Mount Ephraim Commissioners Concerned About Safety Issues
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
By Leigh Anne Hubbs
NEWS Correspondent
September 2nd marked the first day of school for students attending Mary Bray Elementary and Kershaw Middle schools.
That night at the Mount Ephraim Board of Commissioners meeting, Andrew Gilmore said that at 8:20 a.m. the fire alarm sounded.
It prompted volunteer fire-fighters to rush to the Lambert Avenue Fire Station, located near Mary Bray.
While the firefighters attempted to park their vehicles and get the fire trucks out in a timely manner, they were slowed by the crowds of people blocking the entrance, apparently caught up in the excitement of the first day of school.
Commissioner Gilmore reminded residents to be aware of their surroundings, especially when emer-gency vehicles are responding to a possible life or death situation.
Now that school is in session, Mayor Joseph Wolk and Commissioners Gilmore and Bruce Greenwald asked parents to make sure that their children are following pedestrian traffic laws, and that they are also aware of what is going on around them.
It is estimated that the new fire station will be completed in seven to eight months. Then, the Lambert Avenue station may be turned into a senior center.
In other news, August yielded 36 adult and two juvenile arrests (for possession of CDS and shoplifting) by the Police.
Officers issued 219 motor vehicle summons, including five that resulted in DUI arrests.
The Fire Department reported 27,280 volunteer man hours to date. In August they responded to two dwelling fires, five investigations and seven motor vehicle accidents.
In the aftermath of July's Harka Avenue fire, the Fire Department canvassed a 12-block area. They visited residents and installed thirty smoke detectors and replaced the batteries in an additional 28 homes.
The Commissioners thank the Fire Department for keeping residents safe.
Greenwald said Public Works has been busy painting curbs, guard rails and speed bumps.
Employees also helped move Fire Department equipment from the Bell Avenue station to its current location.
The next Commissioners meeting will be Thursday, October 7, at 8 p.m. in Borough Hall.