Kennett Square Borough postpones special meeting with firefighters and welcomes input from residents

KENNETT SQUARE — There’s never a dull moment.

Last Friday, Kennett Square postponed a special public council meeting with firefighters that was scheduled for Monday.

“We look forward to continuing conversations about public safety and next steps will be announced later this week,” Mayor Matthew Fetick said Tuesday.

Residents can still make their voices heard to elected officials about possible cuts in emergency services — and other options.

Next week, the council will hold its two regular monthly public meetings at 7 p.m. on Nov. 4, a workshop meeting, and on Nov. 7, a voting meeting.

There is an opportunity for participation at all council meetings.

“Residents should always be encouraged to contact their elected officials to ask questions or share concerns,” Fetick said. “We do our best to make ourselves available to our neighbors for conversations, which is a more effective way to have an engaging conversation than at council meetings where we have limited time. Residents can of course comment at any time at a public meeting.”

He said the community appreciates the quality fire and emergency medical services provided by Kennett Regional Firefighters and First Responders.

Top elected officials from the council have been feuding with the Kennett Regional Fire Service – made up of three fire departments in Kennett Square, Kennett and East Marlborough – over funding.

Fetick said the district “hopes we can come to a win-win path forward.”

Although a new date for the postponed Oct. 28 special meeting was not available at the time of writing, it will be announced soon, according to several Kennett Square officials.

“The meeting was postponed to give the council more time to determine the best path forward,” said Bob Norris, council president in Kennett Square.

“We encourage residents and stakeholders to email, call and attend our council meetings to express their views,” said Norris.

He said the council is trying to use all its resources to come up with the best objective fire and ambulance solution for the long-term needs of the municipality, taking into account public safety needs first and the fiscal needs of the residents and the people who work. and embrace Kennett Square as their center.

“We must also consider our neighboring cities and the impact our decisions have on them,” Norris noted.

“It is important for everyone to know how much gratitude residents and the community have for the firefighters and medical responders,” Norris said. “Their service to people in dire and frightening circumstances is remarkable and selfless.”

Every day, these first responders put themselves in harm’s way for everyone’s benefit, he said.

Norris continued, “Let our first responders know how much we appreciate them and what they do for us. If resources permit, contribute. Even with the district and other committee partners, not all costs are covered. They still have to raise other funds to do what they do. And if you’re interested, consider volunteering. Most of the people who provide our fire and ambulance services are volunteers.”

At the Kennett, Po-Mar-Lin and Longwood stations there are approximately 75 volunteers, with a core group of approximately 35 individuals, as previously reported. Today, the region employs approximately 65 emergency medical technicians.

“The issue surrounding Kennett Square Borough’s future fire and emergency services is solely a financial issue,” Norris said. “The emergency services that Kennett Square receives and has received for many years are top class – second to none. The municipality must figure out how to provide the best possible service at a price that the municipality can afford.”

Norris said the costs of running a municipality differ from those of running a township, plus Kennett Square’s aging capital infrastructure and replacement costs are significant: the municipality is home to older roads, buildings and a sewer plant.

And the cost of providing the public with a 24-hour police station open every day of the year is another ongoing expense for the municipality, he added.

“The taxes the municipality generates are lower than those of most surrounding cities. The municipality pays more than 3 million for fire and ambulance, while the total tax rate of many cities, including fire and ambulance, is approximately 3 million,” said Norris.

“There are many festivals and gatherings in the community, which benefit many surrounding towns and increase costs for the community,” Norris said. “We are proud that the municipality is the ‘city center’ for many of our neighbors.”

At many of the events, Kennett regional firefighters are required or requested to provide fire and ambulance coverage to ensure adequate protection of attendees, Longwood Fire Chief AJ McCarthy said.

“We are involved in the permit approval process of some municipalities, which includes the municipality,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy said people in Kennett Square can support their local firefighters by becoming informed about the facts about providing public safety to the community.

