HAWLEY, PA — Whom do you call in Hawley if you need an ambulance? According to Sue Baldwin, who lives in the Hawley Village Apartments, residents there want Hawley Ambulance to be called first. At the most recent meeting of the Hawley Borough Council, she said that those responders know the tenants and they have access to the complex. She contended that Commonwealth EMS, who is first to be called by 911 dispatch, does not have or want to carry access keys to the complex, which delays their being able to respond. The fire department is called to assist Commonwealth in gaining access to the premises.

Council President Ann Monaghan reminded Baldwin and others who expressed similar sentiments that the borough has reached out repeatedly to Hawley Ambulance to ask it to provide the information that would be necessary for the council to declare Hawley Ambulance the provider of choice for the borough. The process started in November 2016 and has not been satisfied to date. As a result, the borough awarded the contract to Commonwealth in January 2018.

Baldwin, who is a member of the Hawley Ambulance service, was given a copy of the information needed by the borough and stated that she would follow up on the data request. Monaghan said that as soon as the information is provided, the borough would be happy to sit down with the Hawley Ambulance representatives to reopen the dialogue. In the meantime, Hawley Borough Vice President Elaine Herzog and code official P.J. Dougherty offered to reach out to the Wayne County Housing Authority to try to resolve the issue of emergency personnel gaining access to the apartment complex.

Resident Duane Austin asked council about the status of repairs to Paupack Street. Monaghan reported that she has been in contact with local representatives from Eastern Propane who agreed that, while repairs were necessary and that the situation had been remanded to their corporate offices, no timeframe for the repairs could be given.

Monaghan stated that rental inspector Harry Corino had submitted a report stating that the property at 706 Church St. was in compliance with repairs that had been requested. Among others, items including sewage in the basement, CO2 and smoke alarms, heating and plumbing issues, and door repairs had been addressed.

Deputy Chief Gene Krause reported that the Hawley Fire Department had responded to 32 calls in March, many of which were storm-related.

Upon the recommendation of the planning commission, a public hearing to address the granting of a conditional-use permit at 536 Atkinson was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on May 9. Following that meeting, the next regularly scheduled council meeting will be held.