The elected boards of Spring Garden Township and Springettsbury Township often discussed the sharing of resources when it came to the fire service. Each was operating its own department, which mirrored themselves in terms of personnel, equipment, and operations. To have a better understanding of the parties involved, we will review each township.
An Ad-Hoc Committee was created on June 22, 2004, by the Springettsbury Township Board of Supervisors and Spring Garden Township Board of Commissioners. The committee members consisted of Austin Hunt, William Schenck, Zane Sjoberg, Jon Countess, Ellen Freireich, Thomas Englerth, Dave Meckley, Donald Bishop, William Mader, and Todd Langheine. The committee was charged to develop and investigate the economic and service viability of providing a combined Fire Service, within the following parameters:
- Provide dependable, effective fire and rescue services to the public.
- Continuation of those services provided beyond traditional fire and rescue duties.
- Development of recommended Standard Operating Guidelines.
- Reducing and/or stabilizing costs while increasing efficiencies in services.
- Development of a central administrative and operational structure.
- Shared resources and training programs.
- Reduction of unnecessary duplication of equipment and services while enhancing cooperative purchasing opportunities.
- Preservation and enhancement of the volunteer fire service.
To determine the process, the committee first reviewed the Township Departments.
Spring Garden Township
Spring Garden Township is located in York County and surrounds York City on three sides with a section of the City separating the Township into two parts. The intersection of Interstate 83 and US Route 30 are adjacent to Spring Garden Township. Spring Garden’s geographic area includes 6.7 square miles. The 2000 U.S. Census reflects a township population of 11,974 representing 4,180 households and 2,963 families. Spring Garden Township is a municipal corporation organized under the Pennsylvania First Class Township Code. The five-member Board of Commissioners is responsible for establishing policies of the Township, as well as other legislative responsibilities. The Township Manager oversees all departments of Spring Garden Township.
Springettsbury Township
Springettsbury Township is centrally located in York County, north and east of York City. It comprises 16.7 square miles of area. Two major traffic arteries traverse Springettsbury, Interstate 83 and U.S. Route 30. The 2000 U.S. Census reflects a population of 23,883 with a population density of 1,474 per square mile and 9,483 housing units. Springettsbury Township has the second largest municipal population in York County, smaller only than York City. According to York County Planning Commission projections, Springettsbury is expected to continue to grow by 9 percent between 2000 and 2010 and an additional 7.1 percent by 2020.
Springettsbury Township is a municipal corporation organized under the Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code. Since 1963, the Township has been governed under the Supervisor - Manager Form of government. The Board of Supervisors includes five members and is responsible for the establishment of the policies of the Township and other legislative responsibilities. A Township Manager, appointed by the Board of Supervisors, is the chief administrative officer of the Township and oversees all departments of the Township.
On March 15, 2005, the first Joint Fire Service (JFS) committee meeting was conducted. With the assistance of both township boards, Manager Greg Maust and Fire Chief Barry Emig from Spring Garden Township, Manager John Holman and Fire Chief Andrew Stern from Springettsbury Township, representatives from the career and volunteer firefighters, and members of the public, work commenced to develop the framework of the regional Department. The committee was assisted throughout the process by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
In 2006, Carroll Buracker and Associates, a professional emergency services consulting firm, were contracted to provide a comprehensive Joint Fire Services Plan. The study was conducted in eight phases to include data collection, interviews, observations and fact finding, analysis of data, comparative analysis, development of alternatives, preparation of the report and oral briefing. The report covered all facets of the charter municipalities and discussed various consolidation methods. The report was the product of participation from all interested parties and could not have been completed without the assistance and grant funding of DCED.
In 2007, the plan was approved by the JFS committee and a work plan was developed for the progression of the first consolidated combination Fire Department in Pennsylvania. A Charter Agreement was approved by the Townships, which called for the creation of a Fire Commission, the governing body of the new Department. The commission was comprised of two members from Spring Garden Township Board of Commissioners and two members of the Board of Supervisors from Springettsbury Township. Additionally, there would be one alternate for each township and a citizen-at-large who would serve a two year term, with the choice of selecting the citizen alternating between townships.
The First Fire Commissioners consisted of:
William Schenck (Springettsbury Township)
Austin Hunt (Spring Garden – Citizen-at-large)
Donald Bishop (Springettsbury Township)
Holly Gumke (Spring Garden Township)
John Fullmer (Spring Garden Township)
Nicholas Gurerri (Springettsbury Alternate)
Richard Guyer (Spring Garden Alternate)
Steve Hovis - Solicitor
On September 18, 2007, the first meeting of the York Area United Fire and Rescue Commission was held in Springettsbury Township. The Solicitor for the Commission Steve Hovis, called for the nomination of officers. The first officers of the Commission were:
Chairman – William Schenck
Vice Chairman – Austin Hunt
Secretary-Treasurer – John Fullmer
Once the framework for the Fire Commission was in place, approval was granted to advertise for the first Fire Chief of the newly formed regional department. After a nationwide search, the committee offered the position to Robert McCoy. Chief McCoy served as the Deputy Fire Chief of Operations for the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department in Maryland, which consisted of over 700 career personnel, approximately 1,300 volunteers, 44 fire stations, 93 Engines, 23 Ladder Trucks, 13 Rescue Squads, 41 Ambulances and 12 Advanced Life Support units.
