Kidder Township Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to advertise an ordinance to dissolve the fire company.

In the special meeting, Chairman Thomas Bradley questioned police Chief Matthew Kuzma about the existence of an investigation into a member of the Kidder Township Volunteer Fire Company's Fireman's Relief."All I can say is yes," said Kuzma. "But as to the nature of this being an on-going investigation, that is all I am prepared to say at this time."Kuzma did clarify that this is a separate investigation from the one undertaken at the end of last year. That investigation into previous fire Chief Bill Bresnak for misappropriation of funds, did not lead to charges.In that instance, Bresnak had made restitution to the fire company in exchange for no charges being brought against him.Kidder VFC has been under new management since Bresnak's resignation.It has also been under a high degree of scrutiny by the township supervisors.Initially, in January, the fire company was given six months to rectify the discrepancies noted in an audit of its Fireman's Relief Fund.The township granted 30-day extensions until last month when the company was only given a 10-day extension.Supervisor Thomas LaFond said the fire company was to "provide the information, which had been requested by the board.""This meeting is to determine if the board will approve a motion to advertise a revision to the existing ordinance, which will list Lake Harmony Volunteer Fire Company and Albrightsville Fire Company as the only certified Kidder Township fire companies," Bradley said.Service to residents"What about those of us who live in those sections of Kidder Township that are serviced by Kidder?" questioned Golden Oaks Homeowner Association President John Tofts. "We need that fire company, in that area of the Tannery.""Are you asking for a fire company or that fire company," Bradley asked."We want that fire company," Tofts responded.One of the concerns for Tofts and others in the area of Golden Oaks is that Kidder fire company runs a "Quick Response Service" team, with many members of the fire company trained as emergency medical technicians."We have responded to everything you have asked for since January," said Kidder VFC President Robert Hill. "The relief fund is not the fire company. We save lives; we don't want to see anybody die because of this.""I beg to differ," said Supervisor Larry Polansky. "They are one in the same and this new investigation is into something that happened under your regime."Kidder Fire Chief John Devine also noted that on two recent calls that Kidder company responded to, the wait for an available ambulance was in one case 40 minutes and in another it was 90 minutes. In those cases QRS was able to give assistance and medical treatment to the patient until the ambulance was able to arrive on the scene.Bradley asked the other fire chiefs present if they thought that their fire companies could handle the township if Kidder fire company was decertified."I believe that under the by-laws of Kidder, it would be proper to keep it as a subdivision of Albrightsville Fire Company," Albrightsville Chief Al Blew said.Under Blew's proposal, Kidder VFC would be staffed and run by Albrightsville firefighters. Blew said that current Kidder members would be welcome to apply at Albrightsville."I have always tried to support Kidder in the past," said Lake Harmony Chief Ralph Lennon. "That being said, I believe that we can cover the area. Remember, if it's a major fire, you're going to be calling out for mutual aid from Luzerne and White Haven anyway."The board plans to vote on the change at the Sept. 17 board meeting."I will grant you this," Polansky said. "In all fairness, in the 12 years I have been around here, this is the first time we have consistently received financial information from Kidder VFC."According to Devine, the fire company is looking into ways to keep the fire company operating, with the support of the supervisors. The company has until Sept. 17 to come up with a plan that the supervisors will agree to."We want to continue to serve the people of our coverage area," Devine said. "We just need help to determine the best way we can continue to do that."