Medevac gets last-minute festival invite

September 14, 2005

'Don't All Jump' Not Too Late Controversial Subject

BEDMINSTER TWP. - At the prodding of a Democratic Township Committee candidate, the all-Republican governing body tardily agreed last week to invite the NorthSTAR Medevac helicopter to appear at the Fall Fest community day on Saturday, Sept. 17.

Sally Rubin, a Medevac supporter who is in a three-way race for a committee seat, requested at a meeting of the governing body on Tuesday, Sept. 6, that the rescue helicopter be asked to Fall Fest.

The staff of the Medevac helicopter, which has been a subject of controversy since relocating to Somerset Airport in February, quickly accepted the invitation to land at the River Road Park event.

"Because of where it is, we'll obviously work very hard to make the appearance a success," said Terry Hoben, air medical coordinator for NorthSTAR, last Friday.

"We feel it's very important that the community get to meet us," he added. "They've probably been reading about us, but they may not have gotten a chance to come to the airport and see us."

At the Sept. 6 meeting, Rubin pointed out that the Medevac helicopter made an appearance at a National Night Out celebration in neighboring Bernards Township in early August but did not land at a similar gathering in Bedminster.

Initially, Township Administrator Susan Stanbury indicated it wouldn't be possible to arrange for a Medevac helicopter appearance at Fall Fest.

Stanbury said permission for a landing at River Road Park must be requested from the state Division of Aeronautics at least two weeks in advance. "There isn't enough time for that to happen," she said.

"That's rather convenient," Rubin shot back, alluding to opposition to the helicopter's relocation from Newark by some members of the governing body. She asked whether the state's approval process could be expedited.

The question was met with stony silence for several seconds. "Don't all jump at once," Rubin said sarcastically.

Finally, Committeeman Robert Holtaway said he would be in favor in inviting NorthSTAR to Fall Fest.

"There's so much controversy about it, people should have an opportunity to see it," said Holtaway.

Committeeman Finn Caspersen made a motion that the NorthSTAR helicopter be asked to come to Fall Fest.

Apparently not relishing another political fight after an unusually contentious meeting on Aug. 22, all five members of the governing body quickly voted in favor of extending the invitation.

As it turned out, there was no requirement that state permission for a Medevac appearance be granted two weeks in advance.

Hoben said that as long as he has an invitation from local authorities to land at a community event on public property, he simply enters it in a log he keeps for the Division of Aeronautics.

And although Hoben generally asks for a month or more of lead time so he can schedule personnel for a public appearance, he said he is often able to accommodate last-minute requests.

Hoben said he is looking forward to bringing to helicopter to Fall Fest after not being able to land it at National Night Out.

Hoben said he initially planned to bring the NorthSTAR helicopter to Bedminster's National Night Out festivities at River Road Park in early August after being asked by township police.

However, he said, the appearance was cancelled after some members of the governing body questioned whether their permission was also required.

"We thought the better part of valor would be to shy away from landing there," said Hoben.

He said Medevac personnel set up a booth at National Night Out, but "were disappointed we couldn't bring the aircraft."

Fall Fest will be held at River Road Park from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17. Rain date is Sunday, Sept. 18.

Hoben said the Medevac helicopter would probably arrive sometime after 1 p.m. and stay for an hour or two. Staff members will be available to explain the rescue helicopter's procedures to the public and answer questions, he said.

The Medevac helicopter moved to temporary quarters at Somerset Airport on Feb. 4 after being previously located at University Medical Center in Newark.

The owners of Somerset Airport are expected to submit plans for a permanent Medevac office/hangar complex to the township Planning Board sometime this fall.

Many nearby residents are opposed to the move, saying the helicopter is noisy, poses safety risks and reduces property values.

An opposition group known as the Bedminster Branchburg Bridgewater Concerned Citizens Coalition (BBBCCC) has filed two lawsuit aimed at stopping the Medevac relocation.

Medevac is certain to become an issue in this fall's Township Committee campaign.

Rubin has come out in favor of the Medevac relocation, independent candidate Robert Colatarci has objected to the relocation, and Mayor Amey Mesko has split her votes.

Mesko voted with the committee majority more than a year ago to suspend a special use permit allowing Medevac to use a temporary office trailer at the airport, a move that was overturned by a state Superior Court judge.

This past April, Mesko earned the ire of Medevac opponents by voting to extend permission for the temporary trailer for nine additional months. The trailer may now remain on the airport premises through February 2006.

By: SANDY STUART