DURYEA — The borough will begin to research the feasibility of ambulance services thanks to approval of a new committee at the council meeting on Sept. 8.

The committee will consist of borough council members Lois Hanczyc, Michael McGlynn, vice president Ed Emeika and mayor Keith Moss who will all do research on whether ambulance services will be cost-effective for the borough to maintain.

The decision to bring back an ambulance service comes two years after the Duryea Ambulance Rescue and Service Association, which was funded through donations and fundraising, dissolved in the spring of 2013 after 65 years of service to the borough.

Duryea has since been supported by the Avoca Ambulance Association.

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Contacted after the meeting, Chris Matys, former EMS captain of the association, said the disolvement was due to financial issues.

“There was no scandal, money just ran out,” he said. “Money came in through donations and fundraising and third party billing, like if the ambulance had to go to another hospital they were given money for that, as well as money through grants. The borough gave money for insurance purposes such as worker’s compensation, but they never gave money for monthly fuel receipts, equipment or anything like that.”

Council president Jimmy Balchune said he is not 100 percent sure if a new ambulance will happen, and that council is simply looking into it for now.

“PennEastern wants to put a full-time paramedic here that would be housed in the Excelsior Hose Co.,” he said. “We have the avenues open to do research and see if it’s a feasible thing and if it’s right for the community,” he said.

In other business council members approved:

• Payment of $332,369.32 to Pennsy Supply for the 5th Ward Paving Project that will see street pavements being done on South Alley, Hope, Flynn, Hobart, Hollow, Foster, Willow, Williams, Carolt and Church streets.

The next Duryea Borough council meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at the borough building, 315 Main St.

By Jimmy Fisher

jfisher@timesleader.com

Reach Jimmy Fisher at 570-704-3972 or on Twitter @SD_JimmyFisher