North Buffalo Issues Addressed, but Not All Settled

 

A local volunteer fire department received back-up from its borough and township officials regarding a long-standing emergency service agreement, but no changes have since been made.

Last month, Worthington-West Franklin Fire Association volunteer firefighters argued with North Buffalo Township supervisors that volunteers needed to continue receiving nearly $2,500 in workers’ compensation.

However, North Buffalo’s position was there was no written agreement to issue the federal funds, and the municipality did not have enough money to fairly distribute the money.

Last week, Worthington-West Franklin Fire Association Assistant Fire Chief Fred Neal verified the meeting between officials was “not very productive.”

“As a fire department, we’re not asking for anything that’s inappropriate. Everything we asked for is by-law provided by the township,” Assistant Chief Neal said. “They have to make a decision.”

Wolfe said no changes were made to the fire association’s stance during the two-and-a-half hour meeting.

But, Wolfe maintained statistics are incorrect.

“I’m not going to pay something that’s wrong, that isn’t fair to the other fire departments and the numbers aren’t right,” Wolfe said.

According to Wolfe, Pennsylvania State Compensation Rating Bureau officials maintain that Worthington-West Franklin volunteer firefighters represent more than 5,300 people in Worthington, West Franklin, North Buffalo and Clearfield Township in Butler County – more than 750 in North Buffalo Township.

But, he and police officers have only been able to identify a little more than 100 addresses in the zone - and that there were more than a dozen gas well sites.

“(The bill) says (the fire department) represents 753 people in North Buffalo Township based on 3,011 residents. We don’t have 3,011 residents even though the census said that. We have a number of ‘For Sale’ properties, and the people moved already,” Wolfe said at the public meeting in July. “Plus, we have vacant property.
They’re saying they represent more people in our township than they do in their own!”

Wolfe said each taxpayer in the quadrant would have to pay about $32 for the workman’s compensation bill – with tax collector – which he said may not be possible for retired and fixed-income residents.

More than a half-dozen other volunteer fire companies address fire and emergency concerns in different quadrants of North Buffalo Township as well – such as East Franklin Township, Ford City Borough and West Kittanning Borough – but do not ask for workers’ compensation

Wolfe was not sure if the issue will be brought up again at tomorrow night’s supervisors meeting.

Assistant Chief Neal said volunteer firefighters are still willing to aid the residents of North Buffalo Township – if the compensation continues to be paid so fire fighters can pay regular bills.

“We have offered to continue to serve the residents of North Buffalo as the supervisors determine appropriate,” Assistant Chief Neal said. “Our heart is to continue to help the residents every time they call.

“Whether or not they call is going to be a commitment Wolfe and his associates have to make. If they decide to call, there’s going to be certain responsibilities they have for doing that.”

In other pending North Buffalo Township topics, Wolfe confirmed that supervisors have received a copy of the recently-updated Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.

Questions about some of the ordinance terms came in April after Jeff Hollabaugh discussed subdividing the family’s 103-acre farm land only to find out it might cost nearly $8,000 to do so.

Supervisor Wolfe met with County officials after he and other supervisors agreed this action was “counterproductive to growth.”
Supervisor Wolfe’s ordinance was dated more than 40 years old, but there were updated versions since – before county commissioners unanimously updated the document last month.

Commissioners asked Planning and Development Executive Director Rich Palilla if each municipality received a copy – which Palilla affirmed.

Wolfe said that the ordinance revisions also included some of North Buffalo Township’s suggestions.

The new revision, however, will not affect Hollabaugh’s supposed-subdivision cost.

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  By Rainbow Rider, August 17, 2016 @ 1:15 AM

  Pittsburgh talking Dave, taking on the very people who are trying to help and protect others.
  Trying to be a hero to the taxpayers by cutting on a fire department. Seems like a non goal there Dave.
  Remember when you told a union group at the hospital that the hospitals contract offer was no good, got them all fired up to vote no by saying ” We’ll camp out on ____ Lew__’s front porch if we have to to get a better offer” Then they soundly voted down the offer as they were encouraged to. The next day you were quoted on the front page of the Lt saying ” I hope they realize what they’ve done ” then went on to lament about all the hard work that went to waste because they voted no and sadly said we’ll have to go back to work on this.
  LOL

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