[0:03] appreciate all the equipment.
[0:29] I used to have
calendar.
[0:48] Yes.
[1:07] » Did you see
me and my son wasn't married?
[1:12] They took a picture of myself drinking
that sent it to the guys.
[1:20] My second
[1:35] [Music]
[1:39] stand
[1:47] of the republic for it stands one nation
under God indivisibley
[1:54] and justice for all.
[2:19] I don't know what to do with it.
[2:29] » Notice
[2:32] public
[2:39] Mr.
>> Mr.
[2:42] » Yes.
[2:46] » Mr. Corgenda
[2:52] item. These are the items that are on
the agenda.
[2:57] The
state addressed
[3:18] a number of pictures
and problems that were going on.
[3:26] director
[3:31] say there today I saw some soccer there
And I'm very happy to see that
[3:58] we reorganized in January. The first
resolution we passed resolution
[4:04] which is adopting
Robert's order for the meeting. I'm
[4:08] going to read what the rules are so you
know what behavior expects
[4:19] the open
provides the public with an opportunity
[4:22] to comside.
[4:34] body
[4:38] issues that a member of the public
concern.
[4:45] public.
[4:49] [Music]
[5:02] [Music]
[5:34] I'm not going to interrupt you.
[5:41] [Applause]
the door
[5:51] out there.
[Applause]
[5:54] » Open the door.
>> On your hands
[5:59] on your hands.
[6:04] » You open the door. Open these doors.
>> Capacity.
[6:10] » Everybody deserves to hear what's going
on.
[6:12] » We open.
>> We don't hear you outside.
[6:22] » She hiding.
>> She's hiding. Where she at?
[6:32] You people do not behave.
[6:41] » You ought to resign. You ought to
resign. You're disgrace.
[6:46] [Applause]
You're going through chemo. Get out of
[6:58] here.
>> I make a motion. Calm down.
[7:04] We can't hear anybody.
[7:08] [Music]
>> You don't do anything.
[7:14] » You do nothing.
>> You're doing it in close session. So,
[7:17] nobody knows about it. We don't know
about it till we talk about it.
[7:22] » You're all corrupt.
[7:26] » Thank you.
>> You're all corrupt.
[7:30] Good job.
[7:39] » Come on.
>> No reason.
[7:48] » You shouldn't be on the committee.
[7:55] You're going to take your
[7:59] cash break.
[Music]
[8:14] [Music]
[8:24] They they they knew what was going to
happen and they ch and they ch and they
[8:29] chose to do it. They knew how many
people they should have had this
[8:36] open.
[8:55] [Music]
[9:01] But you know what it is.
[9:25] They are
the red
[9:30] [Applause]
[9:48] is
[10:15] You're not the only one.
[10:46] Oh my god.
[11:00] probably
[11:16] [Music]
I may or may not
[11:44] my my husband in 2014
in a very serious vehicle accident.
[11:50] Um he
trooper
[11:56] trauma um overnight he had multiple
injuries.
[12:05] Um the way home I felt good. Thank God
for I felt good and um EMS was there too
[12:14] and I want to
[12:25] Okay.
[12:29] When a cardiac arrest
[12:39] and other vital
[12:46] [Music]
[12:56] Chances are
[13:03] none of us
have
[13:10] a family that is in healthare.
[13:27] Oh my.
[13:32] [Applause]
[13:52] » Everyone cooperates. We will listen to
you. We want to hear from you. But if
[13:56] not, the meeting will be terminated if
the list continues.
[14:02] So, it's up to you.
>> Blood's on your hand. Thank you.
[14:04] » We will terminate the meeting and we'll
be happy to schedule another meeting to
[14:09] hear your concerns. But for tonight, we
have business we need to take care,
[14:13] including listening to you.
[14:27] And they are in the back. If anyone
wants a copy of them,
[14:31] » we're going to go back to public.
Anything on the agenda that you want to
[14:37] comment on, please come forward
and address.
[14:54] [Applause]
[15:04] Good evening, Mayor.
[15:16] Can you turn off
township? Currently 106 road is included
[15:21] and I believe it's supposed to be 106
roads. Please confirm otherwise
[15:27] accurate address for transparency.
Second, items about 2025-105.
[15:33] While most positions received 3% across
the board, some key roles did not,
[15:38] including the fire inspector, the DPW
part-time labor and snow cloud driver as
[15:44] well as utility one supervisor clarify
the reasons behind these exceptions.
[15:50] Additionally, I want to highlight that
there's someone making $75 per hour that
[15:54] pays $156,000
annually if they were full-time staff.
[15:58] While I believe compensation is
important and to retain qualified
[16:03] personnel, it's also important to
consider the impact of township budget.
[16:07] Regarding sub officials, I know that
there's an increase from 2787 to $555
[16:12] per hour. That's a 97.3%
[16:19] determining
such an adjustment. Third, community
[16:25] engagement. I'd like to personally thank
all the residents who attended the
[16:28] housing of the two new township fire
apparatus on August 23rd. It was a great
[16:32] turnout and a true testament to what we
could uh achieve. The township committee
[16:37] and fire officers work together. Events
like this strengthen the community bonds
[16:42] and showcase the value of collaboration.
Fourth, the RFP of the architectural
[16:47] services repurpose 134 wrote in 134.
Could the committee explain the scope of
[16:54] this RFP? How detailed will the plan be
for repurposing the facility? Uh how
[17:00] much does the committee anticipate being
comfortable with spending on this
[17:04] project? Clear guidance on this will
help the residents understand the
[17:07] township's attention and financial
planning regarding the capital budget
[17:13] recommended fire department utility
truck.
[17:16] Can the committee clarify whether these
items have been removed from the budget
[17:19] and if so the reasoning behind that
decision? Transparency on these items is
[17:23] important for residents to understand
the priorities and strength of budget.
[17:27] Finally, your terms on the budget, I
don't believe they are correct. If you
[17:31] guys go back, I think it's page one,
your terms for when you are elected
[17:35] officials through three years. I don't
think they're correct.
[17:45] Anyone
[17:48] else?
[18:26] I'm commenting on the RFP for
architectural services
[18:34] regarding old town hall the
for
[18:40] rehabilitation.
[18:43] I like discussion as to what you mean by
rehabilitation. The scope of the work
[18:49] for all the town hall has always been
stated as being extremely broad. We know
[18:54] that as a culturally important building,
but as a historically historical
[19:00] building, it's pretty comprom.
All of the work to date for that
[19:07] building.
[19:11] [Music]
[19:28] I would appreciate hearing your
discussion what your plans for
[19:35] what the scope of that work might be.
[19:49] They wanted
[19:59] to
[20:03] know
[20:09] the right
[20:12] proposals to reuse that building or
repurpose that building in the solution
[20:17] of oldtown.
[20:20] other building
needs. So this is all new
[20:29] and what that restoration rehabilitation
might
[20:41] not is no longer a consideration focus
on the ESD. I don't think that's well
[20:48] here, but I'd like to hear what you have
to say. I want to know where you stand
[20:54] as a whole
[21:02] know.
[21:11] What's up
[21:16] [Applause]
Hold it high. Hold it.
[21:42] » My name is Nichla with 15 Boulevard.
Mayor, your He ran against on honest,
[21:48] open, transparent government.
>> Yes, this is with the RP of the
[21:52] building.
>> Answers to residents questions,
[21:56] concerns, not thank you for your
comments. You're all here wanting
[21:59] answers. It is deeply disappointing,
even tragic. The elected official move
[22:04] to stay home with emergency service
agency serviced me for over seven years.
[22:09] And to do it with such little
transparency and respect for our
[22:12] community volunteers who dedicate their
lives to serving it.
[22:16] um not getting a termination notice and
no sign content replacement that is not
[22:21] responsible leadership mayor bar in the
interview of the pine tribute you say
[22:25] that you have every confidence in
proposing the suspect that April 11
[22:30] for municipalities and other officials
you said and I quote as elected
[22:34] officials who have responsibility to
provide service to our residents well I
[22:38] ask you how is cancelelling TR's
contract signed agreement for their
[22:42] replacement fulfillment I'm
responsibility. How do we make community
[22:47] without a guaranteed 24/7 DMS provider
show responsible governance? To many of
[22:51] us, it's going to look like a lack of
leadership and transparency and perhaps
[22:55] a hidden agenda to create up state for
funds for a new council building. Hence
[22:59] the lower
emergency service subcommittee, a group
[23:04] supposedly formed to assess this
transition only once before making this
[23:09] drastic decision. one is not engaging
with a formality.
[23:14] The main uh justification you guys have
for the action of TRS is that written
[23:18] that was 30% of calls in the first two
quarters of 2025. The TRS August 256
[23:24] statement clearly says what led to the
statistics and provides a level of
[23:28] accountability and transparency that has
been completely absent from our township
[23:33] government throughout this process. If
you haven't seen it, I urge you to go to
[23:37] Facebook to read their post. And here's
the most pressing question. How is it
[23:41] going to improve response time or
coverage? Southampton manager, I'm
[23:47] sorry,
can tell the public that they do not
[23:50] have the capacity to provide 24/7
coverage to both Shong and Tabernacle.
[23:54] Lumberton does not cover 100% of their
calls either. That's why mutual aid
[23:57] agreements exist. Instead of abruptly
dispanding TRS and destabilizing
[24:01] emergency services in the process, why
not work with them? Why not strengthen
[24:05] their staffing improvement aid agreement
and investment is good and safe our
[24:09] community
has history experience and local
[24:13] commitment the kind of community based
service can't just be replaced with a
[24:17] spreadsheet promise we deserve better
deserves better and the volunteers have
[24:23] served this township selflessly for
decades deserve better far more respect
[24:26] from all you guys have shown that
[24:41] com items.
[24:46] » These are agenda items.
[24:56] about
[25:00] anything else.
[25:05] 134 New Road.
>> I'm Juliani. I'm actually a res and I'm
[25:12] one of the residents that this will
impact because this doesn't just impact
[25:16] tabernacle. It impacts Shimon. It
impacts Medford. It impacts South Camp.
[25:22] This careless decision impacts five
schools that serve 2400 students. Do you
[25:30] want to know
[25:35] students with food allergies? Medical
intervention is 30 minutes to death with
[25:40] anoplastic shock. You want to limit to
one ambulance based on the plans that
[25:45] have officially been released.
[25:50] Make it sense.
>> Three ambulances were dispatched to the
[25:53] 206 accident in Aion Lake.
>> You want to go down to one ambulance?
[25:58] Who else will respond? East, they're 30
minutes away. Medford, they're 20.
