Manager of Macungie Ambulance Corps Christopher Greb provided the 2018 annual report at the Alburtis Borough Council meeting March 13.

Greb discussed the many services provided by Macungie Ambulance Corps other than ambulance service. In February 2019, the corps responded to 330 calls for service and four of the calls were in Alburtis. In 2018, they responded to 3,727 calls. This is a substantial increase since 1993 when they answered 719 calls. They also responded to 28 special operations incidents and trained 571 individuals in CPR/AED and/or first aid certification training and were actively involved in dozens of community events.

Greb talked about the drastic decrease in volunteers in fire and EMS agencies, although Macungie is currently remaining strong. There will eventually be long-term effects when it comes to cost of care and reimbursement from insurance companies.

Greb told council about the special operations division that handles incidents above and beyond normal situations, including drug and opiate abuse.

Greb told the story of the Merissa L. Frye Memorial Responder Training Fund and its relationship with the Frye family whose daughter Merissa was diagnosed with a very aggressive small cell cervical cancer. The Fryes requested the cost of transporting Merissa to New York for treatment. Absorbing the cost, Macungie transported her free of charge and on her passing established, in 2019, the Merissa L. Frye Memorial Responder Training Fund, used to support the training and equipment purchases for area emergency responders.

The corps has five ambulances and to save money when replacing their 2011 Ford/Braun, will remove the chassis from the Ford, recondition it and have it remounted into another vehicle. This will save them $50,000. They plan to do this with their other vehicles.

In other business, the Alburtis maintenance on-call was briefly discussed by council. Council President Ron DeIaco advised council he was taking their comments under advisement and turning it over to the personnel committee. It is expected the committee will make a recommendation next month.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has given the borough a liquid fuels tax fund payment of $67,455.29. Trexler advised council this is more than was expected and it has been deposited.

A letter was received from the County of Lehigh saying they are accepting applications for the Housing and Urban Development and the Community Development Block Grant program for 2019. Trexler will apply for a CDGB grant for curb cuts.

Council passed a motion adopting Ordinance No. 555 amending the Alburtis Codified Ordinances to establish application and annual access fees for the use of borough rights-of-way.

A motion was passed adopting Resolution No. 2019-2 appointing Borough Manager Sharon Trexler, representative and Sherryann Oels, alternate to the Southwest Lehigh Steering Committee.

A motion was passed appointing Trexler the voting delegate for the borough at the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs annual conference in Harrisburg June 11.

Regarding painting at the Lockridge Historical Church, DeIaco suggested starting by using the existing paint to see how far it will go and Trexler will get prices for additional paint.

The meeting adjourned 7:50 p.m. and council immediately went into an executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. No action was to be taken.