Photo and story by HaLeigh Abbott

Kennett Square Borough Council has passed a resolution giving formal notice that the borough will leave the Regional Fire and EMS Commission effective December 31, 2023.

The special council meeting was held at Borough Hall on June 29, and the resolution was unanimously agreed to by the present council members. Two council members, Bob Norris and Mayra Zavala, were absent during the meeting.

The Regional Fire and EMS Commission has been a contentious subject due to increasing costs of the services. 

Since 2018, Kennett Square Borough’s contribution has increased by 80 percent and is currently $457,957 for 2023. A review by the contracted consulting firm, Fitch & Associates, estimated costs to rise to over $700,000 in 2024.

The Kennett Fire and Emergency Management Services Regional Commission is an independent body formed in 2017. The mission is to lessen the burden on local governments by providing collaboration between municipalities, and combining resources and funds for the provision of fire, rescue and emergency services. Kennett Square Borough and the Kennett Fire Department are both part of the commission as separate entities.

A six-month notice to leave is required by the commission, but the Borough Council hopes to utilize this time to work collaboratively with the commission to solve rising cost issues. The evaluation by Fitch & Associates provided recommendations, including appointing an administrator, providing unified financial statements to all participating municipalities, and developing fiscal controls.

If Kennett Square Borough cannot find resolution with the Regional Fire Commission and leaves at the end of the year, the Borough will be responsible for creating their own contracts for Fire and EMS service providers and funding them accordingly. 

Borough Council President Doug Doerfler has confirmed: “Any and all plans to ensure consistent fire and EMS protection to the Borough residents will be discussed in a public forum. All opportunities for public input will be advertised, and, like any issues, residents can call or email the borough staff and their elected officials with suggestions and/or concerns.”

AJ McCarthy,  the chief of the Longwood Fire Company, expressed concern over the accuracy of the consulting report, and for the future costs of public safety for the borough. “You are making a big decision tonight that will have a lot of consequences, and in the next six months, I want to see the work,” said McCarthy. Longwood Fire Company will remain in the Regional Fire Commission regardless of the Borough Council decision, and may end up requiring their own contract with the borough to serve the population.

“It's very hard to make a decision that ultimately may be looked at as not caring about public safety when I just want to see more balance,” said Doerfler. “We are very hopeful that the Borough and Commission can work through some of the main concerns before the end of the year and find grounds for continued regional partnership.”