[26:04] Medford lakes are 15 20 depending on
location. Southampton and Lumberton 30
[26:09] minutes. I don't see anybody in private
medical vehicles out here. I go into Mar
[26:14] and Medford all the time. It'll take six
months before I see a private virtual
[26:18] paramedic truck. What do you want? Try
care virtual Capitol Hill who responded
[26:23] to Peterson. Tabernacle is the only
Tabernacle rescue squad is the only
[26:29] squad in the county with stern
equipment. You want to take that away?
[26:35] What is wrong with you? What edgy
headed?
[26:40] [Applause]
Because I'm 23. I'm a graduate of Senica
[26:52] from 2020. T arrest responded to my
accident on Old Mills Road. I had the
[26:57] big truck with the chief and m knowing
Mr. Canard from Senica could respond to
[27:03] that accident. You're asking teachers to
not respond to their own students.
[27:09] Where is the logic in that? Where is the
logic in having people who don't know
[27:14] their students
respond?
[27:18] And so be it on your head if the student
dies because of this, negligent, gross
[27:24] overreach.
I hope you're happy with yourselves. And
[27:29] if you are, shame on you for every
single decision, for making this
[27:34] absolute corrupt decision. Shame on you
for every single
[27:41] [Applause]
[27:49] You look at me like you're bored. Like
you don't want to be here. You skipped
[27:53] your meeting in August.
Were you going to skip this one? You You
[27:57] went immediately into executive session.
None of us thought you were even going
[28:00] to come back out. So make your
transparency because early you don't
[28:04] give a
[Applause]
[28:22] What more do you need to hear?
>> Nobody
[28:27] decision.
>> What if it was your family?
[28:38] information.
[28:45] Was there any combination of discussions
between the emergency services and the
[28:50] township?
I think there's a lot of concern about
[28:55] whether
[29:14] What was the substance of that?
[29:23] How were the people
represent the public? Obviously, you
[29:28] guys can only
public. How were those people chosen?
[29:32] What the level of expertise. Do we have
someone who has a background in
[29:37] emergency services in the medical world
to be able to bring expertise
[29:43] on everything, but we should be picking
people who are experts that have part of
[29:47] that discussion and to represent our
community. So I would like some
[29:51] substantial information
so that the members of the public
[29:56] understand the thought process and then
we can agree or disagree. And I suspect
[30:01] that we're going to have concerned about
[30:06] what was discussion. How many times did
you emergency services
[30:13] how much did you engage with other
emergency services
[30:18] [Applause]
from the public?
[30:40] I believe there's going to be a
presentation later
[30:45] on.
[31:16] My big concern with this transition of
there is a 35minut response time from
[31:25] the furthest point to the furthest
What I'm hearing is you're looking at
[31:31] Southampton
that's going to come in and assist
[31:36] Southampton has one ambulance 247.
[31:43] There is no other volunteers there to
answer second grade.
[31:49] We have a hard enough time getting to
the hospital based on our location here.
[31:55] Someone talked about that's Horrible,
horrible situation. But my other
[32:00] question is to they provide service
football
[32:10] to provide an ambulance to
[32:16] football field just standby. So what
happens to all those people? I'm very
[32:21] very very concerned about the time frame
to get an ambulance when there isn't a
[32:26] dedicated
station 247
[32:32] doesn't
[32:36] answer the call which is quite frequent
by the time they get back down here
[32:41] something
[32:45] I I think there has to be a better
solution to this impacting the lives of
[32:50] every I have a child who's bad
allergies. God help me if he goes into
[32:54] an wind up in my car and pray the whole
way to the hospital. I'm going to get
[32:59] him there in time. I'm not going to get
a time frame to another
[33:10] of multiple
tabernacle. tabernacle.
[33:18] None of these organizations have enough
staff to supply extra cost. The whole
[33:25] volume is going down, ladies and
gentlemen. It is going up and up and up.
[33:33] [Applause]
[33:56] You got to speak up. We have to speak
up.
[34:00] I live across the street from
Tourette's. Sometimes
[34:08] with Tourette's um this is not the same
for everybody but
[34:13] [Music]
medical diagnosis. So sometimes when I
[34:18] get sick
[34:21] I get locked in my own body. I cannot
move. I cannot talk.
[34:27] It is scary having to wait.
[34:38] It feels like hours.
[34:45] » Are you guys listening?
[34:56] » People should not have to wait. when
they are scared, when they don't know
[35:01] what's happening.
[35:05] That's all I
[35:19] should be familiar with showing up, not
so
[35:26] you trust
[35:30] Tim
[35:36] and the assistant chief of the emergency
[35:43] respond
[35:51] for the task
[36:02] I'm here tonight.
[36:07] Okay. What you're doing does not
justffect
[36:10] affect
[36:14] [Music]
[36:20] [Music]
[36:24] You're an undurcri
[36:44] sit up there and I don't know, ignore
people.
[36:51] [Applause]
for you. You owe them a
[36:58] » service.
[37:03] [Applause]
[37:15] portion of the meeting
[37:20] on agenda item. You're welcome to
>> this should be the agenda.
[37:31] » Excuse me. It's a violation of
follow agenda.
[37:39] So why don't you just
[38:03] com
[38:07] expecting the state police to pick up
the emergency squad because I don't see
[38:14] them represented here and I'll tell you
everything. They don't have the
[38:19] equipment. They don't have they cannot
give injections to save a life.
[38:26] What are you thinking? I spent 22 years
in the US Army before I came here
[38:37] » again. This is on agenda items. You have
comment on agenda items. Now is the time
[38:43] to talk about that agenda items. If you
have a general comment, it will be later
[38:48] in the meeting.
>> There wasn't enough agendas on agenda
[38:51] items.
>> Can we have an example of some of the
[38:52] agenda items?
[39:07] This is a question.
[39:38] how much you're willing to spend
building
[39:42] all of our money for the purpose of
[39:47] emergency
[39:51] options that would be better
for us.
[40:03] [Applause]
[40:37] Why
[40:44] you guys don't own that building? We
[Applause]
[41:02] that building. There's no reason to
authorize that building.
[41:11] [Applause]
[41:17] You got trailers. Oh, the trailers
[41:25] instead of rent. We got
buildings around here that could be
[41:32] purchased
much less expense than an
[41:40] actual rec.
[41:47] And our voices will be heard.
[Applause]
[42:11] Mr.
[42:15] » We got another one.
>> Got another one.
[42:24] » You missed the meeting in August. You
got to listen.
[42:27] » That's right.
>> Got to listen.
[42:39] Mr.
[42:56] » Yes. Number four.
My name's Ryan. I'm new to the area and
[43:03] I'm hoping and I want to thank the
principal
[43:07] years and I have a question about what
is all this about
[43:16] the resolved
[43:23] I'd like to know
my time to explain that to me.
[43:33] [Music]
[43:51] Mr.
>> Mr.
[43:54] Mr. Oiler
[44:10] April 28.
[44:14] » We can't hear a word.
[44:19] » We can't hear you.
[44:34] Mr. Fragusky.
>> Yes.
[44:37] » Mr. Oiler.
>> Yes.
[44:38] » Deputy Mayor McCor.
[44:45] » Please speak up.
[44:51] Submission to build 10,680,240
[44:57] 18
[45:03] » Mr. Musky.
>> Yes.
[45:06] » Mr. Oiler.
>> Yes.
[45:07] » Deputy Mayor McDonald.
>> Yes. Mayor Harden.
[45:09] » Yes.
>> New business and discussion items.
[45:13] Brunson County is seeking preliminary
approval of an eastern purchase that
[45:16] requires no
This is for the farm east and west
[45:25] » Mr.
McCloski.
[45:28] » Yes,
>> Mr. Oiler.
[45:29] » Yes,
[45:34] » RFP for architectural services for the
repurpose of new road and rehabilitation
[45:39] of street road.
[45:55] I would like to discuss
[46:07] what is what is it for
you?
[46:29] They're looking to table that resolution
for further debate while they gather
[46:33] more information and report on it.
[46:39] » We have a second on that motion.
Mr.
[46:44] Musky
>> Mr.
[46:48] Mayor
[46:52] » request for tabernacle rescue squad to
place temporary signs in the public
[46:56] right away.
[47:09] in the past. I don't know if they gave
you parameters on it, but this is my
[47:13] first day back. Um, you did have I think
it was second, you did ask for certain
[47:18] things not being a sight line.
Um, I don't know.
[47:24] » They can't put anything,
>> right? Some people don't realize that or
[47:30] understand that.
I don't know if you want me to put that
[47:37] property
>> typically
[47:47] under
[47:57] sign. There's a large signific
[48:21] location.
It does not say how many signs, but I
[48:24] can certainly put that in there.
[48:31] [Applause]
[48:51] Yes, we did.
>> So, Mr.
[48:55] » Moski, yes.
>> Mr.
[49:05] [Music]
Um, okay. 2025 capital budget. Nothing
[49:10] has changed from when we presented the
budget to you back in April. Um, so what
[49:16] we had on there, I just want to know
for a bond or to get the authorization
[49:22] of the debt.
Um, rebate board park security um I'm
[49:29] sorry that fire police utility truck for
that was requested pickup truck related
[49:35] equipment for OEM utility tax vehicle
for OEM was requested three ros
[49:46] for public works with the year um we're
going to be able to reduce that amount
[49:51] 90,000 originally by 8900
that we'll be able to use community
[49:56] grant money and we'll also sell the 4400
which we discussed at the time of the
[50:01] budget. So we will be getting rid of
piece of equipment for that as well
[50:18] » yes
>> Mr. Oiler
[50:19] » yes
>> Mayor McDonald
[50:23] » and I have a couple things just as the
administrator if you don't mind. Um the
[50:28] county announced two shredding events.
Uh they're going to be September 21st uh
[50:32] this year at November 2nd from 9:00 a.m.
to 100 p.m. at the DC building.
[50:39] And then uh we were awarded $125,000
for the 2025 county art improvement
[50:46] project for relocating field number two
at Patty Boer and additional parking lot
[50:52] where field number two I believe at the
moment. So this will be a phase project
[50:59] we have estimated,000
project. We're only getting 125. So
[51:04] we'll start the project. We'll do what
we can. Um if the county again next
[51:10] year. We'll put
I'll also include the budget in case
[51:15] this is the first time in five years the
county has offered this grand money and
[51:19] if I had not put the reimbursement of
the 2020 mal grant that prior
[51:25] administrations had not done the
reimbursement for we would not been
[51:30] approved for this. So we had $161,500
sitting out there that paid for and
[51:36] didn't bother to get the reimbursement.
So that work was filed and the money's
[51:41] already
[52:01] Uh this is for consent agenda
resolutions. There is no ordinance for
[52:05] second reading resolution 2025-104
emergency permit for members of the
[52:12] tabernacle fire department.
