The merger of the Easton and Williams Township ambulance squads, discussed for more than a year, may finally get approval Tuesday from a Northampton County Court judge.

Township solicitor Brian Monahan said the court must approve the merger because both organizations are nonprofit.

Monahan represents the township and Palmer Township attorney Ralph Bellafatto advises both emergency squads.

Bellafatto is on vacation this week and could not be reached for comment, but Monahan said there's no conflict of interest because both squads are agreeable to the merger.

The main reason for Easton and Williams coming together: a lack of volunteers.

The majority of Easton's 30 members are full-time paramedics who provide advanced life support service. Williams has five volunteers and offers only basic life support.

"There is just no one volunteering anymore," Township Manager Deborah Paterson said Tuesday.

Paterson said the Eastern Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Services Council helped the township find a consultant last year to study whether a merger benefits the township.

The township got a $1,000 state grant to hire J.R. Henry Consulting Inc. of Pittsburgh. The recommendation: merge with Easton which has provided emergency assistance in Williams for about 11 years.

These type of mergers are a trend the EMS Council of North Whitehall Township has seen for the past several years.

"You don't need an ambulance in every township or municipality," said Executive Director Everitt Binns, whose group offers advice and other services to 140 EMS providers in the Lehigh Valley and four surrounding counties. "It is sometimes better for efficiency and effectiveness to come together and not duplicate services."

Although the Williams squad is an independent organization, the township provides $45,000 a year to help fund it and also pays for insurance on the squad's building, two vehicles and equipment.

Paterson said some details still being discussed in the merger include workman's compensation, insurance and length of agreement. As part of the agreement, she said at least one person must be stationed in Williams, and Easton would provide the township with status reports.

Once a deal is done, she said Easton will take over and manage the township squad's building on Raubsville Road.

Bud Shull, chairman of the Easton's squad's board of directors, is confident a deal will work.

"It got more and more difficult to keep the active number of volunteers needed," said Shull, who's been with Easton for 33 years. "By utilizing both organizations, we can do a better job in providing the best service."

william.ford@mcall.com

610-559-2142

WILLIAMS TWP. EMERGENCY SQUAD

Established: 1961

Location: 110 Raubsville Road

Volunteers: 5

Service: basic life support Township residents: 5,900

EASTON EMERGENCY SQUAD

Established: 1958

Location: 908 Packer St.

Employees and volunteers: 30

Service: advanced life support

City residents: 26,200