Community Leader George Duckstein (front foreground), Manor Township Fire Chief Chad Evans (second row right), and Resident Larry Cecchi (back row center) had a three-way verbal brawl last night over the fire department’s handling of recent issues.
MANOR - Supervisors in Manor Township signed an operating agreement with the Manor Township Fire Department for continued service within the township. But even as the ink was drying of signatures on the agreement, local residents had complaints about the handling of fire department affairs.
George Duckstein serves as the Judge of Elections for Manor Township for the past 15 years. He also serves on the Board for St. Vincent De Paul thrift store in Kittanning, and coordinates efforts of the Armstrong County Community Action Food Bank distribution at the Manor Township Fire Hall. Duckstein explained the problem.
“Prior to this, I had a key to go in and set up for the voting. Sometimes you have to take tables and chairs down. I go the day before. Then the day of voting, I have to be there at 6AM to get ready or 7AM. The Food Bank is the same way. I have to get down there Monday to setup for Food Bank at 9AM because I have to pick up the food at 8AM and get it down here and get it ready. Prior to this, I always had a key. I didn’t have to bother anybody. As far as I know, I never had any problems with the Fire Department. They had had a few break-ins down there and problems with the keys. They have locked all the doors and now you have to have a key fob to open the doors. And I don’t have one. I have to contact the chief to see if he could let me in the building, Somebody has to let me in the building so I can get these things done. I thought I could get a key fob so I could get in and utilize the things I have to do.”
Fire Chief Chad Evans immediately responded.
“Absolutely NOT!” Evans said with sternness in his voice. “Too many keys have been handed out and not returned. We don’t even give our delivery people who bring us stuff for our dinners. We schedule it around so we are there to let them in. There has been a lot of stuff going on in the parking lot of the fire hall. We actually had a couple people overdose in the parking lot. The ambulance was called. So we absolutely are not giving keys out to anyone who are non-members.”
Evans admitted to forgetting to schedule opening the doors recently and Duckstein could not gain access to the fire hall for his food bank distribution. Evans was not willing to make an exception even though Duckstein has faithfully guarded his key in the past and has not had an issue in more than 15 years.
“The doors will be unlocked (by a fire department trustee) and then they will be locked back up when they are done.”
The issue prompted Supervisor Don Palmer to schedule a meeting tonight at 6:45 between himself, Duckstein, and the Fire Department Board of Directors to reach a settlement on the matter. However, Evans did not back down.
“I can almost guarantee you that you will NOT get a key fob,” Evans told Duckstein.
The issue drew criticism of the fire department due to Duckstein’s outstanding service of benevolence in the community.
Duckstein was direct with Evans.
“So in other words, I cannot be trusted. That’s what you are saying.”
Evans scolded Duckstein for bringing the issue to the Supervisors, who have no control over the fire hall.
The firestorm continued when resident Larry Cecchi took fire department executives to task for comments made of him in a public meeting.
“When I saw the minutes of your meeting, somebody wanted to take me on task behind my back, so I am here to defend myself.”
Cecchi questioned the transparency of the income and expenses of the fire department.
“They have $56,000 budgeted with 1 mil (of taxes). Their dinners? $12,000. Their grant? $10,000. Their solicitation? I don’t even have a clue what you make on that. So we have a corporation of $100,000 down here and it’s run like a bunch of kids when they keep coming back for more and more money. I think the Township should talk about a budget with this fire hall or an audit because there is some mismanagement somewhere when they get that much money.”
Evans declined to comment to Cecchi’s remarks.
Manor Township Resident Larry Cecchi was fired up over comments made about him at a public meeting by Manor Township Fire Department officials.
The locks have been changed, more than once, hence why the fire dept votes to go to a fob system. Also, 100000 seems like a lot. But it’s not. When the fire dept works on keeping fire insurance down by maintaining and lowering the ISO ratings. Encouraging all members to train and proboard state test (which helps with grants), fix the building up and stay on top of new tools and tactics. The mil money wouldn’t even cover one firemans salary. What do u want, trained fireman that are safe and knowledgeable, or a false sense of security and just a fire department to just show up. The fob is the least of the worries. He’s lucky he ever had a key to begin with, that was a courtesy. Now why break ins and damages being done, sorry. Also, if Larry is so concerned, tell him to take his concerns back to kittanning #1.
Heres a few ideas for the Fire Chief Evans…get the keys back from the people you gave them to. If you don’t get them back, change the locks. If the fire department is going to be a location for voting and/or the food bank and you aren’t willing to give them a key, then you better make sure you’re opening up the building for that use. If you “forgot” it was Election Day and the polling location wasn’t ready, you could have a real headache on your hands once the news hears about it. According to the article, the Fire Department had no problem going to the Township when it asked for additional money but when it was to be opened for a community use there is an issue.
I’ll side with the fire department on this one. Not for the particular way it’s being handled, but in principle. There’s nothing wrong with keeping the place secure, even if it causes a few hurt feelings. They should be glad the fire department has the kindness to allow the hall to be used for such things, free of charge I’d guess! While Duckstein does much good for the community by the sounds of things, I see the key as a completely separate issue.
How many people do you give a key to your house to?
Volunteer Fire Departments in Pennsylvania are chartered by the State as Private Social Clubs that are granted special exemptions and privileges due to the nature of their activities. This is how they can have gambling (Bingo), temporary liquor licenses and raffles/drawings. They are NOT part of local Government and are accountable to no one but themselves.
The local township or borough has no obligation to use the local vfd’s services. They can contract with anyone they want for fire protection. For example, Manor Twp could contract with Ford City vfd and not use Manor twp’s vfd. The 911 center would be instructed to NOT call Manor vfs in an emergency and call Ford City to respond instead. A vfd not under contract could have it’s charter revoked by the State.
It’s an antiquated system set up over 150 years ago when they still had horses and buggies. A Semi-volunteer system ran by the county would be a better way to go, imho. The Chief and assistant chief are paid and can be fired or relocated like any other employee while everyone else is a volunteer. The volunteers can still conduct fund raisers but you eliminate these private personal little kingdoms and nepotism some of our local vfd’s have established.
There is no way you tell me a town the size of Kittanning needs 3 fire departments, 7 within 2 miles. It’s time to stop contracting with them all. It would probably be a good idea to have a forensic audit done on all vfd’s countywide conducted by the State. They are getting a lot of taxpayer money with zero accountability to anyone. Private Social Clubs.
How do key FOBs effect overdoses in the parking lot?
The twp contributes a ton of money to the fire department and should have say in access in twp matters such as voting and the food bank.
Be careful with becoming too heavy with fire department members holding offices within the twp or borough. (FC?)