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Independent Fire Company says unpaid rent has created financial crisis; council seeks budget documents before payments
Summary
At a June 11 Maple Shade Township Council meeting, Independent Fire Company (IFC) president Nick Denilio said township rent payments stopped in January 2026, threatening the 114‑year volunteer organization. Council members said payments are paused pending IFC financial documents and scheduled a public follow‑up once records are submitted.
At the June 11 Maple Shade Township Council meeting, Nick Denilio, president of the Independent Fire Company (IFC), told the council the township stopped paying the IFC $2,500 monthly rent in January 2026 and that withholding those payments has triggered a “serious financial crisis” for the 114‑year volunteer organization.
"Did you know the rent has not been paid for the last 6 months?" Denilio asked, saying the IFC has waited 11 months for a promised follow‑up negotiation and that the unpaid rent is close to bankrupting the volunteer company.
The IFC and the township have operated under a lease that dates to 1987, Denilio said, and the lease contains a 30‑day notice clause for termination. He asked whether council had directed the manager to stop paying rent or declared the lease terminated.
Township manager Susan (Susan Dansen) told the meeting that council had not voted to permanently withhold rent but that the release of any rent payment was "contingent upon township's review of the IFC's financial information." She and other officials said they were awaiting the IFC's 2025 expense report and a 2026 budget as requested under state guidance (cited in the meeting).
Solicitor and council members debated whether the specific statute cited by staff applies to the lease at issue. IFC speakers said the 1987 lease was limited to rental of the vehicle bays and that the township’s request for corporate budgets represented a new demand beyond the historic lease. Officials replied that state and local finance guidance requires transparency for public funds and that the township must ensure grant or public‑funded payments comply with statute and Local Finance Notice guidance.
Councilman Simon moved to reinstate the lease and pay past rent immediately, but the motion received no second and did not proceed to a vote. Council members agreed they would hold a public special meeting with the IFC to negotiate lease terms and potential back‑payments only after the IFC provided the requested financial documents and the solicitor and county attorney had time to review them.
Several residents and IFC officers told council they did not want the IFC dissolved and urged a quick resolution; IFC treasurer Bill Reese said IFC records were reconciled and available for inspection. Council members repeatedly said they wanted public, transparent negotiations and that the township bears responsibility for ensuring fire protection services.
What happens next: council directed staff to coordinate with the IFC on a date for a public special meeting and requested the IFC provide the 2025 expense report and 2026 budget for review. No formal council vote was taken to pay past rent at the June 11 meeting.