[52:16] Resolution 2025105
approval of 2025 salaries for employees
[52:23] and officials for various positions.
Resolution 2025106
[52:27] resolution of tabernacle county
Burlington state of New Jersey
[52:32] authorizing the sale of surplus property
by open public auction in accordance
[52:36] with NJSA 3812-13
and NJAC 534-59
[52:44] resolution 2025107
appointment township health broker and
[52:49] of contractor professional services
resolution 2025108
[52:54] Appointment of administrative assistant
Maline Ford. Resolution 2025109
[52:59] authorized membership and individual
mutual aid and assistance agreement with
[53:04] participating units. Resolution 2025-
110 authorized cancellation of certain
[53:11] property taxes to a 100% totally
disabled veteran exemption. Resolution
[53:17] 2025 1112 and 113 are also for
authorization cancellation of property
[53:24] tax 100% totally disabled veteran
exemption. Mayor, if you'd like, I can
[53:31] answer a couple of those questions if
you'd like and we're asking the public.
[53:36] Um, if I remember them all correctly,
the sub code officials, we have two sub
[53:40] code officials in this township is Mr.
Boyd and uh Mr. Bowley. If either one of
[53:46] them are out for a sick, meaning an
extended sick more than a week's time or
[53:52] a vacation, we have to hire a sub code
from the outside. No sub codes are
[53:57] coming in for the 2782 is posted in our
ordinance. So, we have raised that $55
[54:03] to try and get people to serve
when um there was a question about the
[54:10] $75 an hour. That's the parttime
position is when I was out. Um, we have
[54:15] to have a clerk. So, that was necessary.
That is not something that would be a
[54:20] full-time position at any time. Um does
anyone remember any other questions
[54:26] » related to that ordinance or resolution
[54:33] driver and all and part-time laborers
are seasonal employees they
[54:44] director position was moved to the front
page they're an exemped
[54:49] as an hour
so I tax for them all. You can see me
[54:54] after the meeting. I'm happy to get an
answer for you.
[54:59] » That's because we had a vacancy in the
position and we'll have a brand new um
[55:03] employee starting and we don't want them
to be the same employee uh hourly rate
[55:07] as somebody who's already been here for
more than a year.
[55:11] » Thank you for reminding me. And uh we'll
fix that road in the actual resolution.
[55:18] Thanks for bringing that to our
attention. I believe that answer.
[55:26] » Oh, we'll fix that as well. We had asked
for that and um
[55:40] » Mr.
>> Yes.
[55:42] » Miss McCloskey.
>> Yes.
[55:44] » Mr. Oiler.
>> Yes.
[55:46] » Mayor McDonald.
>> Yes. Mayor
[55:51] » we have an application for research
fruit and vegetable for a fall festival.
[55:55] Again, this is making you aware of it.
It was sent off to any um department
[56:02] that services were requested.
[56:07] Do you have any questions or concerns on
the activity? Thank you. Administrator
[56:12] over report is attached to the agenda.
Uh the monthly miscellaneous funs
[56:17] collected were $32,499.
Tax collector for July 25 receipts
[56:23] $71,287.
[56:27] I'm just going to add in that the tax
bills are getting mailed out tomorrow
[56:32] and they are available in the whip
system. Uh no report engineers no
[56:37] report. Do you have anything this
evening?
[56:44] EMS report
[56:49] get online recreation director we don't
have a report but I know he's here does
[56:54] he have anything
>> thank you public works director
[57:00] submitted the report part of the packet
and online subcommittee reports I was
[57:04] just told there are nothing um committee
comments Mr.
[57:09] Thank you.
>> Yes.
[57:13] » Okay.
[57:25] » So, I wanted to give you a subcommittee
[57:31] I wanted to give you a subcommittee
presentation. I want you to know that
[57:36] the subcommittee is made up of Dave
Boer, Kathy Crane, and myself for the
[57:41] emergency services.
[57:45] For those of you that don't know me,
I've lived with this counsel since 1976.
[57:52] I have been a teacher at Senica for over
20 years. I've been a part of the
[57:56] Tabernacle Women's Association for at
least 18 years. I've done hundreds of
[58:01] community service projects in this
county.
[58:05] But what's probably more important
[58:12] is that the path that we took was not
the path that I expected or the results
[58:17] that I expected for myself. Some of you
may know that n and a half years ago, my
[58:23] daughter was in a quad accident three
houses down from my home with a friend.
[58:32] And at that time
I was the third person on the scene. I
[58:39] was having a haircuthead of our times
and got the phone call that she had been
[58:45] in an accident from my husband's friend.
When I got to the accident,
[58:51] it was pretty bad.
Um, but thankfully
[58:56] shortly after that
TRS showed up and I think there were two
[59:03] ambulances. I'm not sure. Things are a
little hazy, but three very familiar
[59:08] faces got out of that ambulance.
[59:13] And it was those familiar faces that one
of them called in and airlift
[59:20] immediately.
And because they move so quickly,
[59:25] they save my daughter's life. And I do
I will admit that and I will be grateful
[59:31] to them for the rest of my life.
But n and a half years ago, it was a
[59:38] different TRS
and I need to just provide you and share
[59:43] with you the information that we found
along the way.
[59:52] Let her talk.
>> So if you please opportunity just share
[59:56] the data.
[1:00:03] » You should be on the committee.
[1:00:13] We're gonna I just want to share with
you a little bit about the efficiency,
[1:00:17] the knowledge that we had to to learn
the things that
[1:00:22] nobody can see that.
[1:00:31] » So
I just want to share a little
[1:00:34] information on the efficiency, the
knowledge base. the agreements we
[1:00:39] learned, the subcommittee, the current
situation, the emergency services
[1:00:45] subcommittee process, all uh information
you've been asking.
[1:00:55] Our charge as a committee subcommittee
is to determine efficiency of all
[1:01:00] tabernacle emergency services.
Changes in volunteerism and volunteerism
[1:01:07] as per Our provider discussion in
February cited our former members who
[1:01:13] were recruited by other paid agencies as
TRS remain one of the few volunteer
[1:01:18] agencies until December 31st of 2024
which led to members leaving paid for
[1:01:24] pay positions elsewhere. So we started
that discussion un understanding what
[1:01:30] was happening.
We had to look at what was going on
[1:01:34] postco. The Burlington County standards,
the needs of you in our community, the
[1:01:39] loss of community fundraisers, higher
equipment costs, the need to focus on
[1:01:44] paid employment. We came into the
position of committee needing
[1:01:48] information which led us to learning a
lot about our emergency services.
[1:02:00] Some of the things that we learned I
just want to take a few seconds to share
[1:02:04] because I heard someone say something
about response time and what I learned
[1:02:09] and we learned on committee was that we
also re we receive services that fall
[1:02:14] into about three different categories
municipal category like our fire
[1:02:19] department health system such as virtua
and we know we already talked about that
[1:02:24] paramedics have to come all the way from
virtua and private such as TRS virtual
[1:02:30] opposed to financial statements as a
nonprofit, but they give us advanced
[1:02:34] life support through their paramedics.
They respond to those life-threatening
[1:02:38] cases from a call.
ESAM, Hampton Lakes, Lumberton, Medford,
[1:02:45] and TRS all provide us with basic life
support,
[1:02:50] and they support each other through
mutual aid.
[1:02:54] Mutual aid is very important because if
an agency has limited staffing and uses
[1:03:00] mutual aid, this can be very taxing on
our mutual aid partners that have larger
[1:03:06] call volumes.
Response time, and this is something I
[1:03:10] learned, is the amount of time from the
dispatch from central until the time the
[1:03:16] ambulance leaves the building.
So, how the system works is 911 call
[1:03:22] comes in to dispatch and it goes to the
closest station that has reported a crew
[1:03:28] is available for that time period.
That crew has eight minutes
[1:03:35] or two to four minute taps to respond,
which is way too much. Who said that?
[1:03:40] Someone out here said that. That's way
too much time. If no response, it goes
[1:03:45] to the next closest EMS provider that
has reported a crew. And our chiefs of
[1:03:50] each of the town, um, they're
responsible to Paul and
[1:03:57] so
[1:04:00] this is just some information that we
learned.
[1:04:06] Like I said, we went over mutual aid.
Um, no crew or partial crew. That was a
[1:04:15] a learning experience for me. Um, no
crew. And partial crew can't go out
[1:04:21] because we need two people in an
ambulance to send an ambulance out.
[1:04:27] » Response time is a little different than
what I thought it was. I thought it was
[1:04:31] from the time they get the call to the
time they show up at the house with the
[1:04:36] or the location of the emergency, but
that's not it. And then for DM EMTs, um
[1:04:42] they explained to me these are members
of the squad.
[1:04:47] Um and usually that's a part-time
situation.
[1:04:52] I'm sorry if some of you noticed it was
just news. It was a learning experience
[1:04:57] here.
So, our EMS providers,
[1:05:06] our EMS providers need two certified
people to be on an ambulance, but
[1:05:12] they're not required
in our agreement
[1:05:17] with TRS to run from the building. And
they don't all come from the building.
[1:05:23] If they have to drive to the building on
new road and then come to your
[1:05:26] residence, that increases response time,
which can impact patient outcomes.
[1:05:32] Now, our building that we all pay for
with our taxes
[1:05:38] houses, it's capable of housing six
ambulances, a rescue truck, an off-road
[1:05:44] capable vehicle, the boat. Also,
sleeping people and fully functioning
[1:05:50] kitchen and showering quarters among
other amenities and rooms for the use of
[1:05:57] our emergency services providers.
[1:06:07] So this is something else we found out
in 2022.
[1:06:11] TRS went into an agreement with lees
[Music]
[1:06:20] is TRS tabernac
was implemented to reduce the daytime
[1:06:25] workload on TRS volunteers and to
improve night and weekend staffing.
[1:06:30] availability.
Why is this important?
[1:06:34] Because if you made a call during the
day, which is the higher volume time
[1:06:41] between April of 2022
and December of 2024,
[1:06:48] you were assisted by lees
because still in 2024, there was a
[1:06:55] continued concern that our current
providers were missing. approximately
[1:07:00] 300 of the 820 something calls at night
and on the weekends.
[1:07:07] This was not
all on other calls.
[1:07:13] Some of these were no staffing available
and Hampton Lakes Medford and PJM shared
[1:07:19] the handling of the calls
[1:07:28] at point in 2024, TRS began merger
discussions with Hampton Lakes Emergency
[1:07:34] Services.
TRS results were still wavering. They
[1:07:39] were still having problems with
staffing.
[1:07:44] This is not a dig. This is reality.
TRS was still failing to dispatch an
[1:07:51] ambulance over 300 times
for the 824 calls at night and on the
[1:07:57] weekend. According to the records, our
review shows there was no staffing
[1:08:01] available to staff the ambulance in most
of those cases. Hampton Lakes covered
[1:08:07] many of these calls with mutual aid
support from Medford and EAM.
