The East Allen Township Board of Supervisors met at length with East Allen Volunteer Ambulance Corps leaders in June to receive an appraisal of the EAVAC financial status and options moving forward.

Recently, the board reportedly requested EAVAC gather information and make a recommendation of any potential partnership or union with another ambulance service. Reportedly, the candidates for possible merger or partnership included Nazareth Regional Ambulance Corps, Northampton Regional Emergency Medical Services or the Klecknersville Rangers Volunteer Fire Company.

Because of the difficult financial circumstances of the EAVAC, a non-workable tight timeline, incomplete information in the EAVAC recommendation proposal and other information that came to light during the public meetings, the situation was not resolved at the June meetings.

Eric Snyder advocated June 14 for a partnership with NRAC. When asked by one of the supervisors if he reviewed NRAC’s financial status, Snyder reported he had not. The board members noted they were surprised a review of financials was not completed.

The board reported they would not approve the partnership recommendation until the financial records were reviewed.

Township Solicitor Joseph Piperato III said the financials of any merger are necessary for review because, if not, the board could be legally exposed for negligence. He explained the board has a fiduciary responsibility to the township residents.

Snyder noted a decision was needed that night because EAVAC might not be able to make payroll June 26.

During the discussion, it was learned EAVAC recently changed its bylaws, saying the sale of assets would no longer go to the township. It was reportedly unclear where liquidated assets would go. The supervisors said they were not told of the change and shared their displeasure.

It also reportedly appeared EAVAC had been working to create a relationship with NRAC on its own before supervisor approval.

Supervisor Chair Roger Unangst said it was important there is someone to serve the residents in need.

“No matter what it says on the ambulance. I want it there,” Unangst said.

The meeting ended with a plan to reopen the discussion at the board meeting June 22.

The June 22 meeting continued to be dominated by the EAVAC situation. There was concern the situation was becoming complex with no contractual agreement between EAVAC and NRAC, alleged offers of thousands of dollars in funding for EAVAC by NRAC and a reported EAVAC asset sale.

EAVAC leaders asked for a six-month period to work things out. This differed in attitude from the June 14 meeting, when EAVAC said they were under a time constraint.

The supervisors went into immediate executive session to discuss possible litigation.

After the executive session, Piperato said there would be no transfer of assets and real estate to any third party without township approval. He added there would also be no approved extension of any date unless stipulations were in writing.

Information was to be provided for the township solicitor to record the property deed to the township by June 28 and, if necessary, place a lien on the EAVAC major assets.

Additionally, the EAVAC board must change the bylaws by June 28 to reflect a return to the previous version that reverted assets to the township in case of a dissolution.

Piperato said, if this is not done, the township is prepared to take legal action against EAVAC, and a preliminary injunction will be sought to disallow any sale or transfer of EAVAC assets. There was also a request to possibly return donations to EAVAC because it may have collected donations under false pretenses.