From The Press of Atlantic City — The township Emergency Medical Services squad disbanded in December, but its members say they are ready to go back to work.
The part-time volunteer rescue squad opted to cease operations in December rather than continue with what its members considered to be subpar facilities, Chief Gary Franklin said.
“When the squad was first started about 10 years ago, it was put into one of the bays at the township’s garage as a temporary home,” Franklin said, adding the bay was cramped, unhygienic, lacking proper HVAC amenities and had no running water. “But it seemed like every time we asked for an upgrade, all the township did was look into shared services instead.”
When it stopped operating, the squad paid the Hammonton Rescue Squad about $14,000 to cover the township full time through June 15, Franklin said. Hammonton already provided that service on a part-time, 12-hour-per-day basis.
At a Jan. 20 budget workshop, the Township Committee voted to extend the contract with Hammonton through the end of 2009 for $25,000.
The decision prompted Franklin to remind the committee that the members of Mullica’s now-defunct squad still want to be the ones serving the community - as long as the township meets their demands.
Franklin said the squad’s needs are small.
“All we need is a pole barn big enough for our trucks that has running water, bathrooms, heating and air conditioning,” he said. “We’ve even told the committee that if we could get that building, we won’t ask them for a new truck.”
The Township Committee announced Jan. 27 that it would allow the squad to make its pitch at a public meeting. The invitation also will be extended to any rescue squad interested in providing the township coverage.
“I’m willing to listen to anyone,” said Deputy Mayor William Kennedy, chairman of the township’s Public Safety Committee. “But it will be difficult for them (Mullica’s squad) because they have no building and no ambulances. Those belong to the township.”
Kennedy, who said no one from the Mullica squad has approached him about a possible return, said there are also financial and coverage incentives to hiring a full-time squad such as Hammonton.
But Franklin insisted that it was in the township’s best interests, in terms of finances and public safety, to give the Mullica squad what it is asking for.
“In my opinion, you’re better off keeping volunteers as long as possible,” Franklin said. “The interest is there, it always has been. All that’s missing is the support from the township.”
13 comments:
Nothing new here.
I think they were shocked when their resignation was accepted.
This whole thing is damning proof that the disbandment threat was indeed orchestrated by Franklin, Chasey and Forman to embarrass Mike and Bernie into going along with the proposed building. It backfired . Franklin was told by Chasey from the stsrt that these 2 men were enemies who were to be shown no respect or courtesy, I would suspect that the Mullica Woods issue is another Chasey orchestration to get another voting bloc riled up to support her in the next election. These folks are being used by her and I hope it backfires after they realize she is setting them up.
Ironically in regards to the EMT issue the only fire company that would house the ambulances "on site" was Elwood . Mr Franklin's reassurance that the EMTs wouldn't want a new ambulance just isnt realistic since it will have to be replaced in the near future. In short its over, decision has been made and lets move on.Mullica is getting slammed time after time by its own committee members who are trying to discredit/immobilize others on committee. So instead of "government in action" we now have had "govertment inaction."
Can any body tell me what,if anything,Gray Franklin would get out of this on a personal level.
After that newspaper article with Franklin going off on the Gadfly and Larry after he was gone 8 months,I don't feel that Franklin should be in charge of anything in this town. He's either a nasty liar or nuts.
Franklins antics did backfire and it blew up in his face. Franklin exposed himself for the fraud that he is. Now all of a sudden, he is making a pitch for a return, wanting a building. Go home Gary. I just feel bad for the volunteers who made an obvious mistake in letting this fraud represent them and their volunteering interests. Get a new representative, Franklin has no credibility.
Feb.8 at 7:37am a Squad member wrote into the Press that Franklin disbanded the squad not the volunteers. This member appears angry and felt that Franklin should have stepped down and let them pick a new leader.
Follow the link to the press article comment.
That comment opens alot of questions about what really went on behind the volunteers'backs.
These are the people that came out of their homes at all hours of the night to give service to their community.
Is it possible that Franklin arranged the resignation without them knowing?
The poster said Franklin should have stepped down if he didn't want to do it anymore and let them pick a new leader.
Well, Franklin is back pitching the same "demands"and still wants to be in charge.
Was the whole plan of "resignation"really just a plot by Franklin to force the town to give him a building and new ambulances?
It appears that the good volunteers had no idea what was going on.
That Squad person didn't repost yet. It must have been quite a surprise to them when the letters were received. It's hard to believe that this wasn't discussed as a group at their meeting.
The Squad all agreed on the letters that were sent to the residents. Members of the Twp Fire Companies and the Squad volunteer their time to stuff and stamp those letters. The Squad would like the Twp Committee support, the reason for the disbanded was that certain members of the Twp Committee kept pushing for a 2nd Shared Study. What message did this send to the Squad? Oh, by the way the only thing personnel that Gary Franklin got out of this is a lot of heartache.
Squad Member
As I remember the town sub-committee did a study that recommended Mullica sub-contract out.
Gary Franklin's study said the volunteers should stay.
The State was just recently offering grants for towns to study shared services.
I don't see anything wrong with our committee people obtaining money to study the best possible options for the town.
It could have resulted in favor of the Volunteer Squad.
For the Squad just to walk out because a study might take place is ridiculous.
Gary Franklin made it quite clear that the reason the Squad was walking was because of the building and equipment and lack of support going back years of the Rep.controlled council. Chasey even agreed to their lack of support.
To everyone this looked like a plot to try to get a new building.
Now Mr. Franklin says if his "demands" are met, he won't ask for a new vehicle. You know those ambulances are old and have to be replaced in the near future.
He has no building & no ambulances.
His only asset are a group of people that are willing to serve the community on a part time basis.
I'm sorry but I don't think this town can afford all these things when the economy is so bad and the budget is being stripped down.
I want to thank all the members of the Squad for your wonderful work and I wish you luck in your presentation of the bid.
Thank you for clarifing that the AC Press post was incorrect and asserting that Mr. Franklin received no personal gain with his involvement with the Squad.
To the 8:20 pm Squad member, I noticed the you didn't post your correction on the AC Press comment site,too. That's where your other squad member said he/she knew nothing about the resignation of the Squad.
No the squad members found out about the squad disbanding the same way the rest of Mullica Twp did. By way of the letter sent out to everyone. And No, most of us will not be retruning to the squad if Franklin is Chief.
(Press reader comment 2/11/09)
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