BY LOIS THOMSON

For more than two years, Ben Avon has been discussing a possible consolidation of the Ben Avon and Emsworth fire departments. At Tuesday's council meeting, council member Michael Bett gave a comprehensive presentation, emphasizing that any plan must provide both a good experience and good equipment for the firefighters.

The presentation showed the differences between Ben Avon's situation remaining status quo and continuing to operate as an independent volunteer fire department, as compared with merging with the other communities.

Without a consolidation, projected costs for Ben Avon 10 years into the future showed an average of nearly $78,000 per year. With the merger, which would include Ben Avon, Ben Avon Heights, Emsworth, Glenfield and Kilbuck, the estimated average cost for Ben Avon over the next 10 years would be just under $7,000.

Bett suggested that these savings would allow additional funds to be put toward the purchase of future fire trucks and equipment.

The funds currently available from the five municipalities for fire protection is $156,280 this year. Bett would have that money used to cover direct expenses, such as utilities, insurance, equipment and maintenance; pay Ben Avon a fair market value for rent; save $50,000 a year for new equipment; and still have between $20,000 and $38,000 a year to cover fire protection equipment and other contingency expenses.

Fire Chief Gary Buckman and Doug Silk, president of the Ben Avon VFD, questioned some of Bett's figures.

Council member R.J. White commented that Bett's numbers assume that all of the communities would agree to the consolidation, and council president Lloyd Corder concurred, saying that the merger would not be considered if there was no guarantee of long-term funding.

Bett's presentation alleged that Ben Avon could be faced with some difficult financial issues in the future unless there was a significant increase in taxes. Michael Palcsey, a new resident from Ohio River Boulevard, asked council if a fire tax, such as the one some municipalities have, had ever been considered. Council member Sue Weiss said, "We're trying not to go there."

Silk requested a meeting with a couple of the council members to discuss some of these issues before the next meeting of the fire committee, which includes members of Ben Avon and Emsworth councils, and members of both fire departments. Council agreed.