 contribution at the 2025 rate (1.5 mills) and returning to borough council in 2026 to discuss 2027 and 2028 once reassessment numbers are available. The president noted that language could be added to the contract to make clear 2026 would remain at 1.5 mills and any changes for 2027–28 would be by mutual written consent. Council discussed the option of drafting a one‑year agreement instead and using an addendum or amendment process for the later years because the reassessment is likely to change millage outcomes.
Why it matters: the fire fund is carrying a projected deficit of roughly $35,000 driven in part by rising insurance and workers' compensation costs. Council acknowledged the department's financial need but also discussed how the borough's existing fire millage (currently 2.25) could be raised up to the 3‑mill cap to cover shortfalls.
Next steps: staff and solicitor will confirm formal transfer language and draft any required addendum or one‑year option for council review; council and the fire company agreed to continue negotiations and to use the budget process next week to finalize funding directions.
On the vehicle: Carrie, a borough speaker, said she consulted with the solicitor and explained the borough code's sale/notice rules. "Under the borough code, if the property is over $2,000 you generally have to give it notice and sell to the highest bidder. But there is an exception under the borough code for volunteer fire companies," she said. Council and solicitor confirmed that, because the vehicle was grant‑funded and the code provides an exception, the borough can transfer the vehicle to the volunteer fire company without public notice if council so chooses.
On the contract and millage: the fire company's representative (identified in the meeting as the fire company president) presented a draft three‑year contract that proposes keeping the 2026 contribution at the 2025 rate (1.5 mills) and returning to borough council in 2026 to discuss 2027 and 2028 once reassessment numbers are available. The president noted that language could be added to the contract to make clear 2026 would remain at 1.5 mills and any changes for 2027–28 would be by mutual written consent. Council discussed the option of drafting a one‑year agreement instead and using an addendum or amendment process for the later years because the reassessment is likely to change millage outcomes.
Why it matters: the fire fund is carrying a projected deficit of roughly $35,000 driven in part by rising insurance and workers' compensation costs. Council acknowledged the department's financial need but also discussed how the borough's existing fire millage (currently 2.25) could be raised up to the 3‑mill cap to cover shortfalls.
Next steps: staff and solicitor will confirm formal transfer language and draft any required addendum or one‑year option for council review; council and the fire company agreed to continue negotiations and to use the budget process next week to finalize funding directions.
View full meeting
This article is based on a recent meeting—watch the full video and explore the complete transcript for deeper insights into the discussion.
View full meeting