S. Whitehall Seeks State Advice on Fire Station Equipment

South Whitehall Township officials agreed to seek technical assistance from the state to evaluate the equipment and response plans for the township's fire stations.

The Board of Commissioners approved the action last Wednesday to ask the Governor's Center for Local Government to analyze and make recommendations for the four stations that serve the township, Woodlawn, Greenawalds and Cetronia fire stations in South Whitehall, and Tri-Clover Fire Station in North Whitehall.

The board has taken a number of steps to establish better financial oversight of township money after after two township employees were charged last May with embezzling more than $850,000 from the utility fund. 

The board agreed Wednesday to use an outside firm to collect the township's business privilege tax and water, sewer and refuse bills. In June, the township established new financial oversight committees and agreed to review its volunteer fire companies' fiscal statements. 

The fire companies were not suspected of any wrongdoing but the township was following recommendations from its accounting firm to implement tighter financial control. 

Township Manager Jon Hammer said the request to the center, which is part of the state Department of Community and Economic Development, does not commit the township to using the center or to recommendations it might make.
The request, he said, "puts us in the queue for them to work with us."

The Board of Commissioners approved the action at its Wednesday night meeting. President Commissioner Christina Tori Morgan said although the fire stations have already developed a revised plan the request for outside advice will help "to determine what's best for the township." 

Commissioner David Bond said the township needs assistance on equipment "because it's so expensive. We don't want to be wrong."

Bond said the township still has the option of using a private consultant if it's going to take the state too long to issue a report.