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Tuesday, August 19, 2003     Page: 5A

LEHMAN TWP. – The Lehman Volunteer Fire Department’s president voiced his
concerns to township commissioners about his responsibility and that of his
men in certain situations at a meeting Monday.
   
Bill Hagenbaugh’s first concern involved volunteers’ personal schedules.
Hagenbaugh said the uncertainty of state police response time creates a bad
situation. If there is no fire or EMS requested, he said, the fire police
cannot respond.
    He said most of the volunteers have other jobs and cannot be out
indefinitely responding to calls that don’t involve their services.
   
Hagenbaugh was also concerned about liability. During EMS calls, he said,
the fire police secure the area for emergency personnel to access and work
safely.
   
Concern for the safety of volunteers is imperative, Hagenbaugh said, and he
does not want to compromise the safety of his men.
   
“If our officers get a call and feel uncomfortable to allow a member to
enter due to the risk of injury, you shouldn’t go in; you are not liable,”
said Chairman David H. Sutton.
   
Hagenbaugh was also concerned with calls to clear roads of debris. The fire
police were called recently to remove a downed tree from a storm, a service
not required of them.
   
“We (the township) don’t respond to those calls, and neither should the
fire police, especially on state highways,” Sutton said.
   
Problems surround the elimination of the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift Sundays
through Thursdays.
   
“This was eliminated due to affordability,” Sutton said. “By the code of
a second class township, we are required to provide road maintenance. We are
not required by law to have police service, but we have what we can afford.”
   
In other matters:
   
The board is waiting for the township association to compile an ordinance
regarding cell phone towers. Once a model is drafted, the board will address
the issue.
   
Dallas Area Fall Fair Inc. will hold the annual Luzerne County Fair Sept.
3-7.
   
Adam Newirth