[1:08:13] TRS began discussions with the other
providers. It was a great idea.
[1:08:17] Unfortunately, they could not find an
agency that would partner with them. And
[1:08:22] on December 31st of 2024, without an
agreement to cover our residents, they
[1:08:28] dismissed
Lumberton, which had been taking care of
[1:08:32] our residents during the day from April
of 24 or April of 22 to December of
[1:08:39] 2024.
They made presentations to townships,
[1:08:44] but it didn't work out. And then they
said the agreement before they had
[1:08:50] another agreement.
[1:09:00] » So what did we do? We evaluated the
current providers results.
[1:09:06] We met with other Burlington County EMS
agencies and township leadership. We met
[1:09:11] with Burlington County Central. We
reviewed quarterly reports and compared
[1:09:16] to month's quarterly reports which
should be identical.
[1:09:21] Report comparisons.
We evaluated potential shared service
[1:09:26] agreements with surrounding townships.
We looked at private ambulance companies
[1:09:30] and got quotes from them. And we
evaluated other provider results from
[1:09:34] their service in Tabernacle and Shimon.
[1:09:46] In February, we met with TRF.
At that time, they assured the
[1:09:54] subcommittee they had active financial
resources to start paying members, but
[1:09:58] would eventually need financial support
from the township. So, they knew this
[1:10:03] was happening.
They knew they were going to need
[1:10:06] financial support.
to maintain or even contribute to a
[1:10:12] larger staffing concern.
[1:10:18] » It's happening all over. Volunteerism
is is not doing the work that needs to
[1:10:25] be done. We all are working other jobs
and have other commitments and we
[1:10:30] understand that. We asked TRS leadership
if we could have schedules and a plan
[1:10:36] for upcoming months. We asked for a list
of volunteers
[1:10:41] » which we did get a list of volunteers
and many on that list are working for
[1:10:45] other EMS service providers.
We asked for plans for staffing and in
[1:10:52] March we emailed leadership to find out
the status.
[1:10:56] We did have an email that they're
currently
[1:11:00] um working and they found uh one uh
staff member that they could put on. Um
[1:11:08] they recently said they established a
new hiring committee to oversee the
[1:11:12] recruitment process as this became a
priority only at the start of the year.
[1:11:17] But they knew staffing was a concern
from 2022.
[1:11:26] So what are some of the concerns?
[1:11:32] » What we also learned is that the 2024
report
[1:11:38] every miss call was in one category.
Categories include mutual aid response,
[1:11:46] no crew, and partial crew.
[1:11:52] But they were all one together in mutual
aid.
[1:11:56] This particular way of organizing was an
internal metric and Shimong realized
[1:12:02] what was happening and asked TRS to
begin separating
[1:12:08] the miss into the proper categories.
[1:12:15] You can see some of the information we
found out through this
[1:12:22] responded to the bulk of calls in the
nights and weekends in 2024. They
[1:12:28] responded to 147
in tabernacle
[1:12:32] ales crews operated from the station on
new road. So sometimes if you had a 911
[1:12:40] call in 2022, 2023 or 2024,
they may have showed up to your home
[1:12:48] in a TRS ambulance, but it was lees that
was doing the staffing.
[1:12:59] A little bit of comparison, CRS's 2024
year end results, 824 dispatches or But
[1:13:07] approximately 330 calls were missed
because of no crew.
[1:13:12] Now somebody said earlier we talked
about response time.
[1:13:17] The response time
someone said on a Facebook post that
[1:13:23] somebody else sent to me because I don't
read the Facebook post. They sent it to
[1:13:27] me and someone had said about three
minutes or longer in any type of cardiac
[1:13:34] arrest is
it it just doesn't work. It's not you're
[1:13:40] not going to be able to save a person.
So when we looked at the response times
[1:13:44] that TRS gave us, we were looking at 2
minutes, which is great, 44%.
[1:13:52] 2 to four minutes, then it starts to
climb and at 6 to 8 minutes, 30%. That
[1:13:58] was their response time.
>> So what does that say?
[1:14:04] » Where are they? So that's and and I I'm
glad you said that because that's not
[1:14:10] what response time is. According to
Burlington County Central, response time
[1:14:15] is the time the call goes out to let's
say Hampton Lakes
[1:14:23] » and the ambulance responds that they're
on the way.
[1:14:26] » Two different things.
>> Two different things.
[1:14:29] » 500 calls.
>> Quiet,
[1:14:30] » right?
>> No, don't quite me.
[1:14:32] » So I just need you to understand that
because that was I I had no idea that
[1:14:42] the time that the call goes out and the
ambulance leaves the building.
[1:14:48] » They were volunteers in 2024. They're
paid out.
[1:14:51] » Excuse me. Can I I have something to
say. Go ahead.
[1:14:55] » Just take over.
>> So TR2
[1:15:02] » they had 5,000 hours staff with the duty
crew for calls. But when we did the the
[1:15:09] numbers, there were 8,600
hours of duty time.
[1:15:14] So these other hours, and these are the
numbers they gave us, means there's no
[1:15:19] duty crew.
This was their major reports. These were
[1:15:24] their response times based on the
numbers.
[1:15:34] So TRS nor the committee and this is
important.
[1:15:39] TRS nor the committee.
We tried TRS nor the committee would
[1:15:47] find any agencies that were willing to
partner with them.
[1:15:53] 20 2025 results as presented to the
committee showed little improvement.
[1:15:59] And this is with anti Now, TRS has known
since 2022 there was a concern with
[1:16:07] providing the consistent patient care
due to staffing. And to date, while they
[1:16:14] are responding to more calls, they're
not all responding from the station.
[1:16:19] Home response is an accepted practice
which increases time to get to the
[1:16:25] patients in our community. The committee
recognized this long history of success.
[1:16:30] I recognize
nine and a half years ago.
[1:16:35] I recognize the success. I've been here
for over 50 years,
[1:16:41] but this not the same TRS
TRS.
[1:16:50] » They're better
for our residents. That's what's
[1:16:57] Shame on you.
>> For the helicopter, for your daughter,
[1:17:01] » right? Shame on you.
>> Our current providers, based on the
[1:17:05] information they've provided, are not
making approximately 30% of the calls.
[1:17:10] surrounding towns which we rely on to
assist or even take a call in our own
[1:17:15] town that we do not respond to are
exhausting their resources and they have
[1:17:20] stated that they will not shoulder the
burden any longer as they are needed
[1:17:26] needing a solid partner. Some crews are
running from their home when on duty.
[1:17:31] The details of an agreement are being
uh finalized and will be provided once
[1:17:37] they're executed.
>> So you don't have any So when when are
[1:17:41] they allowed to
>> the four bases of the shared service
[1:17:43] agreement will place two fully equipped
ambulances in 134 new roads
[1:17:49] » from where
>> two qualified EMTs will be stationed at
[1:17:53] 134 new roads 247.
All shifts will be staffed with in-house
[1:18:00] EMTs and additionally there will be an
added ambulance staff during high volume
[1:18:05] periods but dedicated for township
events and football games
[1:18:10] » where you get an ambulance
of staffing by leadership to meet the
[1:18:15] needs of this community.
>> You need four EMTs for two ambulances.
[1:18:20] » We realize
>> who's paying for it.
[1:18:23] » We realize that change is scary.
[Applause]
[1:18:31] We also realize that no matter who we go
with, no matter what EMS provider comes
[1:18:40] up, it's going to cost because our TSRs
leadership told us it was going to cost.
[1:18:59] [Applause]
We maintain no cost to resident
[1:19:08] transportation. The new road building
will be staffed 24/7. There'll be a
[1:19:13] lower response time for the first
ambulance. We're going to maintain the
[1:19:17] clinical standards and meet the patient
needs.
[1:19:21] » So what happens when they go out on the
call? You have other 30 members that can
[1:19:25] volunteer.
>> The change in EMS providers is being
[1:19:29] done to provide our residents the best
service available with proven EMS
[1:19:35] providers.
There will be improvement in the
[1:19:38] coverage. Our current plans result in
more crews available for calls and
[1:19:44] tabernacle strong residents who are
uninsured or who have deductible or
[1:19:47] co-pays will continue not to pay out of
pocket for 911
[1:19:53] [Music]
>> and before I finish I'm just going to
[1:20:00] » address the social media.
>> I'll just throw it away. I'll put it in
[1:20:04] your mailbox. um social media
information misinformation
[1:20:07] EMS coverage plans were not shared with
terrorists so they had no basis on which
[1:20:11] to make those comments and spread fear
actual results were misstated in social
[1:20:18] media regarding the need for mutual aid
and no proof calls and real estate
[1:20:24] matters did not factor in on EMS
[1:20:30] and as
we We don't cond condone using Facebook
[1:20:37] to promote ourselves on people's worst
day of our lives.
[1:20:41] This is
>> not acceptable medical personnel
[1:20:45] practices
>> and using family worst day of sympathy
[1:20:50] » is just not
[Applause]
[1:21:02] » if anybody would like to information
[1:21:08] a
Burlington.nj
[1:21:12] us
all the information we got there.
[1:21:16] » Why don't you tell the truth about why
Apple gets to the agreement with Lepre?
[1:21:25] » You have no clue.
[Applause]
[1:21:32] » Turn the lights on.
[1:21:52] We would like to continue the meeting,
but it has to be ordered. We have rules
[1:21:57] and the rules need to be followed. If
the rules are not followed, the meeting
[1:22:01] will be terminated. I'll ask for motion
and we'll terminate the meeting. So if
[1:22:05] you want to be heard, be orderly and be
heard one at a time. Make sure you get
[1:22:10] three minutes.
We have not
[1:22:14] yet
[1:22:49] [Music]
[1:22:53] It is on your mind. I was told that is
also taking over.
[1:22:58] So they think you're taking a little bit
on a little bit more than they can chew.
[1:23:02] They think they're going to respond.
[1:23:07] It's all because
[1:23:17] why can't you
both share it or just go back to town
[1:23:23] hall or just go back to town?
I'm sorry. I I lived here all my life
[1:23:29] and I can tell you one thing. I'm
embarrassed to say I didn't tabernacle
[1:23:32] anymore. And that's the guy's honest
truth. They've been a squad for 73
[1:23:37] years. So few years we had a problem.
Big deal. Every other squad problem
[1:23:44] can't even keep covering up their
team. Nothing against the
[1:23:52] ridiculous.
[1:23:57] » It's wrong.
>> Yes.
[1:24:01] [Applause]
Thank you. Make sure you tell my mom I
[1:24:09] did cuz she swore I won't be arrested.
