A newly filed lawsuit has placed Collingswood’s emergency medical services plan under legal scrutiny, raising questions about the borough’s recent decision to outsource ambulance coverage to a private health system.
Commissioner Jim Maley has initiated court action aimed at invalidating the borough’s approval of a one-year agreement that shifted local emergency medical services to Virtua Health. Although Maley is a sitting member of the municipal governing body, the filing was submitted in his capacity as a private resident, positioning the case as a citizen-led challenge to the borough’s contracting process.
The agreement in dispute authorizes Virtua Health to assume responsibility for emergency ambulance operations within Collingswood, replacing long-standing municipal or volunteer-based coverage models. Supporters of the change have argued that outsourcing could stabilize staffing levels, improve response reliability, and reduce financial pressure on the borough. Critics, however, have expressed concern that privatization could weaken community oversight, increase long-term costs, and alter the traditional relationship between residents and first responders.
Maley’s lawsuit contends that procedural issues surrounded the vote that authorized the contract, and it asks the court to void the approval entirely. If the challenge is successful, the borough could be required to revisit the decision, potentially reopening public debate and forcing officials to reconsider alternative service structures.
The legal action has amplified a broader statewide conversation over how municipalities are managing emergency medical services in the face of staffing shortages, rising operational expenses, and increased call volumes. Towns across South Jersey have been exploring public-private partnerships as a way to maintain coverage without dramatically raising taxes, while residents and local officials continue to weigh the balance between fiscal responsibility and community control.
Collingswood officials have not publicly detailed their legal strategy, but the case is expected to proceed through the county court system in the coming months. During that time, the existing contract remains in effect unless the court orders otherwise.
As the dispute unfolds, it underscores the legal and policy complexities that can arise when municipalities restructure essential public services. The outcome may influence how other communities approach similar proposals within New Jersey’s evolving [law and order] landscape, particularly as towns search for sustainable models to keep emergency response systems fully staffed and financially viable.
