Questions Hang Over $30K Purchase Of Old GTEMS Alliance Building

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — In August, Gloucester Township completed a $30,000 acquisition of the former Gloucester Township EMS Alliance building at 236 Taylor Avenue.

At the time of the purchase, the township administration said it would like to dedicate the building for a non-profit group, and council said the township will assess the building to see what will be needed to maintain it. Read more here: Gloucester Township Approves $30K Purchase Of GTEMS Alliance Building

At its meeting on Aug. 9, council approved $15,000 worth of renovations to remediate mold and install a new HVAC system, and said the Chews Landing Fire Company has expressed an interest in using one of the bays for a fire truck.

“You said you did your due diligence. I’m not sure how you overlooked mold and HVAC,” resident Paul Krug said. “This is a clear indication of having spent money with no true purpose.”
“It’s improving the property,” Councilman Dan Hutchison said. “The administration will determine how to use the property, and I’m sure they’ll make the right decision.”

“Air conditioning going down didn’t happen overnight,” resident Ray Polidoro said. “It didn’t happen from the time you bought it. Mold didn’t happen overnight, yet spending is going on.”

The township previously owned the building in the 1950s, and it had been used by the Glendora Rescue Squad. The Gloucester Township EMS Alliance called that building home until its sudden collapse in late 2018 when its equipment failed to meet requirements.

American Medical Response Mid-Atlantic (AMR) took over all emergency response services in Gloucester Township in January 2019. The township designated the Erial Ambulance building for use by AMR because it was centrally located in the township.

This left the Taylor Avenue building vacant and available for purchase. Read more here: AMR Takes Over Emergency Services In Gloucester Township

“Worst-case scenario, we make improvements to the building. We can recoup that money easily,” Hutchison said, calling the project “an investment in the community.”

“You’re spending a lot of money on what? If you do know, you won’t say,” Polidoro said. “Why spend this much money?”

Council Vice President Tracey Trotto said the township doesn’t know, and Hutchison said if they did, they would tell the community.

“It looked like government wasn’t the right recipient of that building, and the market might have played out the way that it does,” Polidoro said. “It’s not government’s job to buy properties and fix them up.”