[1:24:27] [Music]
She spoke.
[1:24:42] » Can we give our three minutes to the
squad?
[1:24:47] [Applause]
[1:24:58] as citizens.
>> If there are
[1:25:05] [Applause]
[Music]
[1:25:20] [Applause]
[Music]
[1:25:35] Chief
Rescue Squad. I'm the president of
[1:25:39] Tabernacle Rescue Squad. Steen Kramer,
assistant chief of the Tabernacle.
[1:25:45] Thank you.
>> Thank you.
[1:26:00] » So, real quick, I'm gonna answer.
>> Speak up, George.
[1:26:04] » All right.
>> I usually don't get a microphone.
[1:26:07] » Can you hear me now?
>> Okay. So, 22 to 24. I'll answer that
[1:26:13] real quick. Yes, we are having a daytime
response issue and we work on that and
[1:26:18] we originally entered an agreement with
Lumberton EMS to provide our coverage
[1:26:23] towards that. That is a true state
because we saw the issue we had changing
[1:26:28] in volunteers changing we all work shift
work and then suddenly got different
[1:26:32] positions in our lives and that's what
created that issue. So we did that and
[1:26:36] the original plan was to do a merger and
we tried to do a large region merger
[1:26:43] sort of what they're trying to do now
but every squad was bringing something
[1:26:47] to the table okay be it personnel be it
equipment be it money be it whatever
[1:26:53] that's what the idea was from 22 to 24
we struggle as a volunteer agency yes we
[1:27:00] miss calls at night I'm not here to deny
that okay but
[1:27:05] We were working towards a merger with
Lumberton. We tried to involve
[1:27:10] Southampton and they stepped out at
home. So we worked through that towards
[1:27:16] the middle to later of 24. That stopped.
Okay.
[1:27:24] and we approached um Hampton Lakes
Emergency Squad, which to this date is
[1:27:30] an agency that is more than willing to
work with us and wants to do a regional
[1:27:35] service in the Highlands community to
provide the service to our town. Okay.
[1:27:41] As of yesterday,
[1:27:45] so
in September, we came in here, we made a
[1:27:49] presentation, we made a presentation in
October in the other two towns.
[1:27:54] wasn't the agencies that didn't want to
do it. We were stopped by the town.
[1:28:00] We came to the town. Now, we're both
private 501c3s. We could just merge our
[1:28:04] agencies, but we understand we wanted
the community buy in and support. And we
[1:28:09] came to the town and asked for support.
We had a meeting in February with them.
[1:28:17] We outlined several different options of
the way things could be. We spent three
[1:28:21] and a half hours explaining the
difference between the fire service and
[1:28:25] the MS service in our towns and in our
area and how things will work, how
[1:28:29] things were funded all the way through.
We never heard from the town again. We
[1:28:35] asked.
Same thing in Shim. Suddenly we got
[1:28:40] stonewalled. Nobody wanted to talk to
us. We knew that they were talking to
[1:28:45] other people, but we never heard from
anybody until August 11th. We got a
[1:28:50] phone call. Hey, can you meet us an hour
before the meeting? And that's when we
[1:28:54] got our 90 days notice. Yes. In 2025,
we had a plan. We were going to merge
[1:29:02] with Hampton Lakes Emergency Squad using
their personnel and the personnel that
[1:29:06] we were onboarding and bringing in the
funding and the equipment of the
[1:29:10] vehicles.
We would have made it work, but we were
[1:29:14] stopped by other people.
Okay. So then on December 18th, we had
[1:29:20] to figure out through the Christmas
holiday how to put staffing on and in
[1:29:24] seven months and I know they print out
numbers and we missed 30% of calls. So
[1:29:29] these are my notes from the other night.
So in July we had 111 calls
[1:29:34] 30 were missed 30%.
6.3 time 6.3% of the time though we were
[1:29:42] already somewhere else. So that number
comes down to 23%.
[1:29:46] We provided 19.8% mutual aid runs or 22
calls. Another 10. In August, our calls
[1:29:53] went up to 132.
25.76
[1:29:59] missed. 8.3 were because we were already
on another call. So that brings us down
[1:30:05] to 17%.
August 29 mutual aid calls are 22%.
[1:30:11] Mutual aid is a very important thing to
this region. Our transport times are too
[1:30:17] long. Our average call, you saw it, that
crew left right after 6:00. They're not
[1:30:23] back yet.
[1:30:26] Okay. We rely on mutual aid. The
tabernacle rescue squad. Correct. That
[1:30:32] day that she spoke of, we got three
ambulances out and the rescue truck.
[1:30:38] Okay.
There's nobody that can do that anymore.
[1:30:43] But we did it the other night.
[1:30:50] Thank you.
[1:30:56] These these volunteers, my members have
been here for 30 plus years. I have 31
[1:31:02] years in the service. I'm second of
three generations. Six people in my
[1:31:06] family are either serving or have served
onto this squad and provided 52 years.
[1:31:14] We are trying our best. We love our
town. We'll do anything. We miss
[1:31:19] birthdays, holidays, all kinds of stuff.
We see some of the most horrific things.
[1:31:24] But we come out here. We are trying.
We're trying our best. We need a little
[1:31:30] time. If you look at those two agencies
that they discussed, Hampton Lakes and
[1:31:34] Lumberton, when they went through this
10 years ago, they're they went through
[1:31:38] the exact same thing that we are going
through right now. The difference was is
[1:31:44] they were given time and support.
[1:31:49] » You guys are here. Yes.
>> How much it cost to staff two Lumberton
[1:31:54] rigs here 247. And what does the
township
[1:31:57] » two lumber rigs is not what being
offered? I want to make that clear.
[1:32:00] What's being offered is two rigs in our
building. That's what's been said in
[1:32:03] Shimang, what was set here tonight.
Those are two different agencies. One of
[1:32:07] those towns has said that rig is not
coming here and one of those towns is
[1:32:11] only covering the daytime. But to answer
your question, for us, it's 400. What's
[1:32:15] the rig cost?
>> For us to cover one ambulance 247 with
[1:32:19] paid staffing, it's $498,000.
That's just
[1:32:24] 800,000. What does the council
currentwise?
[1:32:29] Well, let me let me So, take this number
and this is why we came to the town for
[1:32:33] support.
>> 4 It's 498,000
[1:32:38] for staffing.
The best building year we ever had was
[1:32:42] $375.
>> Okay. So, do the math. If anybody's
[1:32:46] parking a truck in our building,
they're going to be at a shortfall.
[1:32:50] Where's that money coming from? Because
we were asking for money. Do you think
[1:32:55] those other towns are going to write
that off or pay that off?
[1:33:00] » It's coming.
>> That chief said in an email to this
[1:33:05] council or committee, excuse me, in the
wrong township, this committee that she
[1:33:09] was not making money, that she was
losing money every time she turned. That
[1:33:14] money has to be made up. You said you
got quotes. My question would be why
[1:33:30] the frequent township meetings. I stood
up because there was a letter sent by
[1:33:33] Lumberton Township solicitor and
administrator referenced who was
[1:33:37] covering us in January and I had to
stand up and give an explanation and
[1:33:40] actually somebody from committee said
why was somebody trying to stay in your
[1:33:45] town and my comment I made was well they
must make money. Well that got back and
[1:33:50] we got an email that said that Lumberton
emergency squad in the two and a half
[1:33:56] years they were here lost money.
So they're not going to keep doing that.
[1:34:02] So it's coming from somewhere. We came
up with a model. We came up with
[1:34:07] something that would work,
>> but nobody will talk to us.
[1:34:12] » And that's the problem. I don't know. I
wish I knew. I Well, actually
[1:34:16] » because when we got called into the
meeting and we we got told that they
[1:34:21] were doing a shared service and that we
had 90 days to get out of our building
[1:34:25] and and 90 days. And I said, "Why?" And
I was told
[1:34:30] Nobody wants to work together and nobody
likes
[1:34:39] » people. So why is there
>> that's why she lives in tabernacle and
[1:34:44] works in tabernacle.
>> So
[1:34:51] » who said that?
>> Oh,
[1:34:57] » we all like it.
They don't like a couple things just for
[1:35:01] you guys to understand. When we've gone
and talked to these townships, we asked
[1:35:05] for $100,000.
>> On average, that's $40 per house in this
[1:35:10] town per year.
>> Wow.
[1:35:12] » $40.
>> And when we had done our plan with the
[1:35:17] original merger with Lumberton, we were
asking for 150 from each town. So, I
[1:35:23] don't understand how the math checks
out. Now, they can come into our town
[1:35:27] and tell you guys that they're going to
do it for free, but soft billing. Soft
[1:35:32] billing doesn't cover it. You guys made
it perfectly clear that that soft
[1:35:36] billing doesn't cover it. We made it
clear. I told you in the reports that I
[1:35:39] made it clear. And what we asked you for
was for more money so that we could pay
[1:35:44] these crews. That's what we asked you
guys for. We sat down with you in
[1:35:47] February. We talked to you guys in
October. We started these things and
[1:35:51] talked to you guys and said, "Look, if
we're going to put crews on and run from
[1:35:55] the building. Like you had noted, yes,
we do still run from home. We pay guys
[1:35:59] less money to run from home because it's
something that saves our agency money.
[1:36:03] It's something that we decided we had to
do. Does it increase response times?
[1:36:07] Yeah. It's about 8 minutes, I think, is
what the report says. Don't quote me.
[1:36:10] The township has it if you guys want to
over request it. All right. But what it
[1:36:14] comes down to is if you guys want people
in the building, it's going to be a
[1:36:18] minimum of $23 an hour. I think
Lumberton's paying $30 an hour on the
[1:36:22] weekends, but they don't want weekends.
Pant Lakes gets that
[1:36:28] because that's more money that they're
going to have to out. Our budget is
[1:36:32] close to $280,000. That's what it is to
run our organization without payroll.
[1:36:37] That's what we have been using for the
past 73 years in order to keep this
[1:36:42] organization alive.
>> We used to give volunteer stipen
[1:36:45] programs that was less than $100,000
as of December 31st. Then we started
[1:36:51] paying people. It cost $498,000 to pay
people, right? And George noted it. You
[1:36:57] can't bring in the money from billing
revenue. Maybe it's a bigger problem
[1:37:02] that comes from the top and from uh
Medicare and everything like that that
[1:37:05] the money is not coming back to us, but
it does not cover the crew. If our
[1:37:09] residents want an ambulance in town,
they need to make it known that they're
[1:37:13] willing to pay that amount of money.
>> And we are.
[1:37:16] [Applause]
Don't don't misconrue this guys. We we
[1:37:28] will stand behind Lumberton. We will
stand behind Hampton Lakes. Those
[1:37:32] organizations have come and they've
helped us immensely over the years.
