Heidelberg Township supervisors voted to retain John Audi as labor counsel at the beginning of their Feb. 20 meeting.

In other matters, Northern Valley EMS liaison Dianne Huber reported that for 2019, NOVA responded to 227 calls in Heidelberg Township. Supervisor Steve Bachman said in January, NOVA handled 86 percent of calls with an average response time of 11.7 minutes.

She also said NOVA members have raised concerns to state Rep. Gary Day, R-187th, about problems with collecting money for services rendered, particularly out-of-network collections.

Huber said a new company has only managed to collect 18 percent of the owed money.

“People who are getting paid by the insurance company. That’s supposed to go to the ambulance corps. They’re spending the money and not giving it to the ambulance corps, so they lose out on that money,” she said. Germansville Fire Company Chief Jay Scheffler said one volunteer was taking the Firefighter 1 Class.

He also noted that first-aid, CPR and HazMat refresher courses have been completed, and that silo rescue and aerial operator classes are planned for spring.

He also reported to the board the company applied for a state grant which will likely be used to open an additional bay for storage.

Scheffler said the new truck has entered service and $40,000 was saved by completing tool mountings and fabrication in-house.

For the parks and recreation report, Bachman noted dumpsters in the Northwestern Recreation Commission Community Park are being filled illegally by people or companies, and said cameras have been adjusted to catch perpetrators.

He said perpetrators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The board reported permits have been filed, awaiting DEP approval, to address the Hunters Hill Road drainage issue and conduct road infrastructure repairs.

Supervisors also authorized the Environmental Advisory Council scholarship to be raised to $150.

Zoning Officer Dawn Didra noted that the EAC is looking to host a cleanup/planting activity in the near future and will bring in a tree specialist to discuss tree care.

Bachman asked the board and audience to consider adopting a Second Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance, which would prevent township funds from being used on “any unconstitutional, Second Amendment-infringement policies” such as the confiscation of firearms and accessories.

Fink requested for the subject to be tabled to investigate the SASO further.

Township Solicitor Charles Waters suggested the ordinance could be more impactful if a township consortium jointly adopted it.