Chief McCoy officially started with the new Department on February 11, 2008, utilizing the previous York Medical Center building, owned by Springettsbury Township, as the first YAUFR Headquarters. Barry Emig, the Fire Chief from Spring Garden Township prior to the consolidation, was now serving as Deputy Fire Chief. On March 10, 2008, the first Administrative Assistant, Ms. Linda Bayman was hired to assist the Fire Chief. Additionally, Ms. Sandy Ratcliffe from Springettsbury Township Finance Department was appointed as the Finance Director for the Department.
On March 18, 2008, the Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief were officially sworn in by Senator Mike Waugh, a long time friend of the fire service, during the Fire Commission meeting. The consolidation was scheduled to begin operations on May 5, 2008, and the management staff continued to address administrative and operational tasks of the original work plan. The effective date established York County Company 89 and the use of individual station numbers of Grantley (13), Victory (15), Springetts (16) and Commonwealth (17) ceased.
On May 5, 2008, the consolidation took effect with a ribbon cutting ceremony conducted at the YAUFR Headquarters. Commission Chairman Schenck served as the Master of Ceremonies and Representative Eugene DePasquale served as the Keynote Speaker to a crowd consisting of representatives from each township, the charter departments, representatives from neighboring departments, members of the business communities and citizens.
The YAUFR Commission and management staff worked throughout the first year continuing to develop the structure of the Department in the areas of consolidating rules and Standard Operating Procedures, volunteer representation and consolidation, labor/management negotiations, capital planning, and many other items necessary to the success of the new Department. The first year also brought change as Holly Gumke moved out of Spring Garden Township and resigned as a Commissioner. She was very instrumental in the building process and her services would be greatly missed. She was replaced by new Spring Garden Commissioner Tom Warman.
In 2009, the Department lost two instrumental members of the design team. In January of 2009, Nick Gurreri stepped down as an alternate to the Fire Commission and was replaced by Springettsbury Township Supervisor George Dvoryak. Additionally, the Department received notification that YAUFR Deputy Fire Chief Barry Emig would be retiring after nearly 40 years of combined volunteer and career service to the citizens of York County. Chief Emig had been instrumental in the consolidation efforts and his contribution to the fire service is greatly appreciated.
The Department strived to enhance the efficiency of the fire service in the charter municipalities while maintaining fiscal responsibility. In June of 2009, York Area United Fire and Rescue sold the first of its excessive apparatus fleet. The Air Truck, formally the Rescue Squad from Springetts Station 16, was sold to Nippenose Valley Volunteer Fire Company in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania. Additionally, Truck 15 was advertised for sale as it was a redundant service provided by the Department.
In November of 2009, the Fire Commission, with the assistance of both Spring Garden and Springettsbury approved the purchase of two 2010 Pierce Arrow Pumpers. With the purchase of the newer, more effective pumpers, three pumpers from the existing fleet would be removed from service to reduce the fleet by one unit. The reduction was due to excessive units and would not affect service delivery.
On November 16, 2009, the York Area United Fire and Rescue hired their first Battalion Chief, Daniel Hoff. Battalion Chief Hoff came to the Department from Springettsbury Township where he served as a Fire Captain. Battalion Chief Hoff would be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the fire stations and EMS units.
On April 29, 2010, the York Area United Fire and Rescue Commission and the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 2377, signed the first joint contract for the new Department. The development of this collective bargaining agreement was made possible through the dedicated work of professionals on both the labor and management side, who worked for the past three years to integrate the separate municipal agreements. The agreement will help to form the foundation of labor relations for YAUFR and enable YAUFR to continue providing excellent service.
On September 1, 2011, Fire Chief Richard Shank retired from the Manchester Department of Fire Services after a distinguished career as a firefighter and Township Fire Chief. The Manchester Township Board of Supervisors elected to contract management services from YAUFR as they evaluated joining the regional department. The process of sharing management services and resources has allowed the departments to come together under common operational procedures to allow for efficient emergency services delivery.
The York Area United Fire and Rescue is dedicated to the delivery of the finest fire and rescue services to the citizens of the participating townships while maintaining fiscal responsibility. We look forward to more success as we continue to develop into the future.