Town closes rescue squad
By Amy Batista, Special Writer
EAST WINDSOR — The members of East Windsor Rescue District II have found themselves no longer authorized to respond to any 911 calls effective Monday after an unauthorized and improper purchase of a new Chevrolet Tahoe with public taxpayer funds by their chief, according to officials.
"The township learned that the current officers of Rescue II had purchased a brand new SUV," said Township Attorney David Orron on Tuesday, adding that this happened at the beginning of November.
He said that the purchase totaling some $36,000 was made despite meetings with Township Manager James Brady and Chief of Police Harry Marshall where squad officers were advised that the township felt it was not a necessary purchase and wouldn’t be approved.
"That purchase was made in blatant disregard of express directives from the Township Manager and the Chief of Police/Emergency Management Coordinator and contrary to township spending policies and procedures and best practices, and inconsistent with State and municipal procedures governing volunteer rescue squads, all as explained to you during our meeting on Nov. 6," said Mr. Brady in a letter on Monday to East Windsor Rescue Squad District II Chief Jonathan Wassef.
Mr. Orron said that the township supports all the volunteer rescue squads.
"There are two rescue squads," he said. "There are two fire companies. (We have) always had an outstanding relationship with all the squads including Rescue II as long as anyone can remember going back 40 years."
He said the relationship goes back to the 1970s when the squads were set up.
"This is an unprecedented occurrence," he said. "(Squad officers) met with the township. The township advised against the purchase. The township purchases vehicles for the volunteer squads when the township deems it appropriate."
He said there is a process for the squads and the fire companies to submit capital requests that they need an ambulance or a fire engine and the township either approves it or not.
"If the township approves it, it goes through a public bidding process and purchases the vehicles which are then owned by the township to be used by the squads," he said. "The current leadership at Rescue II totally circumvented that process. (They) took monies out of the account that were deposited by the township for general operating expenses and for the reimbursement of prior approved expenses and drew the money out, and (then) went out and bought a brand new SUV for cash in the name of the rescue squad."
It’s a state law that municipal money is used to purchase vehicles for a volunteer rescue squad, but must be titled in the name of the town, Mr. Orron said.
"I know they are saying (they) used fundraising money for that," he said. "It’s simply not correct. The history of the bank account makes it clear."
The squad was asked to provide documents regarding its finances and spending practices and to provide the township with notices of any of its meetings so that a representative of East Windsor Township could be present to participate in the discussion of "serious fiscal management issues."
According to a letter dated Nov. 6, the squad was asked to provide Mr. Brady with copies of all 2013 and 2014 financial statements from all financial institutions used by the squad in 2013 and 2014.
Copies of all audits, both external and internal, performed on East Windsor Rescue Squad District II financial matters going back to at least 2009 are also being requested, according to the letter.
"All documents associated with the recent purchase of the 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe including requests for vendor quotes, specifications for outfitting and/or upfitting of the vehicle with added equipment, the bill of sale, all emails between vendors and the squad, and any SOP’s, policies and procedures, general orders, etc. related to the utilization of the vehicle," the letter states.
The squad must also provide all 2013 and 2014 general and executive board meeting minutes.
"East Windsor Township officials consider your actions in the recent purchase of the Chevrolet Tahoe to be a serious breach of trust and irresponsible use of taxpayer funds," Mr. Brady said. "The above mandates are being imposed because of your purposeful refusal to abide by the lawful policies utilized by the township of East Windsor in the expending of public taxpayer funds and are a result of the township’s desire to insure all future expenditures by the East Windsor Rescue Squad II comply with township policies and practices, and New Jersey State laws governing the handling and expenditure of public funds."
In a letter dated the following day, Nov. 7, Chief Wassef failed to deliver the SUV to the township by 5 p.m.
"As you know, on Oct. 16, 2014, the Township deposited $30,582.37 to the squad’s cash account for the reimbursement of prior approved squad expenses and for the squad’s ongoing day-to-day operating expenses," Mr. Brady said in a letter. "On Oct. 20, 2014, the sum of $36,487.57 was withdrawn, at your direction, in the form of a cashier’s check, which was used to purchase the Chevy Tahoe. This withdrawal left only approximately $3,000 in the squad’s cash account."
He informed Chief Wassef that the Tahoe was to be delivered to the police department with the keys and certificate of title no later than 5 p.m. that day.
"If you fail to do so, the township will take all necessary steps to protect its interests and the interests of its taxpayers," he said.
Mr. Orron confirmed that the vehicle had been turned over on Tuesday.
Mr. Brady said the failure to communicate with the township and cooperate with its requests lead to the closing of the squad.
"In light of your failure to communicate with the township to try to resolve these matters, or to cooperate in any way to establish fiscal oversight by East Windsor Township regarding the expenditure of public taxpayer funds, East Windsor Rescue Squad, District II as currently constructed and operating, is no longer authorized to respond to any calls, effective immediately," he said. "Accordingly, the Township is taking possession of its vehicles and equipment currently maintained at 73 Twin Rivers Drive."
Mr. Orron said "effectively there has been no response from the current leadership."
"East Windsor Township has set up an alternative coverage plan to provide emergency medical services, in light of the fact that East Windsor Rescue Squad, District II as currently constructed, will no longer be receiving calls and is no longer authorized to respond to any calls," he said. "Accordingly, East Windsor Rescue Squad, District II, as currently constructed, is no longer authorized to expend any public taxpayer funds currently in your control or possession or to expend any other funds which may have been raised through donations for the purpose of supporting East Windsor volunteer rescue services."
The township owns two ambulances and two SUVs, which were moved next door to the East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. 2.
"Ultimately because of that, the township decided on Monday to take back its vehicles and first responder from the Rescue II location and move them to the volunteer fire company to which is literally next door," Mr. Orron said. "The EMS services are currently being provided by volunteer emergency service volunteers who live in East Windsor and live in District II."
He said there would be no lapse in coverage.
"The township recognizes that that is a priority and we’ve arranged to ensure that coverage is in place with qualified EMS volunteers who live in the district," he said. "The only thing that has changed is that the vehicles are now parked on the next piece of property and are being operated by different EMS volunteers."
He said that they are EMTs who are either former members from Rescue II or current Rescue 1 members.
The volunteers cover the township during from 7 p.m. till 5 a.m. and Capital Health covers the township during the daytime on weekdays, he said.
Mr. Brady said in the letter that the ownership of the facility is subject to a "reverter provision, included in the deed, which provides that ownership shall revert to the East Windsor Township in the event that the property is no longer utilized for the provision of emergency services."
Mr. Orron said that the squad is a separate legal entity, a non-profit corporation.
"We anticipate that the land and the building will again be used for emergency services in the future," Mr. Brady said in the letter.
"We are ensuring the continuation of EMS services and we are acting to protect taxpayer money," Mr. Orron said.
There was no public discussion of the situation during Tuesday night’s Township Council meeting although several members of the squad were in attendance but did not speak during the public comment session of the meeting..
Chief Wassef was not present at the meeting.
Squad members declined to comment following the meeting and directed comments and questions to Chief Wassef and President Amanda Brooks.
Emails to squad officers seeking comment were not returned as of Wednesday.

