ALLENTOWN – Municipal officials in Allentown have formalized a shared services agreement with Upper Freehold Township for emergency medical services provided by Capital Health System.
Borough Council members passed a resolution on June 9 to make the arrangement official. Capital Health System has been providing services in the two neighboring communities since Feb. 1.
Each municipality will be an independent contractor with the vendor for services. The cost of the shared service will be $300,000 per year annually for four years beginning Feb. 1, 2020. Allentown’s share of that expense is 27.5% or $6,875 per month for the first 11 months of the contract, according to the resolution.
The amount payable by Allentown will not exceed $75,625 for the first year of services. Borough officials agreed to immediately pay Capital Health System for services rendered from Feb. 1 through June 30.
Mayor Thomas Fritts thanked Borough Attorney Greg Cannon for his work on the contract and said, “I worked with (Upper Freehold) Mayor (Stephen) Alexander on this agreement. The agreement solidifies first aid services in the borough, which are so critical.”
Capital Health System provides 24-hour emergency medical services in Allentown and Upper Freehold Township.
Allentown council members previously pledged to continue to make an annual donation to the Allentown First Aid Squad. In 2019, the borough made a $22,560 donation to the first aid squad. For 2020, the donation will be $12,597, according to the municipal budget.
According to the 2020 Upper Freehold Township budget, municipal officials have appropriated $222,000 for emergency medical services. In 2019, that line item was $0. In 2019, Upper Freehold officials made a $61,000 contribution to the Allentown First Aid Squad. The 2020 budget shows no appropriation to the first aid squad.
Officials in both towns worked together to enter into a shared services agreement for emergency medical services that are being provided by a third party and not by the Allentown First Aid Squad.
Allentown’s council members previously said the Public Safety Committee recommended that the governing body make an annual contribution of $6,000 to the first aid squad so it could continue its community education and outreach, its attendance at annual community events and sporting events, its maintenance of a youth cadet program, its cardiopulmonary resuscitation classes and the use of its community room.