Members of Citizens Fire Company, most of them in uniform, turned out in force Nov. 5 for the supervisors meeting.

Supervisors were expected to follow up on the discussion at the previous meeting about the adequacy of emergency coverage, given the sudden resignation of eight members of the fire company.

The fire personnel and others in the audience of about 40 people waited patiently as the board opened the meeting with a 50-minute executive session to discuss litigation and real estate. When supervisors returned to open session, they moved quickly to address the issues related to the resignations.

While the discussion did not clarify what might have prompted the resignations, and included a testy exchange between assistant Fire Chief Jason Tapler and Supervisor Robert Sentner, Fire Chief Joseph Sherman assured the board there is adequate emergency coverage for the township.

Noting there are 20 active members on the list of volunteer firefighters, he promised, “The chance of not having a fire company respond is next to none.”

In a letter to the board responding to the concerns they raised at the last meeting, Sherman stated they should “view this letter as the opening of a dialogue concerning matters of mutual public safety concern, not an end point.” He referred to the short time he had to respond to the board.

Supervisors also received letters of resignation from volunteers Brent Fegley and Mike Eremus. Both referred to problems they had with the fire company leadership.

In his letter, Sherman said one of the reasons for recent leadership changes in the fire company “was to assure that we have the ability to bolster the regularity of training our members receive.”

Upon opening the discussion, supervisors Chairman George DeVault, himself a former volunteer firefighter, agreed with Sherman it was “the beginning of a new dialogue.”

The rash of resignations, he said, prompted concerns about not only public safety but the safety of the firefighters.

“Something happened… to cause the mass exodus,” Sentner said, and while he doesn’t think supervisors should get involved with fire company operations, he would like to see a meeting between supervisors and the fire company leadership.

After some further discussion, Assistant Township Manager Tim Haas was asked to set up such a meeting, although one member of the audience suggested because personalities were apparently involved, a neutral mediator should be found to take part.

The discussion concluded with supervisors emphasizing their support for the difficult job the volunteers do and the audience applauding them.

In other action at the Nov. 5 meeting, supervisors accepted the resignation of Kenneth Arndt from the public works department and authorized Township Manager Daniel DeLong to hire part-time employee Karl Fegley for the full time position.

DeLong said Arndt had taken a position with Lower Macungie Township and suggested the board could either advertise to fill the position or hire Fegley.

Sentner said he couldn’t see any reason not to hire Fegley, particularly with snow removal season coming up and Fegley’s familiarity with the department operations.

Haas also presented the fire company reports for October. Western District Fire Company responded to eight calls, including two vehicle accidents and a dwelling fire. Citizens Fire Company responded to 11 calls, including a dwelling fire and three accidents.

Supervisors also announced there would be a special meeting 6:30 p.m. Nov. 12 to discuss the 2016 budget. DeLong said his staff is presenting a balanced budget with no tax increase.