By Amy Batista
The township has officially authorized who can serve as emergency medical service (EMS) responders in town and East Windsor Township Rescue Squad District II didn’t make the cut.
The council passed a resolution designating East Windsor Township Rescue Squad District I, East Windsor Township EMS No. 2, Capital Health Services, Robert Wood Johnson Health Network, and any other emergency services provider with whom the township contracts as those who can provide EMS in town. Councilman Marc Lippman abstained from the vote.
The council also unanimously approved a resolution to contract daytime emergency medical and ambulance services with Robert Wood Johnson Health Network beginning June 1.
”I vote and make my comments with great regret,” Mayor Janice Mironov said. “I’ve been the mayor for a number of years and never had a situation of this kind.”
For many years, the township of East Windsor has provided EMS to the residents of the township through a combination of voluntary rescue squad organizations and contracts with EMS providers. Township officials stopped East Windsor Township Rescue Squad District II members from responding to 911 calls at the end of November last year after their chief, Jonathan Wassef, allegedly made an unauthorized purchase of a new Chevrolet Tahoe truck for the squad with taxpayers’ money. The purchase was made despite meetings with Township Manager James Brady and Chief of Police Harry Marshall where squad officers were told that township officials would not authorize the purchase.
In documents obtained through an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request, the SUV was purchased on Oct. 17 from the Day Chevrolet at 1600 Golden Mile Highway in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. The purchase was made with a cashier’s check from First Choice Bank for the amount of $36,487.57 with East Windsor Township Rescue Squad District II President Amanda Brooks’ name on it.
”Since the onset of the unauthorized purchase of the SUV that was made contrary to specific directions including that time and since that time there has been a pattern of conduct by the group in question that has resulted in the loss of faith, confidence, and trust by the township in the ability of the group to be able to oversee and deliver services and be accountable and work in a cooperative manner with the township,” Mayor Mironov said.
Rescue Squad District II has filed a lawsuit against the township, Mayor Mironov, PNC Bank, and PNC Bank Manager Linda Havrilla for freezing its bank accounts and shutting it down.
”The mayor has without appropriate authority and acting by mayoral fiat improperly terminated a lease with the rescue squad pursuant to which township emergency vehicles were housed at the rescue squad property for which the township paid rent,” the lawsuit states. “Moreover, East Windsor asserts that the real property owned by the rescue squad is subject to a reverter clause which will result in the rescue squad’s loss of the property if it no longer provides emergency medical services to the citizens of East Windsor.”
Sean O’Conner, a republican candidate for council, said a serious conflict has risen out of the truck purchase.
”Now you are forced to settle this in court,” he said. “With that being said, I think it is crucial for all of us here tonight to acknowledge the fact that there is no specific written ordinance or law that you had explicitly referenced when you determined that the rescue squad should not purchase the vehicle. Unless you correct me here and now by citing a formal document with clear terms that the squad was knowingly held to, I think the only reasonable conclusion to make here is this is unfair and unjust and is a result of your mere disagreement with their decision.”
Steven Uccio, another republican candidate for council, said, “I still think there is still some room for the township and rescue squad to come together and settle this.”
East Windsor Township Rescue Squad District II Lt. Brian Foley said he is concerned with the current average response time to receive a first responder or ambulance in the township, which is 16 minutes.
”The rescue squad has brought up some serious allegations about increases in response times and a general sense in competence in the new rescue squad and I want to know if the manager, council or mayor want to respond to that to discredit the allegations,” Mr. Uccio said.
Mayor Mironov responded and said that the police chief and the township manager have been tasked to monitor the situation.
East Windsor Township Rescue Squad District II Deputy Chief Michael Foley said it’s not about politics it’s about public safety.
”I ask you to seriously think about the decisions that you have made,” he said. “There’s only one reason why we are still standing here today and it’s not to talk at every single council meeting. It’s actually to have our voices and our opinions and the facts heard.”
Chief Wassef said why would members stay and fight this long if the squad was truly wrong in its actions.
”Why would we file a lawsuit,” he asked.
Deputy Chief Foley said, “Why would any mayor or township elected or appointed official shut down a rescue squad? Obviously, they must not care about their residents and especially their senior citizens.”
The township is encouraging support and volunteers for its responding rescue squad organizations. Anyone interested in joining and becoming a local rescue squad volunteer should contact Chief Scott Prykanowski at chief @squad142.com or at 609-448-6321, or Chief Tristan Torres at Torresusn2004 @yahoo.com.
For more information about East Windsor Township Rescue Squad District II, visit www.squad146.com/contact.html.
