The Allegheny Township supervisors have reached an agreement with the Allegheny Township Fire Department that settles a dispute that had led the board to propose demoting the department to secondary status in favor of neighboring Duncansville’s fire department less than two weeks ago, based on a series of supervisor grievances.

That demotion proposal resulted in an outcry from department and community members then, plus a scolding from a resident who urged both sides to get past their egos and come to an amicable solution.

Under the agreement, the department will remain the township’s primary responder, but must “maintain positive relationships” with other fire companies and emergency groups; “demonstrate financial accountability” through a monthly profit-and-loss statement and an annual balance sheet; identify all officers and members and their qualifications, while providing regular updates; must identify all apparatus and equipment, with regular updates on the status of their inspections; and provide current information on the township’s ISO ratings. The agreement also calls for both parties to meet annually to discuss issues of concern.

The supervisors approved the agreement at a special meeting Monday.

It’s a good one, resulting from “great communication” between the parties, Fire Chief Mike Boring said after the meeting.

Previously, there were shortcomings in the department’s relations with other local fire companies, according to Supervisor Fred Imler.

Every fire department wants to be the best and thinks it’s the best and “that sometimes gets in the way,” Imler said.

But cooperation between departments is critical, especially nowadays, when there are more and more competing events and interests in the lives of volunteers that make it hard for any one department to reliably draw enough responders to handle major incidents, he said. There have also been problems with financial transparency in the department, Imler said.

The department needs to be accountable for taxpayer dollars, he stated.

In addition, cooperation between the department and the supervisors has been lacking, according to Imler.

“I’m not blaming either side (for that),” he said.

As long as he’s chief, there will be an “open line of communication,” Boring stated.

The township will have excellent emergency protection if the parties “adhere” to the agreement, Imler said.

Having things in “black and white” should help, he added.

“I hope this turns a corner, and we can have the best emergency service in Blair County,” Imler said. “The most important thing is to have the residents of the township be able to live and work in a safe environment.”

Perhaps channeling the resident who scolded both parties at the earlier meeting, the supervisors and the top department officers shook hands after the agreement was approved.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.