[1:37:36] George and I, we were talking about it
last week. You have Hampton Lakes who
[1:37:40] when they were having rough patches, we
were the truck in there. Our truck went
[1:37:43] halfway across the county. We ended up
in Mount Holly sometimes. And that's how
[1:37:47] this this uh that's how EMS works. They
come to us, we go to them, and yeah, we
[1:37:52] miss a couple calls because we're trying
to get people on. I have five people
[1:37:56] that applied once they gave us our
90-day termination agreement. And now
[1:38:00] one of them's already backed out because
he doesn't know where we're going to be
[1:38:03] in 60 days.
>> So that's a guy that I could have on the
[1:38:05] truck on a Sunday that could actually
run for us. But because of your
[1:38:09] decision, I don't have a guy on the
truck almost.
[1:38:13] Your decision
[1:38:20] I don't know that I need this mic
either. I'm a school teacher. Obviously,
[1:38:23] given my motif, this is what I do for
day. But I'm going to I want to address
[1:38:27] the committee as well. I know that we're
we're out here talking a whole lot about
[1:38:31] numbers. When I said that I'm both the
proud assistant chief of the West
[1:38:35] institute, but last time I was here, I
was talking about a shortsighted and
[1:38:40] quick decision to tear down a historical
structure in town. This town rallied.
[1:38:45] They rallied when there was a bulldozer
at the door. And here I am again now
[1:38:49] speaking as a rescue squad assistant
chief with a bulldozer at the door 60
[1:38:54] days before I go home with numbers that
are old and don't make sense. You heard
[1:38:59] it tonight, right?
>> We've gone from 33% which we admit. We
[1:39:03] have to admit it. We're the ones that
gave you the numbers you're running the
[1:39:05] reports on. We're not afraid to give you
those numbers and we're not. But we also
[1:39:09] can tell you we're down to 17 in the
month of August. Before I was the
[1:39:13] assistant chief of tabernacle, I was an
assistant chief of Memphis. I was one of
[1:39:17] the first paid employees in London. I
too had summer chap school and we didn't
[1:39:21] offer it.
I've been on this I've been on the side
[1:39:25] of this transition as an employee and as
a president and a assistant chief in
[1:39:29] Memphis. It's a hard transition to make.
I will say this as my as a leader in
[1:39:34] Meetford, we didn't do it the greatest
in the very beginning, but we got there.
[1:39:38] Lumberton didn't do it the greatest, but
they got there. They got there with the
[1:39:41] support of their committees and their
councils and the residents. We have one
[1:39:45] of those things. I feel like we don't
have the other in 8 months because of
[1:39:51] the experience the leadership team here
brings. We've taken that number from
[1:39:55] something that scared you in February to
something that's within shooting
[1:39:58] distance of one of the agencies that
you're going to have replace. The only
[1:40:03] agency likes that shared those numbers
with us is at 12%. We're at 17. You're
[1:40:09] now asking that agency on weekends and
nights to take over the entire call
[1:40:13] volume of both agencies, either of which
takes all their calls. We ran 22% mutual
[1:40:19] aid last month. Most of that mutual aid
was to Southampton who's going to have
[1:40:24] to now cover all of our calls. Those
lumbering crews that give you this great
[1:40:28] number of response time, I get it. I'm
one of those guys in the middle of the
[1:40:32] night. I can tell you it takes me less
time to get to this building and get out
[1:40:36] on the street to the actual call because
you're right, there's a difference
[1:40:39] between response time and on scene time.
Our on scene time when alarming truck is
[1:40:44] dynamically staging, which is one of the
things our leadership identified as an
[1:40:48] issue because they're calling it. It's
not because they're a bad agency. It's
[1:40:52] because we got to run the calls to make
the cash. That's how this is set up.
[1:40:56] It's not like a fire department where we
say these are our bills. Please pay
[1:40:59] them. We have to figure that out on our
own. and we have for over 70 years. But
[1:41:04] when that truck dynamically stages
because it's got to run those calls in
[1:41:07] longer now paying for it back up
Morstown, make that money, it may sign
[1:41:11] on in a minute or two. It's not in
tabernacle in a minute or two. It's
[1:41:15] there a lot longer than it takes me to
get up out of bed and get in there with
[1:41:19] my tribe and get to see the numbers are
the numbers. We can parse them out six
[1:41:25] ways from Sunday and there's an old
quote there. There's lying, damn line
[1:41:29] statistics, right? We're standing behind
our numbers.
[1:41:33] But this isn't about numbers. This is
about people.
[1:41:37] » I'm a history teacher. We're story guys.
So, let me tell you a story since you've
[1:41:40] already told. I am one of those faces
that came out of that door n years ago.
[1:41:45] And to say that this is a different TRS
is an insult to me.
[1:41:49] » Absolutely.
[1:41:53] behind
[1:41:58] my desk along with her friend that was
on that quad and another f another one
[1:42:04] of my former students who I put in a
helicopter that year along with her
[1:42:07] daughter and the other girl. They all
walked to graduation. The people that
[1:42:10] are wearing tabernacle shirts in this
room performed a miracle that day. I
[1:42:15] don't use that lightly and I don't use
it often, but I'll use it here.
[1:42:20] I got to make a decision as a leader
like George did because I had three
[1:42:23] ambulances right behind me.
>> I got to make the same decision down the
[1:42:28] street
>> when we had a horrific accident and
[1:42:30] people keep talking about bring these
things up. We should talk about it
[1:42:34] because this is what our people are
doing.
[1:42:36] » It isn't numbers. It's people
n and a half years after you said it's
[1:42:41] our natural rescue squad of old as well.
The other night I was coming back from
[1:42:45] Marlton. I got called to Peppan has done
very much what we're talking about doing
[1:42:49] here. They have one truck. Sometimes
they have two if it makes money, but
[1:42:51] most of the time they have one. I got
called from in front of the check on
[1:42:56] Route 70 to go for a pediatric burn
victim. They needed a second truck. I
[1:43:00] was the closest one available. 32
minutes. Now, my right foot got there a
[1:43:05] little faster, but there State Police in
the room. I don't want to tell you how
[1:43:08] fast they did that, but I was there and
we put that child in my helicopter. They
[1:43:12] didn't have a choice of three ambulances
like I did the other night or like I did
[1:43:16] when your daughter crashed. And they're
not have that ability. Any of these
[1:43:20] people in the road, you sent me home.
We asked to talk to you. You shook our
[1:43:27] hands in February when you stood in our
our building was full. I was having it
[1:43:31] was a great night, right? The training
room was full. The Girl Scouts were
[1:43:34] learning CPR. I was doing check, shaking
your hands, and you were telling us how
[1:43:38] what what a great organization we ran.
And then it went silent. And I've heard
[1:43:42] the same speech. I heard parts of the
same speech I heard tonight in
[1:43:46] Lumberton. And I heard the same speech
in Shimang and I have to wonder where
[1:43:50] that's coming from because they're given
by different people. All we're being all
[1:43:54] we're asking is for a chance to continue
the conversation. There isn't You hear
[1:43:59] the passion in all three of our voices.
We're here for tabernacles. My mother,
[1:44:04] if she was in the room, the saint that
she is, would love for this to go
[1:44:07] through. I think she's going to buy a
cake on day 61. She's going to say,
[1:44:10] "Steve, you've been doing this for too
long and have been beat up for too
[1:44:13] long." I have stood in front of this
committee here. I stood in the town hall
[1:44:18] and made these same conversations and my
picture is going to be in the news
[1:44:21] again.
And it's because I want to serve. That's
[1:44:26] all I'm asking to do. That's all any of
us are asking to do. We're asking for a
[1:44:29] seat at the table. I over 20 years in
emergency services, both in fire and EMS
[1:44:34] and forest fire. I've been a leader in
other towns, towns that you went to to
[1:44:38] talk to, and yet I wasn't worth a seat
at the table to have a conversation
[1:44:43] about the town that I love.
Shame on you.
[1:44:48] » I'm Listen, I'll take my birthday back
this year and won't be on top of a
[1:44:52] truck. I'm not going to say it because
we're children. But there are more than
[1:44:55] just there is more than just the
ambulances. You mentioned some of the
[1:44:59] things, the rescue truck, the off-road,
the community support that we get. It's
[1:45:03] all gone. You don't have a replacement
for that. What you have is one ambulance
[1:45:07] and somebody who's not the three of us
that's going to have to make a decision
[1:45:11] that I didn't have to make five and a
half years ago. or somebody else in this
[1:45:14] room. Which one of those girls goes in
the ambulance I have? And which one
[1:45:18] waits for an ambulance with another 10.
[Applause]
[1:45:33] I love my friends in Hampton Lakes. I'm
a church member over there. I say my
[1:45:37] grandma and grandpa are all in South
Hampton. Give us the chance to come back
[1:45:41] and talk to you about the merger that
support these highland communities or
[1:45:44] give us the chance to talk about how we
can do it. We didn't let lumbering go.
[1:45:48] We let lumbering go with paid staff in
the house. I am the Listen, I love being
[1:45:53] a volunteer. Been a volunteer my entire
life, but technically because I signed
[1:45:56] my paperwork before everybody else. I'm
the first paid employee in Tabernacle
[1:45:59] Rescue Squad's history. The reason I'm
showing up has not changed. Even though
[1:46:03] I got minimum wage for coming from home
at night,
[1:46:07] » we did it so that we could move staff
around to make this happen.
[1:46:11] can reduce in August over 80% of the
time. You're chucking that and saying
[1:46:16] that this community, Shimong, and this
Highlands region is better served with
[1:46:22] one, two, three, like it was the other
night, less ambulances and none of the
[1:46:26] support we bring. All we're asking for
is a shot. I hope that you decide to
[1:46:30] resend this vote. I hope that you do a
little bit more homework. It sounds like
[1:46:34] you're asking good questions. I wish you
as the people that are actually doing it
[1:46:38] for you and want to continue to do it. I
don't want to go home as much as my mom
[1:46:41] will buy that day. I hope this
[1:47:04] Again,
[1:47:22] I appreciate the support. I thought it
was crazy. I walked around hall and uh I
[1:47:28] think that
um this is
[1:47:39] we wanted the opportunity to sit. We had
some other ideas how to do it and you
[1:47:45] know couple years ago we made this
decision to make um fire company and
[1:47:49] fire department because of certain
things. I laid out a plan and how we can
[1:47:55] do that with EMS, but we should do it in
a way that is smart. We hold it's not as
[1:48:01] simple and clearcut. Again, beautiful
services, the fire, everything. It's why
[1:48:06] you don't the building license, all that
stuff that all takes time to set all
[1:48:11] that up. I would love nothing more for
us to have paid personnel here that work
[1:48:16] for the township and get a pension
benefits because I I listen I retired
[1:48:22] six years ago as a police officer. I
know what it's like to be a public
[1:48:25] servant and my police officer job was no
worse than what I do now. Okay? It's
[1:48:31] just different. It's just different.
