I encourage the tax-paying citizens of Hempfield Township to contact the supervisors for a detailed explanation of the cost to taxpayers and what will be gained and lost, as I believe their plans are to move away from a volunteer fire department and establish a paid department.
Public records report salaries of $79,000 plus free housing for the fire chief, $71,000 for the deputy fire chief and $61,200 for the fire inspector, plus perks and vehicles. Plans are to hire three volunteer assistant chiefs and equip them with three new vehicles purchased by the township.
Because of some difference in the new standard operating procedures, many dedicated veteran volunteer chiefs and officers do not even qualify to be in charge of their own stations. Sadly, along with the fact that folks are not volunteering as in the past, this “your skills, expertise, experience and years of schooling count for nothing” attitude will cause many good volunteers to leave. Obviously paving the way for a paid department.
The volunteers have been advised against speaking publicly about this. Volunteers pay taxes and are entitled to answers and accountability for decisions made involving the money we entrust to the township, without fear of retaliation.
Since the hiring of the chief and deputy chief, one township fire department has closed; others may follow suit.
Maybe the supervisors should look at what they thought was the solution turning out to be the real problem.
Taxpayers, speak up and save our hometown heroes and fire departments before it’s too late.
Bruce Wynn
Hempfield