Township Approves Lease Agreement For Ambulance Headquarters
By William B. Jones, Chairman
New Britain Township
THE NEW BRITAIN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY AT THEIR REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF AUGUST 13, 2007 TO APPROVE A MULTI-YEAR LEASE OF TOWNSHIP OWNED LAND FOR A NEW COMMUNITY BASED EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) HEADQUARTERS. THE PROPERTY BEING LEASED IS APPROXIMATELY 1/3 OF AN ACRE, AND IS LOCATED NEXT TO the TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING AND POLICE STATION ON PARK AVENUE, NEW BRITAIN TOWNSHIP. THE LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN the TOWNSHIP AND THE CHALFONT EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, INC., (CEMS) WAS SIGNED IMMEDIATELY AFTER the FORMAL VOTE, DURING A BRIEF CEREMONY AND RECESS OF THE PUBLIC MEETING.
THE LEASE AGREEMENT WAS NEGOTIATED BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP AND THE CEMS OFFICERS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO ASSIST THE FLEDGLING ORGANIZATION MEET ITS GOAL OF HAVING A NEW FACILITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION BY YEARS END.
THE INITIAL LEASE TERM IS FOR 20 YEARS, WITH THREE 3 YEAR RENEWAL PERIODS AVAILABLE THEREAFTER. THE LEASE CAN ALSO BE FURTHER EXTENDED AT ANY TIME BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT.
THE CEMS WAS ESTABLISHED ON JANUARY 1, 2007 AFTER THE ORGANIZATION FORMALLY SEPARATED FROM THE CHALFONT CHEMICAL FIRE COMPANY - WHICH OPERATED AND MANAGED THE AMBULANCE SERVICES FOR SEVERAL PRIOR DECADES.
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR JAMES SCANZILLO EXPRESSED APPRECIATION TO THE CEMS, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, STATING THAT “WE ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE NEED FOR NEW FACILITIES FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION AND WE PLEDGE TO ASSIST YOUR GROUP HOWEVER WE CAN”, SUPERVISOR ROBERT V COTTON ADDED; “AS A LONG TERM FIREFIGHTER AND FORMER AMBULANCE CORPS VOLUNTEER, I PERSONALLY KNOW OF THE LONG HOURS AND DEDICATION OF YOUR ORGANIZATION AND ITS MEMBERS, AND I WILL PERSONALLY CONTINUE TO URGE OUR COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT YOUR GROUP, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE FIRE COMPANIES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES SERVING NEW BRITAIN”
CEMS CHAIRMAN ROBERT BAIR SIGNED THE LEASE AGREEMENT, ALONG WITH SUPERVISORS CHAIRMAN WILLIAM B. JONES.
VOTING FOR THE LEASE AGREEMENT WERE SUPERVISORS JOHN BODDEN, ROBERT COTTON, HELEN HAUN, WILLIAM JONES AND JAMES SCANZILLO.
PRESENT FOR THE CEMS WERE BOARD MEMBERS ROBERT BAIR, CHAIRMAN; JOHN ENGEL, VICE CHAIRMAN, ROBERT BENDER SEC/TREASURER, WILLIAM DONOHOE, SUSAN JONES, JEFFREY STERN, MICHAEL MOODY, AND CEMS OPERATIONS CHIEF, RUSSELL LEETS.
CHAIRMAN BAIR THANKED THE SUPERVISORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND PLEDGED THAT THE NEW ORGANIZATION WOULD CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS TO REVITALIZE THEIR OPERATIONS AND TO PROVIDE QUALITY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES PROVIDED BY THE DONORS AND TAXPAYERS. BAIR INVITED ALL RESIDENTS INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING TO ASSIST THE GROUP TO NOTIFY ANY OF THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, OR THE CEMS DIRECTLY.
THE CEMS IS SCHEDULED TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW HEADQUARTERS THIS FALL, INCLUDING THREE AMBULANCE BAYS, SLEEPING QUARTERS, EQUIPMENT STORAGE AREAS AND TRAINING FACILITIES FOR THE STAFF. IT IS SLATED FOR OCCUPANCY IN EARLY 2008. A COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND FUNDRAISING PROGRAM IS NOW BEING PLANNED.
August 14, 2007 8:00 AM
For More Information Contact:
Chalfont Emergency Medical Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 506, Chalfont, PA 18914-0506
Tel: 215-822-1308 x115
FAX: 215-822-1841
Internet Email: [EMS Chief]