The Exeter Township supervisors have set Wednesday as the deadline for accepting letters of intent to fill a board vacancy left by the recent death of Supervisor Barry K. Ziegler.
A special meeting will be held Thursday at 6:30 p.m. to interview those interested in serving the remainder of Ziegler’s term this year.
The board last week called for a moment of silence for Ziegler.
“He was a valuable colleague we’d see around the community checking on various concerns,” Chairman Jeff D. Bukowski said.
Dona L. Starr said, “I’ll miss his passion for the township which he held in his heart.”
During the public comment period, planning commission Chairman Donald R. Wilson offered to step in and “hit the ground running because I’m familiar with township issues.”
Also at the Aug. 24 meeting, Fire Chief Robert F. Jordan reported that the volunteer fire department’s third ambulance, with state-of-the-art systems, had been bought for $85,000 and will serve as the primary advanced life support unit.
An automatic patient loading system will reduce staff back injuries. Two defibrillators and two CPR devices will perform automatic CPR, freeing paramedics to perform other life-saving procedures during cardiac arrest, he said.
The department has hired four full-time emergency medical technicians and four paramedics, as well as 15 part-time staffers so that one ALS unit can be available 24/7, Jordan added.
“The cooperative efforts with Muhlenberg Ambulance will continue until we receive our ALS license, but I know that there will be no lapse in coverage,” he said.
Jordan noted that the department had just received a contract with the Exeter School District to provide ambulance coverage for the football season.
Jordan also reported that four firefighters – Sgt. James Hedrick, Ryan Noll, Ryan Trexler and Joshua Paul – will, on Oct. 6th, receive the prestigious 2015 Valley Preferred Spirit of Courage Award from the Burn Prevention Network at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown.
In other business, the board approved special budget meetings as proposed by township Manager Troy S. Bingaman: Sept. 23 at 6:30 p.m.; Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.; Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m.; and Nov. 2 at 6:30 p.m.
Bingaman said that the current property millage is 2.87 mills, meaning that the owner of a $100,000 home pays $287 annually.
The 2016 budget will need to be advertised on Nov. 23, he added.
Also, the board:
Heard Jordan report that the fire department will soon send out notices about the 2016 ambulance subscription plan.
Discussed, with solicitor Andrew J. Bellwoar, possible legal action to take against the Exeter Ambulance Association, which owes $52,128 in unpaid fuel charges.
Heard A. Michele Juliana, technology consulting director at McGladrey LLP of Moorestown, N.J., discuss possible technology changes in the township’s software and computers that would deliver a clearer picture of such financial information as cash flow, assets and liabilities.
Contact Valdis I. Lacis: 610-371-5000 or news@readingeagle.com.
