Your Donations for a New (Used) Ambulance … Made a Difference!

That used ambulance from Union Beach the Atlantic Highlands First Aid Squad recently acquired through private donations went into high speed Sunday as the squad answered six separate calls for service.

Multiple volunteer crews remained at the First Aid Squad building, Chief Lance Hubeny reported.

“Our new used ambulance (85-57) really came in handy for its first weekend in service,” an elated Chief Hubeny said, “ All our officers besides myself, Ann Schoeller, Tim Farkas and Brian Boms along with all our volunteers really stepped up Sunday. The level of excitement and enthusiasm around the building was amazing!”

The squad responded to calls for a cardiac arrest, an unconscious persons, a back injury, dog bite, altered mental status and a severe allergic reaction and were able to use both ambulances in response to each of the emergencies and provide necessary transportation. ,

The volunteers provide emergency treatment and assistance for all borough residents from 5 p.m Friday through 5 a.m. Sunday along with every weekday night from 5 p.m.

“The line officers and I are very proud of all the members,  in a job well done for our community,” Hubeny reported.

Peg Schaffer Follows Through

Borough Attorney Marguerite Schaffer showed clearly at Thursday’s meeting of the Mayor and Council that not only is she a woman of her word and believes in transparency, but she’s also sure enough of herself and can admit she doesn’t know everything in spite of nearly half a century practicing law.

The attorney had promised at the previous council meeting she would research the question of whether a board, council, or commission member can vote to approve minutes of a meeting they did not attend. As has been the practice at almost every meeting of every board for decades, she opined she did not believe they should vote on minutes they did not attend, an opinion practiced by most.

The questions came up at the meeting after Harbor Commission attorney Gregory Cannon had told that appointed board an absent member could indeed vote to approve minutes of a meeting he or she did not attend. Schaffer, as the borough attorney, was asked if that was correct.

At this week’s meeting the attorney said has spoken with the harbor commission attorney and further researched the question and determined surprisingly there is no state law making the distinction. In those cases, she said, boards and commissions follow Roberts Rules of Order which says absentee members can vote to approve minutes, indicating they believe they are an accurate portrayal of what happened at a meeting, even if they did not attend. Boards can, however, adopt their own rules or the borough can enact ordinances or statutes to make it clear a member has to be present for a meeting in order to vote to approve its minutes.

Not as gracious or transparent as the borough attorney, however, was Mayor Lori Hohenleitner. When asked if the Mayor and Council would then suggest or advise the Harbor Commission of the suggestion to adopt a position that would be more in line with what is the practice in so many committees and commissioners, the mayor’s response was “we are not bullies.” The statement seemed to indicate the mayor felt elected officials would be overstepping their bounds in making a suggestion to the appointed commission rather than be more open to residents who expect only people who attend a meeting should vote on whether the official report of it is accurate.

Here again, however, attorney Schaffer showed she listens to the people and believes they should be kept up to date on recommendations and decisions of attorneys. Schaffer explained she has spoken with Cannon and neither feels comfortable with the idea of voting when not present and both feel the best practices policy should be followed. She said Cannon indicated he is going to recommend to the commission they go by the best practices position and recommend members only vote on approval of minutes of meetings they have attended.

“New” Used Ambulance by Hard Work and Generosity

The Atlantic Highlands First Aid Squad, in addition to its 22 men and women who answer emergency and fire calls throughout the night boasts of an ambulance they can now trust.

  What’s more, Squad Chief Lance Hubeny said today the squad is about two weeks away from signing a contract to purchase a brand-new ambulance, one that will further ensure the health and safety these volunteers want for the borough. However, it takes approximately two years from contract signatures until arrival of the ambulance, he said.

    Hubeny also said one of the first things he did was contact Highlands First Aid Chief Jay Terwilliger to let him know the Atlantic Highlands squad can now provide mutual aid to neighboring Highlands just as that borough has been providing to them.

  The new ambulance means the squad now has two ambulances, a 2010 vehicle they have little faith in because of its extensive problems, and the recent acquisition, a 2012 Chevrolet 4500 with 27,000 miles on it.

   Hubeny confirmed what Councilman James Murphy said at Thursday night’s meeting of the Mayor and Council, news that failed to invoke any applause, praise or congratulations from the governing body.

     In his regular report to Council on the First Aid Squad, Murphy said “Chief (Hubeny) is proud to announce through their massive fundraising efforts, the squad was able to raise enough funds to purchase a “gently used” ambulance as a back-up rig to ensure their ability to properly service our community. Fundraising efforts continue though, as they are still in need of replacing their other rig, but this is an enormous win for the squad and our residents.”

  No one from the governing body commented on the report.

    Contacted today, Hubeny confirmed that the squad was able to purchase the Chevrolet ambulance valued in the neighborhood of $80,000 from the Union Beach First Aid Squad. The Chief said he had received a call from that squad after he had been seeking a used vehicle for months.  After seeing the vehicle, trying it out and having it checked by mechanics, Hubeny conceded he also managed to negotiate a lower price for the purchase than originally set. Thanks to his persuasive abilities and the generosity of the Union Beach squad, the Atlantic Highlands squad purchased the vehicle for $40,000.

  Two days ago, squad members formed a work party at the First Aid station and refitted the new ambulance after having acquired it and having it registered. The ambulance is now in service.

     Hubeny said Union Beach has three vehicles, one of which is new, so they sold one their older vehicles after learning of this borough’s great need and lack of ability to provide mutual aid as all squads do.

   Overwhelmed with the purchase and the price, Hubeny said it has all taken place within the last two weeks and every squad member is deeply appreciative of the many generous residents and businesses who have made the purchase possible.

   He also noted there has been a small group of extremely thoughtful and generous benefactors who donated large sums of money to make the purchase possible and to enable the squad to soon sign a contract for a new vehicle as well.

  To show their appreciation, the ’new’ used ambulance is being painted and lettered now, he said. The rear doors of the emergency vehicle will be printed with the names of the ten donors whose generous support made the purchase possible. It is a tradition the squad will start and continue for the purchase of the new ambulance as well.

   “Every member of our First Aid Squad is overwhelmed with appreciation and gratitude for the generosity of so many wonderful people,” Hubeny said. “Our volunteers work hard, attain their certifications sometimes under difficult circumstances, and show up for these calls in the evening, early morning and anytime during the night. To be able to have not one, but two ambulances they can now use in the event of dual emergencies and to help neighboring towns with their emergencies makes them even more happy they themselves can go out and help their neighbors.”

 Like myself, Hubeny said, they know we have to depend on the generosity of our friends and neighbors to continue to provide the support and aid we want to provide for everyone. He said fund raising efforts will continue to be a priority to ensure the new vehicle purchase, and urges anyone who wants to play a role, large or small, in helping others in need, can make donations to the Atlantic Highlands First Aid Squad, or get further information by contacting info@ahfirstaid.org.

  The Squad is the recipient of the Atlantic Highlands Police PBA’s annual Charity Ball set for May 24 at the Shore Casino. Donations are still needed for baskets that are always a highlight of the annual event and further information on how to donate for these baskets is also available at info@ahfirstaid.org.

See the Previous Story on the First Aid HERE