With Upper Darby career fire units being called into neighboring communities with struggling volunteer coverage, the township is addressing mutual aid.

During Wednesday night’s council meeting, Vice President Noah Fields raised the service load that the township fire department is being forced to bear with mutual aid outside the township.

Fields said he supports mutual aid, but what officials are seeing now are sustained reliance on the township units outside the township including in Darby Township and East Lansdowne, particularly where those communities are no longer able to respond, he said.

East Lansdowne recently closed its fire company, with Lansdowne Fire Company taking over coverage, while Darby Township has been having similar issues.

Upper Darby has approximately 65 career firefighters. Fields said the department, which just hired two firefighters, is in the process of getting to a complement of 70 firefighters to get to the minimum safe staffing levels as recommended in a recent study and by the National Fire Protection Association.

Fields asked for a formal review of dispatch requests to establish structural agreements that address operational expectations, cost recovery where appropriate and accountability on both sides.

“If we are providing ongoing service, it should be clearly defined,” Fields said. “Our first obligation should be to the residents and first responders of Upper Darby.”

The volunteer fire service is struggling across the nation with the number of volunteers decreasing. In recent years Collingdale, Aston and some Ridley fire companies have merged to remain relevant. Swarthmore and Nether Providence fire companies are currently considering merging.

Fields pointed out Garrettford Drexel Hill is still a fully volunteer station and the township is working to recruit new members to the department.

The flag issue

Flag issues were also raised during the council meeting.

Mayor Ed Brown apologized after reports that the state flag on the township building had been flying at half staff and upside down outside the township building.

After the line of duty death of Pennsylvania State Trooper Timothy O’Connor, Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered United States and commonwealth flags on all commonwealth facilities, public buildings, and grounds across Pennsylvania to fly at half staff to honor Cpl. O’Connor.

The mayor said last week he received word from a school board member about the flag. The Mayor asked staff and found out heavy winds damaged a grommet and the flag was twisted. It was taken down, and when rehung at half staff, it was hung upside down.

“It was a mistake and we apologize to anyone who was offended by it,” Brown said. “We don’t profess to be perfect, but we are committed to rectifying anything that is brought to our attention.”

He suggested the best way to deal with an issue is contacting the township One Center as apposed to posting on social media.

Council-member-at-large Kyle McIntyre announced the launch of a competition to design a township flag. He said the township does not currently have a flag and the competition will help create a symbol that represents, the “spirit, pride and identity” of the community.

The competition will run until April 17. He said the original flag design would include an explanation of the meaning of the symbols.

The entrees will be reviewed by council and the mayor to advance designs to a finals, which would then go to a public vote, with the winning vote announced June 1.

He said plans call for the winning vote to raise the flag on Flag Day, June 14.

During the meeting, Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt gave an update on ICE, stating while they have again been able to be in contact with the federal immigration officials, they are not working with ICE and have not signed any 287(g) agreement with ICE.

Council also approved a resolution to submit a grant application with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission for a engineering and design study of a Darby Creek Trail Pilgrim Park Segment to connect with Haverford Township’s Darby Creek Trail, which would run from approximately Burmont Road in Haverford to the existing segment of Darby Creek Trail, the Drexeline Station near the State Road segment in Upper Darby.