Working Together For The Future -Building Cooperative Partnerships to Improve Pennsylvania’s Fire and Emergency Services

Presented by D. Robert Brady, IILocal Government Policy Specialist

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Building Cooperative Partnerships

Requests for Assistance

•The Center receives an average of 3 requests for assistance per week•9 out of 10 requests are from rank and file members of the fire, rescue, EMS, and EMA community•Approximately 150 new cooperative services created in PA since 2000•Created a partnership with OSFC, PEMA, EMS, and DCNR to coordinate partnership activities state-wide

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Building Cooperative Partnerships

Legal Authority To Partner In Pennsylvania

• Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania – most recent constitutional convention was held in 1968

• Intergovernmental Cooperation Law• Municipal Codes

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Think of the Ark as the “Community Fire Service”!

And the Woodpecker as a “Changing American Culture”!

Volunteer Firefighters in PA:

1970s = 300,000

1990s = 70,000

2000s = 45,000

We lost 250,000 firemen in 36 years! Or 6,944/year!

By 2020, the trend line shows no more volunteers!

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Building Cooperative Partnerships

What is the No. 1 goal of a new partnership?

“To provide the best and most professional service to the communities served in the most cost effective manner.”

Remember, this is not about selling fire apparatus, ambulances and/or closing fire stations!

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Building Cooperative Partnerships

Is a new partnership a natural progression for fire and emergency service organizations?

Are they….• Responding to calls together?• Training together?• Fund raising together?

If so, the only thing they are not doing together is the administrative function.

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Building Cooperative Partnerships

Merger – The combination of two (2) or more existing corporations that legally resolve to become one entirely new entity. Typically, the larger party becomes the surviving entity. A name change may or may not occur.

Consolidation – The combination of two (2) or more existing corporations which results in the creation of a new organization with a new name.

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Building Cooperative Partnerships

Partial Consolidation – Separate fire and emergency service organizations are retained but a special arrangement is developed to handle specific functions.

Association – An agreement of two (2) or more organizations to combine and administer similar activities through an umbrella organization. Also known as Functional Consolidation.

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Building Cooperative Partnerships

Regional Emergency Service Commission – A formal multi-municipal partnership with two (2) or more municipalities along with local emergency service providers created to accomplish specific goals, objectives, and/or tasks. (aka “Districts”)

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Building Cooperative Partnerships

Recognizing Challenges, Opportunities and Being Smart Enough To Recognize The Difference!

• Provides us a chance to be pro-active and not re-active!

• Have the ability to re-invent ourselves!• Throw out all those things we don’t like or doesn’t

work and make the system work for us!

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Building Cooperative Partnerships

Recognizing Challenges, Opportunities and Being Smart Enough To Recognize The Difference!

• Who’s in? Who’s out? The cart before the horse scenario!

• Administration/Management and Operations - Is there’s a difference?

• Remember! Municipal Codes and Corporation Law both play a role in this process!

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Building Cooperative Partnerships

Recognizing Challenges, Opportunities and Being Smart Enough To Recognize The Difference!

• Community-based Board of Directors?• 2 year terms for officers?• Appointed or Elected Officers?• Don’t forget about the old timers!

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Building Cooperative Partnerships

Noticeable Trends with New Partnerships

• Hiring a professional administrator• Moving towards a multi-municipal delivery system• If you embrace all aspects of the community,

people start recognizing the value of the system

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Building Cooperative Partnerships

Sources1. PA Intergovernmental Cooperation Handbook –

February 2006

2. PA Municipal Statistics – January 2010

3. House Resolution 148 – June 2005

4. Senate Resolution 60 – November 2004

5. New Webster’s Dictionary – 1981 Edition

6. PEMA

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Building Cooperative Partnerships

Questions or need assistance?

Please feel free to contact D. Robert Brady, II at the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services.

1 (888) 223-6837

www.newPA.com

danbrady@pa.gov

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