Hope South River council
acts in good faith, next year

Not long after local residents turned their calendar to the year 2000, the South River Rescue Squad approached the Borough Council about becoming a borough department. The benefits for the all-volunteer squad, among others, included $25,000 from the governing body this year.

However, in order to get the council’s approval, the squad members had to bend or give in on some issues, many of which have been written about in this newspaper over the past seven months.

The squad tried, however, to hold out for one issue it felt very strongly about – a 99-year, non-renewable lease for its building on Thomas Street. The council had offered the squad a 99-year lease which would be renewed annually unless both parties agreed to terminate the contract.

The squad once again gave in and agreed to the council’s terms regarding the lease. As a result, the squad and the council signed an agreement to make the squad a borough department last Wednesday.

So, do you think the controversy is over? Hopefully, but that may not be the case. The agreement does not guarantee that the squad, which has previously relied on donations, will receive $25,000 next year, or the year after that.

In the end, the squad trusted the council. Now let’s hope the council acts in good faith and continues to help fund the squad.