Jefferson Hills: Council OKs probationary plan for Gill Hall VFC

By ERIC SEIVERLING

eseiverling@yourmvi.com

Jefferson Hills borough continued Monday to move forward with the recertification of the Gill Hall Volunteer Fire Company, as borough officials unveiled a probationary plan for the fire company, which was decertified in January of last year.

In a motion that passed 6-1, council accepted a probationary plan for the fire hall in an effort to establish fire protection benchmarks for the borough. Councilman Keith Reynolds voted no.

“They’ve been there for 60 years,” he said. “They shouldn’t be on probation.”

The probationary plan, presented by council president Karen Bucy and councilwoman Melissa Steffey, will last until April 30, 2021, and consists of four phases.

Phase one began on April 27 and ends July 25. The plan includes Gill Hall VFC developing a baseline roster of firefighter names, addresses, statuses and certification.

The first phase also includes all fire trucks and equipment being assessed to be in working condition, and the VFC’s firefighters will attend five out of eight possible weekly training sessions, with a log recording members’ attendance to the training sessions.

Gill Hall VFC will submit all utility bills, such as water, electric, gas and sewage, to the borough.

The first phase also emphasized the “attitude, words and behaviors by all fire companies will exhibit professionalism.”

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