"They want us to get rid of the boat. That's a condition" for reinstatement, he said. "I have no intention of supporting a vote to get rid of the boat."
The company, which has two other boats, needs the 37-footer for emergencies on the Delaware River, such as fires, capsized boats, and body recoveries, he said. There have been about four such calls in the last year.
The boat has been involved in several minor accidents on the river and is moored miles away in Tullytown.
Harran said the company acquired a boat "it has no need for. They're more interested in the boat than fighting fires."
Union has answered the fewest calls of the township's six volunteer companies, Harran said, although he did not have totals. According to Jerri, the company handles about 400 calls a year.
"Their response time is the worst in the township; they can't get to calls," Harran said. "They have no active recruitment effort, and they continue to have safety issues."
He would not provide details.
The Eddington and Cornwells companies are covering Union's area along State Road near the Delaware River, Harran said.
The suspension was effective at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Harran said most of Union's firefighters "are loyal and dedicated individuals, and this unfortunate but necessary action by the township should not negatively reflect on them."
Conditions for the previous suspension included replacing Troisi, the longtime chief, with Ray Hackman, and the appointment of a board to oversee the company's operations. But the company became unhappy with Hackman and replaced him with Jerri, Harran said.
The board recently reported to the township that Union should not operate "until they can fix their house," Harran said.
Company members met Tuesday night, and Jerri said they couldn't understand the suspension.
"We were not entitled to see the Oversight Board's report," he said.
Contact Bill Reed at 215-801-2964 or wreed@philly.com, or follow on Twitter @breedbucks. Read his blog, "BucksInq," at www.philly.com/bucksinq.
