Fire Company President Resigns After Request From Township

The Falls Township Board of Supervisors has their answer: Falls Township Fire Company President Gary N. Margerum is done.

The volunteer fire company’s executive board met Tuesday evening. By the end of the meeting, Margerum was out as president and his career in the volunteer fire service has ended.

The fire company’s vice president sent a letter to the board of supervisors via email stating Margerum was not longer part of the organization. The letter stated the executive board accepted Margerum’s resignation.

“We felt this is what’s best for the company,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Bob Harvie said. “I think this was the best step to move forward.”

Vincent J. Magyar Jr., the attorney representing the fire company, said the new president of the organization would be “dictated by procedures set forth in the bylaws.”

Falls officials requested Margerum’s resignation last week after an anonymous emails was circulated that raised an issue of Margerum’s 1988 arrest on accusations he kissed and fondled a 15-year-old Levittown girl inside a Tullytown police car while he was on duty.

Harvie said last week that the township solicitor looked into the claims and verified them.

Magyar provided legal representation for the fire company and does not represent Margerum, the attorney said.

In August, whispers of Margerum’s past began to swirl when the state put new regulations in place to force firefighters to undergo background checks. The new law was enacted to protect minors at fire scenes, fire company events and those who make the choice to serve their community through volunteerism.

The fire company, according to Magyar, complied with “background check obligations under applicable state law.”

Harvie said he looks forward to the fire company moving forward.