Nazareth Ambulance proposes new headquarters in Upper Nazareth Township

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

The Nazareth Volunteer Ambulance Corps wants to move its borough headquarters to a proposed site in Upper Nazareth Township.

The current headquarters, a portion of the Vigilance Hose Fire Co. building, forces ambulances to dispatch onto one-way Cedar Street.

The new proposed site off Gracedale Avenue in Upper Nazareth Township would offer faster response times for borough residents even though it’s outside the borough, according to ambulance company officials. The proposed site lies west of the borough’s highway garage.

While Councilman Charles Donello called the idea a “good proposal” during Thursday’s workshop meeting, Councilman Thomas Heckman wasn’t on board.

“My obligation is to the borough of Nazareth. Our residents want an ambulance. They don’t want it in Wind Gap or another municipality,” Heckman said. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea for the citizens of Nazareth, Upper Nazareth and Bushkill.”

Council President Dan Chiavaroli, who is president of the Nazareth Ambulance Board, said plans call for extending Stoudt Boulevard to Gracedale Avenue, which would not only make the ambulance company more attractive to Gracedale but would cut down on response time for borough residents.

In a letter last week to Borough Council and written by Chiavaroli on behalf of the Nazareth Ambulance Corps, members said since Gracedale will remain in county hands for the next five years, the board feels it’s time to approach council with its ideas.

“We are hoping the new building will provide a pleasant atmosphere for the corps employees and attract additional employees,” Chiavaroli said. “The new location and improved access will make Nazareth Ambulance a more attractive option to future additional service areas.”

Chiavaroli said tonight that Nazareth Ambulance first wants council’s endorsement for the plan, then will seek council approval to council to extend Stoudt Boulevard. The extended road would create a parking area for corps’ units not in service and for employees. The corps wants to remove its vehicles parked inside the highway garage, Chiavaroli said.

The ambulance company needs Upper Nazareth Township zoning approval, Chiavaroli said.

Chiavaroli did not have a cost estimate for the building, but confirmed the building would be paid for out of the Ambulance Corps’ budget.

“We would design the building in such a way that, should the corps ever cease to exist, the building would pass on to the borough to serve as a benefit to the borough,” Chiavaroli said in the letter.

“When you can share services, more municipalities can get served at a better cost,” Chiavaroli added.

In an e-mail following Thursday’s workshop, Nazareth Mayor Fred Daugherty said he favors the proposal, noting having a larger corps better equipped and trained to serve the surrounding area better serves the borough.

“If we were to operate an ambulance service for the borough-only we would not be able to afford to do so,” Daugherty said. “The borough has benefited greatly by our corps providing these enhanced services to the surrounding communities.”

Nazareth Ambulance Corps offers primary service for the borough, Upper Nazareth Township, Stockertown and Tatamy. It offers advanced life support service for Bushkill Township and Wind Gap.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/nazareth/index.ssf/2011/07/nazareth_ambulance_proposes_ne.html