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Harrison Township appoints delegates to explore regional ambulance authority; board adopts three resolutions
Summary
The Harrison Township Board of Commissioners on June 24 named Commissioner Jamie Nee and Township Manager Amy Rockwell to an exploratory committee to study a regional ambulance authority and adopted Resolutions 1970, 1971 and 1972, including a tax-bill waiver policy and a 2024 wage-scale amendment.
Harrison Township commissioners on June 24 voted to form an exploratory committee to study creating a regional ambulance authority and adopted three resolutions on tax-bill waivers and the township wage scale.
Chairman Gary Meanor led the meeting and moved to appoint Commissioner Jamie Nee and Township Manager Amy Rockwell as the township’s two delegates to an exploratory committee to examine a regional ambulance authority. The motion passed on a roll call with four votes in favor and one abstention: Commissioner James Erb abstained. The board later formalized the committee by adopting Resolution No. 1970.
The appointing motion followed a discussion in which Chairman Meanor outlined the circumstances that prompted consideration of a regional authority. The action does not itself create an authority; it directs the appointed delegates to participate in exploratory work to determine whether formation of a regional ambulance authority is feasible.
In the same meeting the board adopted Resolution No. 1971, on a motion by Commissioner James Erb seconded by Commissioner Charles Dizard, establishing requirements for the tax collector to waive charges assessed for unpaid township real estate taxes where failure to receive a tax bill is the cause. Solicitor Emily Mueller had earlier reviewed Act 57 of 2022, which amended Pennsylvania’s Local Tax Collection Law to permit waiver of certain penalties when statutory criteria are met; the board approved a local process for applying that relief for 2024.
The board also adopted Resolution No. 1972, amending the township’s 2024 wage scale per Exhibit A. Chairman Gary Meanor moved the resolution, Commissioner Charles Dizard seconded, and the motion carried with Commissioner Eric Bengel recorded as abstaining because he was not present for the prior discussion.
Votes at a glance
- Resolution No. 1970 (create exploratory committee for regional ambulance authority): mover Commissioner Charles Dizard; second Commissioner Jamie Nee; vote: 4 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain (James Erb) — approved.
- Resolution No. 1971 (tax-collector waiver policy per Act 57 of 2022): mover Commissioner James Erb; second Commissioner Charles Dizard; vote: 5 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain — approved.
- Resolution No. 1972 (2024 wage-scale amendment, Exhibit A): mover Chairman Gary Meanor; second Commissioner Charles Dizard; vote: 4 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain (Eric Bengel) — approved.
Why it matters: An exploratory committee is the first formal step toward possible regionalization of emergency medical services, which could change local governance, cost-sharing and service delivery for ambulance runs. The tax-waiver resolution implements authority granted under Act 57 of 2022 to address inadvertent failures to receive tax bills. The wage-scale amendment will adjust personnel pay as laid out in Exhibit A.
Next steps: The exploratory committee will convene as directed by the board; the meeting transcript records appointments and the resolutions’ adoptions but does not specify timelines, staffing changes, or budget impacts beyond references to Exhibit A.
