Agreement opens door for new Manalapan first aid entity

By Mark Rosman

MANALAPAN — A service that has been provided to residents at no cost for decades may be about to change in a significant way.

At its meeting on Dec. 11, the Manalapan Township Committee, without comment, approved an agreement between the municipality and the Englishtown-Manalapan First Aid Squad.

The agreement will permit the first aid squad to assure the formation of a new not-for-profit corporation for the purpose of providing emergency medical and basic life support ambulance services to the township, according to a copy of the agreement obtained by the News Transcript.

The Englishtown Borough Council has not approved an agreement with the first aid squad and the matter is currently under review by the borough attorney, Borough Administrator Laurie Finger said on Dec. 17.

According to the agreement that was ratified in Manalapan, the first aid squad has advised Manalapan officials “that in order to continue to provide high quality services to the residents of Manalapan, it is necessary to utilize the services of paid emergency medical technicians (EMTs) as well as the services of volunteer members of the community.”

The first aid squad proposed to form the new tax-exempt entity “to undertake the provision of emergency medical and basic life support ambulance services in Manalapan and Englishtown.”

The township and the first aid squad reached certain agreements relating to the provision of emergency medical services in the community, according to the agreement.

No start date for the new service is provided in the agreement. Various documents must be provided to the township and other steps must be taken before the new entity may begin operating.

In conjunction with the formation of the new, as yet unnamed, entity, bills will be issued for services rendered. Initial payment will be sought from an individual’s insurance carrier.

At press time, no further details were available.

For the entirety of the Englishtown-Manalapan First Aid Squad’s existence, services have been provided at no cost to those who received assistance at a specific location or transportation to a hospital.