“I would get the facts from the experts as well, we are always available to at least have the conversation,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy, the regional leader of Longwood, Kennett and Po-Mar-Lin firefighters and emergency medical responders, said he plans to attend the Borough Council’s monthly public meetings next Monday and Wednesday.

As for the special meeting scheduled for Oct. 28, McCarthy said everyone is waiting for the council to give them a new date.

“It is disheartening that the Borough Council has decided not to meet with fire companies on Monday as planned,” said Cuyler Walker, chairman of the Kennett Regional Fire and EMS Commission. “Nevertheless, it is a good sign that the council is re-evaluating its ability to fully fund the needs of our fire companies to ensure the health and safety of residents next year.”

Hopes and movement for a public meeting with Kennett Square firefighters, EMTs and elected officials recently came to fruition after a heated commission meeting on Oct. 8, after McCarthy announced that the city had offered to pay a 5% increase for fire and EMS services for the next two months. consecutive years, rather than the full amount requested for funding.

As previously reported, McCarthy asked on behalf of the regional fire companies, consisting of Longwood Fire Co. in Kennett, Po-Mar-Lin in East Marlborough and Kennett Fire Co. in Kennett Square, the municipality to pay $868,882.77 – an increase of $117,144.74 – for 2025; and $976,018.98 – an increase of $107,728.23 – for 2026. These two fiscal amounts would cover the municipality’s “fair share” allocation, according to the commission.

After the October committee meeting, Norris told the Daily Local News that the council’s preliminary 2025 budget included $789,000 to contribute to fire and ambulance services.

“The budget that the committee has proposed for the council is $868,882 or $79,557 more than the council budgeted,” Norris said. “City taxes have increased 67% in the last two years.”

McCarthy said the amount requested is based on a weighted formula that takes into account each municipality’s fire calls, ambulance calls, assessed values ​​and population. All criteria are given a weight of 25%.

Kennett’s three regional departments have responded to more than 2,740 calls for emergency medical services so far this year, as of September. By contrast, ten years ago, in 2014, there were 2,189 emergency calls.

According to the U.S. Census, the Kennett Regional Division serves a population of 40,000 permanent residents. However, if we take into account temporary visitors and undocumented residents, that number is probably closer to 50,000 people. This area includes six municipalities: Newlin, Kennett Square, Kennett, East Marlborough, Pennsbury and Pocopson. Of these communities, all except Kennett Square are members of the Kennett Fire and EMS Commission, which was formed in 2018.

In terms of emergency medical incidents, Po-Mar-Lin, Kennett and Longwood combined responded to 3,414 calls in 2023; 3,535 calls in 2022; and 2,872 calls in 2021. The figures are on an upward trend.

Between January and September, Longwood Fire Co. responded. 956 fire and rescue calls alone, including requests for emergency medical assistance. Within this time frame, Longwood responded to 135 calls at Kennett Square; 255 calls in Kennett Township; 84 calls in Pocopson Township; 243 calls in East Marlborough Township; 105 calls in Pennsbury Township; and 16 calls in Newlin Township.

Longwood also responded to 118 mutual aid calls, including to Union Fire Co. to assist after a fire engulfed a home in Upper Oxford Township on September 4, as previously reported.

The total budget for all three fire companies is approximately $7.92 million, as previously reported.

“This does not include the replacement of capital equipment and equipment,” McCarthy said. “The regional committee provides approximately 45% of the budget.”

And other than a small grant program, there is no financial support coming from the state to cover fire and ambulance costs in Pennsylvania. Instead, it is a legal obligation of every municipality to provide these services to residents.

“Our community is thriving, there is new development and redevelopment of businesses and residential units. We have events in this area almost every weekend of the year,” McCarthy said, noting that the Kennett area has truly become a destination location.

“We are continually reducing our budgets to keep operating, but that won’t last forever,” McCarthy said. “Because we see more and more demand for service.”