Ex-Ambulance Corps Volunteers Sue Mahwah

A group of former Mahwah Company 1 ambulance volunteers have sued the township over its switch to a new volunteer ambulance agency last year, NorthJersey.com reported Thursday.

According to the report, the suits allege the township violated the Open Public Meetings Act and failed to provide the volunteers with a 30-day notification for lease termination.

Thirteen members of Company 1 say they were not part of discussions the township had with members of Mahwah Emergency Medical Services, which took over as the town’s official ambulance service last July, the report said. Before that, Companies 1 and 4 had split ambulance corps duties in the township.

Company 1 members also say they were forced out of their Franklin Turnpike headquarters on just hours notice, the report said.

Former Company 1 members also said they have not been able to successfully apply to volunteer with the new ambulance agency, the report said.

Township officials told NorthJersey.com that they are working with Mahwah EMS in an effort to “remove some of the obstacles” the thirteen members have been facing when trying to apply to be a part of the new organization.

In July, Mahwah EMS members said the new group was formed in an effort to create unity amongst the previously split up ambulance corps, and in an effort to improve response times. It is made up of other former members of Companies 1 and 4.

After Mahwah EMS was formed, it accused the 13 people of stripping the Franklin Turnpike HQ and the former Company 1 ambulances of all furniture and supplies before they were officially turned over to Mahwah EMS.