[1:48:36] We need to be given the opportunity. We
made a huge shift in our agency. huge
[1:48:41] shift that most agencies around us. It
took them more than a year to do. And
[1:48:49] those agencies were supported by us and
our neighbors to the north is more than
[1:48:54] happy to continue to support us because
they see the work that we're doing and
[1:48:58] where we're getting.
They wouldn't have nothing to emerge and
[1:49:02] make it the Southampton Shan
organizations.
[1:49:07] We went to Shan the other night and met
and talked to them and basically what we
[1:49:11] got was they felt like they were
handcuffed because you guys made the
[1:49:14] decision or you told them that we were
gone. So they had to make the same
[1:49:18] decision cuz they were worried about
their coverage.
[1:49:22] So let's take this opportunity. Let's
reset and let's sit down and actually
[1:49:27] come up with a plan. I'm not going to
lie, it's going to cost money,
[1:49:32] » but there's no other way to do it. I
don't and I I used this the other night
[1:49:38] when we had our open house. I called the
the trash trucks here. All towns have
[1:49:43] their own trash trucks. Okay. They got a
bunch of employees and cost a bunch of
[1:49:47] money. At some point, somebody comes up
with a great idea and some service walks
[1:49:52] in and says, "We'll do it." What's the
town doing?
[1:49:58] And then all the trash can
and three years down the road comes up.
[1:50:04] What happens?
Contract comes up and now it's paying.
[1:50:09] » We go. We're gone. There's no coming
back.
[1:50:14] If we were running 30% of our calls and
missing 70%. I would have probably
[1:50:20] walked up here and said, "We need to do
something and you guys need to get help
[1:50:25] me figure it out." So, we're out. But
that's not what we're doing.
[1:50:30] I for all that we have done for this
community. have one meeting and that was
[1:50:35] it. And then to get called in and told
you're done in 90 days and then I even
[1:50:42] asked, well listen, okay, we operate for
90 days. Are you going to give us at
[1:50:46] least a couple days to get out? No,
you're done in 90 days.
[1:50:51] » Disgraceful.
>> That's how we were told. And then when I
[1:50:54] asked why, we were told
because nobody wants to work with me.
[1:51:00] » And that's not true. That's absolutely
not true. There are people that don't
[1:51:05] want to work with me. Okay, I get it.
>> I'll work with you.
[1:51:13] » In the end of the day, I I'm not sure
what form of this, but
[1:51:19] you need to reset. We need to go back
and you need to give us the opportunity
[1:51:23] and we need to sit down and have a real
conversation about this and talk about
[1:51:29] it.
The numbers are the numbers. I just one
[1:51:33] way you do another
[1:51:39] » but again it's about our residents and
our doing the best. We are working to
[1:51:44] get better. I feel if we had a a solid
funding source from our town
[1:51:50] then it would allow us to hire people
with a more permanent basis to make it
[1:51:56] better and make it and we could be an
example to
[1:52:00] I think that the Hampton charger that I
presented in the end of September
[1:52:04] beginning October was probably the best
and most costefficient for the town but
[1:52:10] I think that's a hard conversation that
we have to have and I think the politics
[1:52:14] have to come
because
[1:52:18] without throwing people under the bus
and and I'm not saying it's necessarily
[1:52:22] you in the room. There's other people
out in the world that are causing
[1:52:26] trouble and we know it. Everybody knows
it. So, let's move on. again. Thank you.
[1:52:43] All of you, everybody in this room who
will always be here to support you. Um,
[1:52:49] I thank you for your time.
[1:53:16] Think about it.
[1:53:22] » Now save the squad.
[1:53:27] [Music]
Boulevard
[1:53:31] here from Monarch Woods, a new
development that was built 2022. We all
[1:53:34] paid roughly $17,000 in taxes
reserve over there to pay taxes over 100
[1:53:42] homes almost $2 million since 2022. We
can't give you $40 per home to have paid
[1:53:49] uh EMS squad. That's ridiculous.
Absolutely ridiculous. I mean, brand new
[1:53:54] community our whiskey who are here to
support TRS
[1:53:58] [Applause]
[1:54:09] Holly Bush New Jersey.
Ladies and gentlemen, fellow residents
[1:54:16] of Shimong and Tabernacle Township, we
gather to discuss a decision that will
[1:54:23] echo through our communities.
Ending our shared service agreement with
[1:54:29] the Tabernacle Rescue Squad for nearly
70 72 years, this volunteer driven squad
[1:54:39] answered our calls for help day and
night, night and day, building trust and
[1:54:46] saving lives across both tabernacle and
Shimal
[1:54:53] fact.
On August 5th, the Schwam Township
[1:54:57] Committee voted unanimously
to invoke a 90day cancellation clause,
[1:55:04] ending our partnership with the
tabernacle resolver
[1:55:12] [Music]
[1:55:22] overlooked critical local variables.
[1:55:28] As someone whose own family faces
multiple lists of medical complications
[1:55:36] and issues
ranging from, let's see, type one
[1:55:41] diabetes, um, lupus,
um, old age, just the list of
[1:55:50] I know firsthand how vital rapid
response is. Every delay intensify
[1:55:59] anxiety when a loved one's helps
in the balance. Losing immediate access
[1:56:06] to a nearby squad isn't just municipal a
municipal issue.
[1:56:14] It is personal for families like mine
and theirs.
[1:56:22] Every second counts when a neighbor
suffers a cardiac arrest, serious
[1:56:29] injuries, or an acute allergic reaction.
Tabernacle rescue squad volunteers live
[1:56:39] just around the corner with just
familiar with
[1:56:47] schools.
Outsourcing to more distant lives can
[1:56:53] add crucial limits to their arrival
directly affecting survival weights and
[1:57:00] longterm outcomes.
[1:57:05] » Beyond emergency response
and body are shared.
[1:57:15] [Applause]
[1:57:27] My name is Anderson. I live.
[1:57:32] I just wanted to let you know that as a
horse owner, do you know that Tabernacle
[1:57:36] Rescue Squad is the number one person
that we would call if a horse is stuck
[1:57:41] in the bus? Do you see me? I'm 5 foot.
is a thous
[1:57:50] [Music]
[1:58:05] one rescue vehicle.
I should have that chance to have the
[1:58:10] three rescue vehicles there to rescue my
kids. All of our people from the rescue
[1:58:17] squad are locals. They know the back
trail. They know how to get to board and
[1:58:22] get a boat in that water and rescue
people.
[1:58:26] They are familiar. They are familiar
faces that when your baby is seizing on
[1:58:31] the floor and when that person runs
through your door and you see them, you
[1:58:37] come down. They give you a hug and they
take you to the They take you to the
[1:58:42] hospital. They sit in the ambulance with
you, have a whole conversation with you,
[1:58:48] calm you down. It is a familiar face.
You trust them. As a parent, you calm
[1:58:55] down.
Our rescue squad is very familiar with
[1:59:00] Jack's work. I'm a teacher there. I know
that if something happens, Tabernacle
[1:59:06] will be there. on my way home today.
Tabernacle was at the town at the
[1:59:11] firehouse assisting Wood Ax student.
They were there. Tabernacle rescue squad
[1:59:20] was there, not Woodland Township.
They are here to serve and protect us.
[1:59:27] They know it. They're
[Music]
[1:59:32] Steve Jackson. They are all committed.
They are residents and they want to help
[1:59:39] us.
[Applause]
[2:00:00] So about a year ago, I stood up here to
show you,
[2:00:18] you know, and we were fighting
at that time this time for our family's
[2:00:28] farming operations
unfortunately
[2:00:32] respect
[2:00:40] I don't want to be up here
[Music]
[2:00:45] I have to fight every time
>> to come up here remind you
[2:00:51] This side of 206
[2:01:09] I don't want to be up here again
fighting for my family's health. We
[2:01:13] can't do this. You know this. We got to
have them be able to support our
[2:01:18] community, our barns, and everybody's
health. You got to take this picture.
[2:01:24] I'm not doing it again. Farmers got you
have to do something good. You're only
[2:01:33] got to do something good. That's why I
signed up to help out. We need to do
[2:01:37] something good. And we haven't done that
since we opened the building.
[2:01:43] We got to set and
for the next generation. That's why
[2:01:47] we'll be up here.
And that's all.
[2:01:51] [Applause]
[2:02:11] law enforcement
[2:02:34] 500,000,000
a year for salaries. That's about right.
[2:02:48] You mentioned roughly 300,000
[2:03:08] I How much
final
[2:03:13] I think they build 900 bottles
and they're lucky to get maybe 300
[2:03:20] insurance.
I believe the township makes up the
[2:03:23] difference.
[2:03:46] I don't know.
[2:04:02] [Applause]
[2:04:23] Hi. Um, I'm that last speaker, so I
can't go lower than this. My name is
[2:04:28] Connie Mice at 329 Road. I've been a
tabernacle resident for the past 48
[2:04:35] years. It's not so much a decision to
diminish a TRS team. It's more against
[2:04:41] county and that is most upsetting to me.
This whole situation is a little bit
[2:04:47] close to my heart. I've been in
healthcare for 51 years. uh in recently
[2:04:53] last 20 with cardiology. Okay. So in
this line of work patients have always
[2:04:58] been first and foremost every single
minute of the day whether I'm in or not
[2:05:05] with every emergency in cardiology. I'm
usually the one that's calling 911 and
[2:05:10] I'm waiting at the top of that medicine
building waiting for the squad to come.
[2:05:14] 3 to 5 minutes I know it's Tur Hill.
Okay. I'm waiting 510. Okay. It's not
[2:05:20] going to be Terry Hill. It's going to be
the next town. 15 minutes plus, we're
[2:05:25] getting into a third town. Okay. I know
that from experience in the last 20
[2:05:29] years, been in that building for 2016.
So that's what, I don't know, 14 years.
[2:05:36] All I'm saying is I know what it's like
to wait. When you're at home, it's
[2:05:42] different story. You don't have a
defibrillator. You don't have oxygen.
[2:05:46] You don't have a code card. So you're at
home with whatever family member is in
[2:05:51] need and you're waiting and that wait
time is like an eternity. Okay? So it
[2:05:57] could be life and death situation. I'm
also a businesswoman in what I do. The
[2:06:02] one thing that's very important to me
when I have to make a decision, I'm
[2:06:07] speaking with providers. I'm speaking
with employees for leadership to make
[2:06:11] form decisions that affects patients.
