Representatives of Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company have renewed the organization’s request for $215,000 annually from Salisbury Township toward its $3 million Swain Station Expansion Project.

Township commissioners, who heard the request at the Sept. 27 township meeting, while not specifically agreeing to the request, indicated the amount could be included in the 2019 township budget.

One stumbling block appears to be a deed restriction stating that should the Swain Station cease to be operated as a fire hall, the land would revert to The Swain School, which donated the land for the fire station.

By consensus, township commissioners asked Atty. John W. Ashley, township solicitor, to review the deed for the Swain Station.

The township funding request was made by John F. Kelly Jr., a Western trustee. Accompanying him at the meeting was William J. Fisher, chair of the capital campaign, director on the Western board and a firefighter.

After the Sept. 27 meeting, Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich told a reporter for The Press the township could set aside $215,000 in the 2019 budget for the Western fire company request, but commissioners would need to approve it.

“We’re getting ready to launch our full campaign to the residents of Salisbury this fall,” Kelly told a reporter for The Press after the Sept. 27 meeting.

Kelly told The Press Western Salisbury is still seeking a seven-year commitment from the township to contribute $215,000 annually to the project. Western officials would like the contribution to begin in 2019. The contribution sought by Western from the township would total $1.505,000.

After the meeting, Kelly said that about $120,000 has been spent on phase one of the Swain project, which includes expanded parking and new side exit.

Kelly said Lehigh Valley Hospital Network, which operates Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest in the township, has committed a donation to the Swain project campaign. Kelly would not disclose the amount to a reporter for The Press.

Kelly said two families from the township have each made a five-year commitment to contribute to the Swain project campaign. He would not disclose the amount to a reporter for The Press.

Kelly said 100 percent of the volunteers for Western, or 40 persons, have donated to the Swain project campaign.

During the approximate 30-minute discussion at the Sept. 27 meeting, Commissioner James Seagreaves and Commissioner Vice President Debra Brinton reiterated their support for Western.

Commissioner Joanne Ackerman said the deed restriction needs to be resolved.

In a follow-up email to The Press, Kelly stated:

“Based on preliminary project design drawings, we estimate a project cost of $2.5 million to $3 million. The fire company has the ability to cover approximately 20 percent of the building cost. This includes capital campaign savings, recent contributions or multi-year commitments from families and businesses, and the planned sale of the Eisenhower Avenue Fire Station with those proceeds contributing to our project.

“We have asked Salisbury Township to fund at least 50 percent of the project cost by committing $215,000 annually for seven years, beginning in 2019. We will launch a capital campaign request to all Salisbury Township residents and businesses this fall in an effort to close the funding gap.

“When we receive a full commitment from Salisbury Township for the seven-year request, we will formally start the next phase of the project. We hope to receive this commitment in 2019, which will be our 60-year anniversary as a volunteer fire company in Salisbury Township.”

Township officials previously said the township’s decision on contributing to Western’s campaign would be contingent on completion of a review of township emergency services.

Township commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 at the April 26 township meeting to approve an emergency services review for the township.

The township is paying $45,000 to Duane Hagelgans Consulting, Lancaster, to undertake the emergency services review.

At the May 10 township meeting, during the agenda discussion portion, Hagelgans said he met with Bonaskiewich and will meet with Salisbury Township Chief of Police Allen W. Stiles, members of Eastern Salisbury Volunteer Fire Department and Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Department, township employees, and township residents.

Deadline for completing the township emergency services review is January 2019.

Western Salisbury officials seek $215,000 annually, or $1.5 million over seven years, from the township toward “Campaign 60,” a request made at an Aug. 24, 2017, township workshop by Western Salisbury Fire Chief Joshua G. Wells, who attended the May 10 and April 26 township meetings.

Western Salisbury Fire Department, founded in 1959, has its 60th anniversary in 2019, hence “Campaign 60” to fund the renovation and expansion of Western’s Swain Fire Station, 950 S. Ott St.

At the April 12 township meeting, during the courtesy of the floor portion, Adam Al-Khal, Western Salisbury Deputy Fire Chief, who also attended the May 10 and April 26 township meetings, asked if the township was going to help fund Western’s “Campaign 60.”