State audit raps North Huntingdon fireman's relief group

State auditors reprimanded the North Huntingdon Volunteer Fireman’s Relief Association for incorrectly titling the ownership of two rescue vehicles to North Huntingdon EMS/Rescue and not to the association, as well as for not having someone serve as vice president.

The auditor general’s review of the relief association’s finances for January 2018 through December 2020, which was released Wednesday, said the ambulance and rescue service received the vehicles purchased in May 2010 and September 2018. The relief association, which is associated with the township’s eight volunteer fire departments and the EMS/Rescue, told auditors members did not know the vehicles were incorrectly titled.

The title has not been changed but will be, said Shane Spielvogle, executive director of North Huntingdon Rescue 8.

Howard Huss, president of the relief association during the audit period, could not be reached for comment.

The North Huntingdon relief association will not lose state aid if the violation is corrected within 60 days, the auditor general stated. If the title is not placed in the relief association’s name, the auditor recommended the fire company reimburse the relief association $12,714, the price of one of the vehicles. The value of the other vehicle was unknown, the audit report stated, so the relief association should determine its price or value and seek reimbursement.

The association did not have a vice president during the audit period, as required by the bylaws. The association management said no one wanted to serve in the position, but they will seek to fill it.

Concerning a previous audit, the relief association complied with its findings by receiving a $2,647 reimbursement from North Huntingdon EMS/Rescue for the purchase of a drone used in search and rescue operations, Spielvogle said. The drone was not considered an appropriate relief association expenditure during the audit period but has since been deemed an eligible expense, Spielvogle said.

The audit noted the relief association received $525,192 in state aid for 2018, 2019 and 2020 and had $405,576 in cash and investments as of Dec. 31, 2020. It spent $579,820 during the same period, including $431,612 on fire services.

The state aid is generated by a 2% tax on premiums paid for casualty and fire insurance sold in the state by insurance companies based outside Pennsylvania. The formula for distributing the money to local governments is based on a municipality’s population and real estate market value. The municipality, in turn, must allocate the money to the volunteer firefighters’ relief association serving the town.