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Douglass Township weighs EMS recognition as GACAS board resignations spotlight governance
Summary
After resignations by township-appointed GACAS representatives, a former trustee described internal tension at GACAS; the Board authorized legal review to consider recognizing Bally Ambulance as an additional primary EMS provider for the township.
The Douglass Township Board of Supervisors on Sept. 23 discussed emergency services governance after the resignation of Township‑appointed representatives from the GACAS board.
Manager Andrew Duncan reported two resignations from Emergency Services Board‑related positions and the meeting record lists resignations by Kimberlee Stouch (GACAS board position) and Donald Bergstresser (Board of Supervisors appointee). At the public‑comment portion of the meeting, Kimberlee Stouch read a multi‑paragraph resignation statement saying she had been asked to take on additional duties, helped stabilize bookkeeping and operations, and ultimately felt compelled to resign because of what she described as an "underlying animosity" from employee‑board members and a return to a board composition dominated by GACAS employees.
Ms. Stouch said five of nine GACAS board members resigned (all non‑employees), leaving a board comprised largely of current or former GACAS employees, and urged that township representation brings needed outside expertise in finance, IT and payroll. In response, meeting participants thanked Stouch for her service; Mr. Kourinnoi (who said he was voted treasurer again) said township funds would be handled appropriately and pledged to attend more meetings. Mr. Landis (GACAS) thanked township representatives for their assistance; other participants recommended Manager Duncan help oversee transition matters.
Amid that discussion the Board voted to authorize Solicitor Wendy McKenna to review existing EMS resolutions and township ordinances to determine whether changes are required to recognize additional EMS organizations; the Board specifically discussed adding Bally Ambulance as a second recognized EMS provider alongside GACAS.
The solicitor’s review is intended to identify whether ordinance or resolution changes are required before formally recognizing another provider. The Board did not adopt an immediate change at the Sept. 23 meeting; it authorized legal review to ensure any recognition complies with township rules and existing contracts.
