Upper Darby holds hearing on township fire companies

The Upper Darby Township Council’s Finance and Appropriations Committee held a hearing Monday to ask fire company officials to explain what they do with the $850,00 the township supplies annually.

Council Vice President Noah Fields, who chairs the committee, told Fideri News Network that it was important for township officials to understand where the money was going.

“The township never established written agreements governing how those funds were distributed or how the facilities used by our firefighters were supported,” said Fields. “Reporting requirements were also inconsistent, and there was never a clear framework for oversight of those public funds.

“At the same time, the department itself has changed. Upper Darby today relies on professional firefighters who staff stations around the clock and respond to emergencies across the Township. When the way a department operates changes, the way we support it has to change, too.”

“The intent of these recommendations is not to diminish the role of volunteers,” he said.

Mayor Ed Brown said it was the township officials’ responsibility to make sure the fire company funding system is transparent and accountable. 

“Every dollar distributed by the township is a taxpayer dollar,” he said.   

Chief Administrative Officer Crandall Jones said a review of the current structure found ‘several structural issues (that) require attention.’”

Brown went on to explain some issues that were discovered.

“He noted the firetrucks are owned by the township, but the firehouse buildings are owned by the five fire companies,” said the mayor. “He suggested transitioning the structures to the township or leasing them, spending money on the fire companies’ needs rather than distributing it equally to the five fire companies.” 

The mayor explained that there were issues that required a solution ASAP.

“Changes are needed to ‘provide long-term sustainability,’” he said.

The financial information the associations provide varies in format and detail, he said. And the township has no formal process to audit or approve how the funds are used, he said. 

Township Fire Chief Nick Martin said the professional firefighters and volunteers have a “largely positive and cooperative” relationship.  

The fire department values its volunteers, and there are opportunities to contribute in “administrative and operational capacities,” in addition to a wide variety of roles.

The procedures will “ensure we are fiscally responsible” and will “provide the best possible service to our constituents.”

The township’s solicitor, Lauren Gallagher, noted the township has “a fiduciary duty to the taxpayers” regarding accounting for the money spent on the firehouses. Legally, the township must take action to correct these issues, she said.

Thomas Thornton, president of the Upper Darby Firefighters Union IAFF Local 2493, talked about the history of firefighting in the township. 

He said the career staff (about 44 individuals, according to the township’s website) are on duty “24/7.” But many of the volunteers are there “mostly on Saturdays and Sundays.”

“Nobody’s home half of the time,” he claimed.

Thornton has filed right-to-know requests for information, but because the fire companies are private entities, “they are not required to provide responsive documents.” 

“The township money is intermingled,” said Thornton. “One [fire company] sold their interest in a radio tower.” The tower, Thornton said, had previously provided income to that fire company. 

“And another had used $179,000 so members could belong to a swim club,” he said.  Another company dismissed a member for stealing fuel, he also added. 

He also complained about providing firefighting services to neighboring towns, too. 

“I don’t believe the township has seen a dime,” he said.

“The township residents should come first,” said Thornton. “Other municipalities in this area are definitely taking advantage of what Upper Darby is doing.”

But representatives of the fire companies said they disagreed with Thornton, saying other towns’ fire companies do come to Upper Darby’s aid, as well. They also insisted that volunteers are very important and more of them are needed. 

As far as spending the township’s money, the fire company leaders said they file monthly reports on expenditures with the fire department and have annual audits.

“Our treasurer submits a report every month, outlining our income, our expenses for the month,” said Adam Drabinski, vice president and chairman of the board for Garrettford-Drexel Hill Fire Co. They also are audited annually, and have had no problems since he’s been on the board, he said. 

“Chief Martin has all our information,” said Drabinski.

His fire company found out about the meeting on Facebook, he said, which is “a little bit concerning, like there was some kind of hostile takeover coming.”

Jones said the meeting was published on the township’s website.

He started as a junior member at 14 and is happy that, under Chief Martin, the junior member program is starting back. 

“I just want to thank you for being here,” said Councilwoman Melissa DeNofia-Bozzone. “Your fire company has helped my family out many times …This is not a hostile takeover in any sense. We need you. Our community needs you.”

“Routine public oversight shouldn’t make anyone anxious,” Fields remarked.

Jim Macfarlane with Upper Darby Fire Company said they spent more than $350,000 on their building in the last three years, for expenses such as roof and exterior repairs. They’ve also needed HVAC, electric, plumbing, and parking lot work, he said. The fire company would have run out of money, but one of their members “assigned his death benefit to the firehouse.” 

“Our building is over 100 years old. There are surprises all the time,” he said. “Most years we lose money.”

Pennsylvania municipalities handle the need for firefighting differently. 

“We’re a combination department,” said Phoenixville Fire Chief Eamon Brazunas. At one time, Phoenixville had only volunteers but now there are full- and part-time, paid municipal firefighters, as well. 

“The volunteers work under the umbrella of the fire department and work side-by-side with the career staff, the full-timers, and the part-timers, responding to calls. They’re on the trucks together. They train together. We try to keep as close as possible, very similar to what we did at Berwyn, Paoli, and Radnor [fire departments].”

Some, like Philadelphia, are staffed by paid firefighters completely, while many suburban communities have been served by strictly volunteers. However, the number of people willing to be volunteer firefighters has been dwindling.   

“Here in Springfield Township, our commissioners are committed to assisting the fire company. The township owns our building and pays for maintenance. The township also owns three of our fire apparatus. They pay for insurance, fuel, and maintenance,” said Springfield Chief Ken Felker.