Hightstown First Aid Squad members say they were not made aware of the Borough’s intent to partner with Francis Medical Center to provide emergency medical services.
By: Michael Ross
HIGHTSTOWN Members of the Hightstown First Aid Squad said they have been kept "in the dark" about the borough’s plan to outsource medical emergency services.
The squad met Tuesday night at its Bank Street headquarters to discuss a story printed in the Windsor-Hights Herald on Nov. 19 ("Town eyes ambulance service upgrade").
On Nov. 15, Borough Council authorized a letter of intent between Hightstown and St. Francis Medical Center of Trenton for the provision of emergency medical services. The letter is the first step in complementing the all-volunteer Hightstown First Aid Squad with St. Francis emergency medical technicians in an effort to decrease emergency response times.
"We haven’t been told anything," Steve Boguszewski, squad secretary, said Tuesday night. "They (borough officials) keep us in the dark."
Nancy Boguszewski, squad trustee, said the communication between the borough and the squad had deteriorated over the past two years ever since Councilwoman Susan Holtzclaw was named the borough liaison to the squad.
"She has not been to one (squad meeting)" Barbara Bickel, squad president, said.
"I’m not making an excuse for me not going to their meetings," Ms. Holtzclaw said Wednesday, adding that her job prevents her from attending the regular monthly meetings. "I think both parties need to make a little bit better effort at communicating," she added. "I’m available to talk to them anytime they want to talk to me."
Mayor Bob Patten formed a committee earlier this year to investigate emergency medical service options for the borough. Last month, the mayor said the committee consisted of many individuals including members of the first aid squad.
On Tuesday night, squad members said they never were included in the committee meetings.
On Wednesday, however, Ms. Holtzclaw said Mr. Boguszewski attended two committee meetings.
Ms. Bickel confirmed Thursday that Mr. Boguszewski did in fact attend one meeting within the last few months.
"They’ve had every opportunity to come to our meetings," Ms. Holtzclaw said. "We’re not trying to push them out and that’s why they’ve been invited to all the meetings."
Mayor Patten was unavailable for comment. The status of the negotiation between the borough and St. Francis was not known at press time .
The Hightstown First Aid Squad is a nonprofit organization that was charted in 1986 when it spun off Hightstown Engine Co. No. 1. The squad provides basic life support services throughout the borough and is funded by the borough and through donations.
"We’ve gotten to a very critical level," Mr. Boguszewski said, adding that the squad, which once consisted of 25 to 30 volunteers, has dropped to a dozen. He said squad membership began declining in June 2003 when many volunteers retired, moved away or had children.
"Before we got in this critical state, our response time was three to four minutes," Ms. Boguszewski said. Last month, Mayor Patten said that time had increased by as much as 40 minutes.
"We’re always looking for more members," Ms. Bickel said, adding that the squad’s hope is to build volunteer membership up to what it once was. "We’d like to eventually get back on our feet."
The squad, which owns and maintains one-and-a-half of the two ambulances (the borough owns the other half) and the 168 Bank St. headquarters building, said donations still will be needed even if St. Francis begins covering the borough.
"We rely heavily on our fund drive," Ms. Boguszewski said, adding the squad hopes all who donated in the past will continue to do so.
Those interested in learning more about membership may call squad headquarters at (609) 426-1512 or stop by Borough Hall at 148 N. Main St. to complete an application.

