CLARKS GREEN – Clarks Green Council voted unanimously on June 17 to purchase a defibrillator for the borough’s Department of Public Works crew in honor of late council member Barry Phillips.

“It’s what he would have wanted,” said council member and chair of the Health and Safety Committee Joe Barrasse of Phillips, who passed away May 15.

According to Barrasse, “Thanks to Mayor Thorburn and fundraising efforts from the Centennial Celebration,” the borough had approximately $300 in extra donated funds to allocate towards the defibrillator. Council will fund the remaining amount, approximately an additional $550, in order to purchase the defibrillator for the borough’s DPW crew.

“We’re lucky our two most recent employees are certified EMTs,” said Council President Dave Rinaldi. He explained that, when possible, the borough’s DPW crew monitors the emergency frequencies and will respond to emergency calls.

Barrasse said that in the past month, EMTs on the DPW staff responded to a few calls and have shown up on calls prior to the ambulance service. “It is in these situations that having the defibrillator would be extremely helpful,” he said.

Clarks Green resident Ellen Kotchick, who was in attendance at the meeting, said, “It’s a great use of community funds.”

In other news, Rinaldi also welcomed council member Pam Osborne who will fill Phillips’ term through December 2015, and assigned Osborne as chair of the Building and Grounds Committee.

Auditor Mike Dougherty completed an audit presentation at the meeting and advised borough council, “You’re in good fiscal condition. Stay the course.”

Council also welcomed Joanne Culbertson as Borough Secretary/Treasurer/Local Service Tax Collector and acknowledged well-wishes for Jan Brown, who is retiring from the borough and moving to California to be closer to family.

“I’m really going to miss everyone. You all have a special place in my heart,” Brown said to council.