HIGHTSTOWN: Neighboring mayor irked by ‘bad deal’ comment on EMS

Theokas: Comment wasn’t criticism of Robbinsville, just budget ‘fact’

By Vic Monaco, Managing Editor
   About two weeks ago, Hightstown Borough Councilman Mike Theokas looked at the borough’s half-million-dollar budget shortfall and called the town’s $208,000-per-year emergency medical services contract with Robbinsville “a bad deal.”
   None of his colleagues disagreed with the criticism that some also had made at budget time last year. And soon after, Mayor Bob Patten, who forged the deal with Robbinsville two years ago, reached out to East Windsor for EMS help in the future.
   About two weeks after Councilman Theokas’ comment, Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried wants everyone to know he is none too pleased, and he claims Hightstown has rejected an idea that could save it up to one third of its cost.
   Pointing out Mr. Theokas joined the council only about two months ago, Mayor Fried said, “Whatever Hightstown decides to do, I would recommend that council members have all the facts before they declare something ‘a bad deal.’ … For Robbinsville to be chastised after coming to the aid of a sister municipality is not a good sign for other potential partners in shared services.”
   ”Those most familiar with the EMS agreement know that Robbinsville has provided outstanding service for a fair price,” Mayor Fried added.
   Councilman Theokas said he told Mayor Fried on Tuesday that his comments were not meant as a criticism of Robbinsville; simply a statement related to the borough’s quandary in trying to afford the annual payment.
   ”I respect what Robbinsville has done for us, but that doesn’t make it a best scenario for Hightstown,” Mr. Theokas said in an interview with the Herald. “We need to have a better plan, and our own captain of our volunteer service said that.
   ”Maybe I should have been more sensitive. … But even though it hasn’t worked in the past, I believe the best avenue is to work things out with East Windsor, especially when their contract comes up in 2010. I don’t think it’s in our best interest to go another full year (with Robbinsville); we just can’t afford it. The deal was very helpful, but it is no longer good for us now. To me, it’s a fact. … I’m doing what I feel I have to do.”
   Despite what Mr. Theokas termed a “positive conversation” with Mayor Fried, the Robbinsville leader sent a letter that day to the Borough Council, Mayor Patten and the Herald outlining the facts he feels are being ignored by some. Among them, according to Mayor Fried:
   • Robbinsville was approached by Hightstown in early 2007 when the borough faced a renewal with its private provider that would be in the range of $275,000 per year.
   ”Although we were in the first weeks of absorbing the former Washington Township Fire District, we worked quickly to get an agreement in place before the old private contract expired,” he wrote.
   • Prior to the deal with Robbinsville, Hightstown received no revenue from insurance billings.
   ”For 2007 and 2008, Hightstown taxpayers received $56,193 in billing revenue,” he claimed. “If one subtracts $30,801 in last year’s insurance billings from $208,000 in payroll, the net cost is almost $100,000 less than the borough faced in 2007.”
   • A state grant, obtained by Robbinsville, covered multiple startup costs for equipment and also paid $25,000 to retrofit an outdated ventilation system in the First Aid Squad building in Hightstown.
   • Soon after Robbinsville made “significant improvements” to the squad building, Hightstown was able to convince volunteers to increase coverage from two overnight shifts to three, thus cutting down on its payments to Robbinsville.
   Mayor Fried also wrote that Hightstown rejected a Robbinsville suggestion to cut costs by up to one third by “dispatching our ambulance from the Robbinsville firehouse during slow, overnight hours.”
   Borough Councilman Larry Quattrone, longtime liaison to the volunteer First Aid Squad, and Councilman Jeff Bond both said Wednesday that they had never heard of that suggestion. Mr. Quattrrone said he was doubtful that much could be saved, while Mr. Bond, speaking at the council budget meeting, said it should be looked into.
   Mr. Quattrone said the billing revenue, which borough officials have said was only $15,500 in 2008, is not sufficient. He said hopes borough volunteers can soon take over all night coverage. He declined comment when told of Mayor Fried’s statement about Robbinsville having helped increase borough volunteerism.
   Nonetheless, he said he feels obligated to keep a working relationship with Robbinsville for another three years because the grant referred to by Mayor Fried was based on a five-year projection.
   Councilman Bond, who also has been critical of the deal, and Mayor Patten did not respond to requests for comment on Mayor Fried’s letter.
   Staff writer Sean Ruppert contributed to this story.