Okay? We sit down, we talk. the numbers
[2:06:18] are shown. These numbers didn't do
anything from a grace really didn't. It
[2:06:22] was, you know, nothing against you, but
it wasn't given us a really good story
[2:06:27] here. I like to talk to people who are
involved in the decision- making. Okay?
[2:06:34] You didn't have the main people who are
here that should have been in these
[2:06:38] meetings. You did not give them the
benefit of the doubt to be part of the
[2:06:42] decision making. Shame on you. Okay. So,
only.
[2:06:50] We have to show our appreciation for the
72 years that they've been with us.
[2:06:55] There has been no major complaints. I
don't really know where all this is
[2:06:59] really coming from. I wish I knew from
your heart. I feel their passion. You
[2:07:04] hear my passion. Okay? And this is what
I don't put it on a shelf when I get
[2:07:09] home. This is me. So, I'm just saying,
wouldn't it be nice for you to make a
[2:07:13] decision that could save a life? Because
with all of the patients come first and
[2:07:18] with everybody in this room, every one
of us is going to be a patient someday.
[2:07:25] [Applause]
want to touch on a lot of topics.
[2:07:40] First of all, I want to point out I
think your executive session tonight
[2:07:43] might have been illegal. I read the
statute. There's a number of exceptions
[2:07:46] in there.
Not one of them is going to piss off the
[2:07:50] public.
[Applause]
[2:07:54] Shouldn't really surprise that rules
because you know there's other issues
[2:07:58] that I think lately
mayor made it clear that some
[2:08:04] said that uh you were going to cancel
your contract with TRS. He made it
[2:08:10] absolutely clear. He said it publicly.
letter out there. No doubt about it.
[2:08:16] Which means either you're saying he's
lying or you guys held an illegal
[2:08:20] meeting where you decided this because
you did not make one statement about
[2:08:27] your actual vote itself to do this. I
believe illegal.
[2:08:32] I think I'll do it until after executive
session. By the way, you know, there
[2:08:34] will be states right after executive
session,
[2:08:37] but this is in a special meeting where
you have to publish the agenda as known
[2:08:43] at the time of the meeting scheduled.
You think one person in this room really
[2:08:47] believes you didn't know you're going to
be voting on that just a few days
[2:08:50] before. I believe I believe it was
published in Berlin County Times on the
[2:08:54] July 31st I think less than two weeks
before you have a vote when the
[2:08:59] subcommittees things were on the agenda.
I don't buy it
[2:09:04] back to your presentation for the facts
of not much in there. For example, you
[2:09:14] hammering um you made a number of
comments specifically about
[2:09:21] guess what come n years ago I stood up
before committee Mr. Gates made a got on
[2:09:27] a case about would I support contract on
TRS and at the time knowing that was not
[2:09:32] a popular idea I said yes as long as
everybody knows what's in it and both
[2:09:35] parties are great you don't like it from
home work on it in your contract just
[2:09:41] cancel it
[2:09:45] [Music]
how you went about this you were on the
[2:09:51] committee uh 10 11 years ago during the
whole fire district issue
[2:09:56] Do you remember when you guys at the
time took a vote at the end of the
[2:09:59] session that was not on the agenda
specific to terminating the the fire
[2:10:04] district? Remember what happened? People
got pissed off that you didn't tell them
[2:10:07] that you had promised it was going to be
on the agenda and it wasn't. And you
[2:10:11] took that action anyway. I've always
said I was a believer on the tree, but
[2:10:15] come on. You had to
[2:10:19] [Applause]
[2:10:31] I want to thank you for allowing to see
tonight.
[2:10:40] So, as a local ER nurse,
[2:10:44] I can tell you that
[2:10:51] already.
We all live in the choice. But that
[2:10:56] means that we're 20 to 30 minutes away
from any local hospital.
[2:11:02] Um, there are medical emergencies where
time will make or break someone's
[2:11:05] wellbeing. Some examples include the
golden hour of
[2:11:10] 90 minutes to
the time
[2:11:20] to repro
and
[2:11:26] the facts
[2:11:30] experts or even my husband the emergency
management commission
[2:11:37] would impact
[2:11:41] The quality of
[2:11:46] that decision also
kicking out the members of the community
[2:11:53] from the rescue
[Music]
[2:12:05] at the expense of the tabernacle.
[2:12:16] decision to allow tabernacle.
[2:12:20] [Applause]
[2:12:34] » My name is Bill Ryan.
courts
[2:12:39] following this situation since secret
meetings that were pulled off
[2:12:46] of
[2:12:49] the fact that they took your committee
action a week later
[2:12:55] generated story on social media on the
12th frankly the floor I've spent my
[2:13:01] whole life working on public policy I've
worked
[2:13:07] municipal or whether the fact that you
all along with neighboring communities
[2:13:13] like your mom would do these things
behind closed doors and then have a
[2:13:17] presentation where you've already
pointed out numerous times that you've
[2:13:21] had concerns and not do anything about
it and not bring the people that are
[2:13:24] responsible into have a discussion is
deplorable. But what makes it even worse
[2:13:31] is this last at the end of last month
you were going to have a meeting and
[2:13:35] you're going to explain it to the people
and I come here and there's another
[2:13:40] saying I'm sorry
[2:13:46] to
you have put our community in sham in
[2:13:51] jeopardy because your decision and the
fact that they want to go behind work
[2:13:56] and have their own conversation
makes So that whatever his result is, I
[2:14:01] may wind up having service
30 to 45 units. You're going through six
[2:14:08] units there, maybe two,
but I get the focus that lumber EMS is a
[2:14:17] business.
They have a million dollar operation.
[2:14:21] They got a paid staff. They do great
work. So this is a good business
[2:14:24] opportunity for them to start. You have
to fill the gap.
[2:14:30] The fact that they go and never say
anything for a week is an issue that
[2:14:34] I'll give to them. But here it's pretty
clear to me you're doing this because
[2:14:39] you have council building. You want to
take your building want to convert this
[2:14:43] over
[2:14:48] [Applause]
Absolutely.
[2:15:05] [Music]
[2:15:14] » You know where I stand on this. I have a
couple questions for you.
[2:15:19] I'm looking These two girls over here
are township managers
[2:15:24] and you're saying to me that qualifies
for $75.
[2:15:29] [Music]
[2:15:35] So where do you get all same $75 an
hour?
[2:15:39] You pull her from Medford as a payroll
specialist as a healthare specialist.
[2:15:44] She's not worth $75. She was a coward
when she when I went up there. She would
[2:15:49] even come up to the window and talk to
me. I had to go and ask Kevin and Bart
[2:15:56] and they told me who the new township
manager was. And this is the person
[2:16:01] you're going to hire. Shame on you for
that.
[2:16:05] My road still a disgrace.
Still a disgrace. 104 Hawkins Road, my
[2:16:11] next door neighbor, their nine-year-old
son. Thank god he had good reflexes
[2:16:16] Friday morning.
Car pass the school bus with lights on.
[2:16:21] Pull the camera footage. I already
called Olson Middle School about it. He
[2:16:25] almost got killed that morning. Council
Biddy got hit because you guys don't
[2:16:31] want to take the responsibility to put
this stuff on this road. Do a traffic
[2:16:36] stud. Put signs up. You don't want to
take care of it.
[2:16:43] It's a disgrace. And on top of it, for
what you're doing over here,
[2:16:50] to these people at TRS,
[2:16:53] it's unconscionable.
We have other board members in here that
[2:16:58] are in bed with each other on land use
boards to get gains for other reasons
[2:17:05] which I don't think I have to really be
real clear about grace
[2:17:10] because if you would have called me back
when I asked you to call me back and you
[2:17:13] would have responded instead of blowing
me off we wouldn't be going down this
[2:17:17] road. Correct.
>> Excuse me. Going by Robert
[2:17:23] » that's fine. That's fine. that you all
work for me, too.
[2:17:29] [Applause]
>> You know, and again, I'll tell you, I'm
[2:17:34] a disgrace that I even voted for you
because you backed all these other
[2:17:40] people and said, "Oh, I'm going to do
this for you, Brian. I'm going to do
[2:17:44] this. Go after Sammy Moore for this. Go
after this person. Go after that." Don't
[2:17:48] deny you didn't say it, Joe. Good old
Joe, you are. You're a disgrace. She
[2:17:54] ought to resign.
>> All of them.
[2:17:58] » She ought to resign.
>> And Lorie Cooper.
[2:18:00] » And Lorie Cooper.
>> You're a disgrace, too. And I thought I
[2:18:06] would be able to rely on you, Grace. And
you let me down. Thanks.
[2:18:11] [Applause]
[2:18:29] app.
[2:18:33] But I do I can't leave here without
telling you I worked with a lot of these
[2:18:37] folks. I've been in healthcare for 40
years. They have this town 100%. They
[2:18:45] are for this town. They will do anything
for this town. Steve Kramer is my idol.
[2:18:49] I will tell you, I worked with him
before. I The man is wonderful. You have
[2:18:55] to put personal feelings aside. George
Jackson feels the way he feels because
[2:19:00] he is passionate about his station. How
could you all just say, "Oh, we don't
[2:19:05] want to work with you." And let this
town fall apart. I can't even imagine
[2:19:10] the lives that are going to be hurt and
the children that are going to be sick
[2:19:15] and there's going to be no response.
There are not enough ambulances. You
[2:19:20] have a wonderful station here, multiple
apparatuses, good people that want to
[2:19:25] work for you. Why not give them a second
chance and build on it? You need paid
[2:19:30] service. I'm 100% behind that because
everybody needs it. The other stations
[2:19:36] have one crew, one ambulance. We got
three relatively new apparatuses. They
[2:19:44] all work. Other stations use their
apparatus because yours work here. Why
[2:19:49] would you want to take somebody else's
problems as I want to say and I will
[2:19:55] only speak for what I know. I will not
make up any story of some of the station
[2:20:00] that you're referring to. I know
personally what they have and I think
[2:20:05] crazy if you think you're going to get
more than one truck on the road and
[2:20:09] that's if you're going to get it in a
timely fashion
[2:20:13] like Menderson said they were at
Chadsworth that's frequent I lived in
[2:20:17] Woodland Township for 35 years I had
never got an ambulance from Woodland
[2:20:21] Township at my house when I called for
an ambulance I have thank God yet to
[2:20:25] have to call an ambulance in Tabernacle
but I know that there are would respond
[2:20:30] I know they're close enough and then
Southampton is a backup they are
[2:20:33] wonderful to back up. You're crazy. If
you think that's will be your whole
[2:20:38] support, I think you really really need
to reook and not go by somebody's
[2:20:44] personality that you don't like.
[Applause]
[2:21:03] road.
If there is any consideration or
[2:21:08] reconsideration
or as Jackson spoke about