EMPORIUM – The controversial plan to bring an advanced life
support (ALS) service to Cameron County from another neighboring
town is being coined as one of the reasons behind the firing of
Robert Aversa as Emporium borough manager.

“The borough council felt he was making decisions without
consulting them,” Emporium Mayor Bruno Carnovale said.

Emporium Borough Council members voted 6 to 1 at Monday’s
special session to remove Aversa from the position.

Voting to remove him were Rick Bauer, Joe Fragale, Pat Garrigan,
Don “Stretch” Reed, Max Narby and Vice President LuAnn Reed.
Borough Council President Jim Slusarick voted for Aversa to retain
the job.

Many ambulance service members, Emporium Fire Department members
and county residents disagreed with Aversa’s plan to put an ALS
interceptor from Ridgway in Emporium.ð

Officials said Aversa’s proposal created a ripple effect in the
county, forcing the local ambulance service to embrace the concept
of offering its own ALS service.

As it stands, Cameron County Ambulance Service officials are
hopeful that they’ll be operational with a mobile intensive care
unit by July.

“It (Aversa’s plan) was the straw that broke the camel’s back,”
Narby said.

Sean Papa from the Ridgway Ambulance Service said there were no
plans to give Medic 3 to Emporium. Rather, he said, it would’ve
been owned, operated and staffed by RAS.

“There was no intent to do this behind Emporium’s back,” Papa
said. “There was nothing malicious about this issue.”

Aversa’s proposal caused the county ambulance service to move up
plans to offer its own mobile intensive care unit two years early,
Cameron County Ambulance president Roger Neyman said.

There were other factors at play with Aversa’s dismissal, but
borough council members contacted by The Era weren’t releasing any
more details.

“Aversa did do a good job as borough manager,” Carnovale
said.

Carnovale noted a new borough manager could be selected in about
six weeks.