From The Press of Atlantic City — The township Emergency Medical Services squad disbanded in December, but its members say they are ready to go back to work.

The part-time volunteer rescue squad opted to cease operations in December rather than continue with what its members considered to be subpar facilities, Chief Gary Franklin said.

“When the squad was first started about 10 years ago, it was put into one of the bays at the township’s garage as a temporary home,” Franklin said, adding the bay was cramped, unhygienic, lacking proper HVAC amenities and had no running water. “But it seemed like every time we asked for an upgrade, all the township did was look into shared services instead.”

When it stopped operating, the squad paid the Hammonton Rescue Squad about $14,000 to cover the township full time through June 15, Franklin said. Hammonton already provided that service on a part-time, 12-hour-per-day basis.

At a Jan. 20 budget workshop, the Township Committee voted to extend the contract with Hammonton through the end of 2009 for $25,000.

The decision prompted Franklin to remind the committee that the members of Mullica’s now-defunct squad still want to be the ones serving the community – as long as the township meets their demands.

Franklin said the squad’s needs are small.

“All we need is a pole barn big enough for our trucks that has running water, bathrooms, heating and air conditioning,” he said. “We’ve even told the committee that if we could get that building, we won’t ask them for a new truck.”

The Township Committee announced Jan. 27 that it would allow the squad to make its pitch at a public meeting. The invitation also will be extended to any rescue squad interested in providing the township coverage.

“I’m willing to listen to anyone,” said Deputy Mayor William Kennedy, chairman of the township’s Public Safety Committee. “But it will be difficult for them (Mullica’s squad) because they have no building and no ambulances. Those belong to the township.”

Kennedy, who said no one from the Mullica squad has approached him about a possible return, said there are also financial and coverage incentives to hiring a full-time squad such as Hammonton.

But Franklin insisted that it was in the township’s best interests, in terms of finances and public safety, to give the Mullica squad what it is asking for.

“In my opinion, you’re better off keeping volunteers as long as possible,” Franklin said. “The interest is there, it always has been. All that’s missing is the support from the township.”

For a full version of this article, visit:
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/179/story/395068.html