The new company's proposed name is the Northampton Regional Emergency Medical Service. The heads of the three ambulance groups said that the move was made necessary by the constantly increasing costs of equipment and training and by the difficulty in finding volunteers to staff the daylight hours.

In fact, Northampton Paramedics have been operating in the two townships for some time. Lehigh and Allen Townships have operated only Basic Life Support units, four altogether, while Northampton operates two Advanced Life support units and a single Basic Life Support unit.

Northampton Ambulance Chief Eric Wescoe said the tentative plan is to sell four of the Basic Life Support units and buy a new Advanced Life Support unit together with a wheelchair van. One Advanced Life Support unit will then replace a Basic Life Support unit in Lehigh Township.

Allen Township Ambulance Corps president Alice Gross said the company was still negotiating to keep its building.

"It's not settled yet, but we're still working to do this amicably," said Gross.

The new company would include roughly 50 active volunteers, and three full-time paramedics. Northampton currently employs the three paramedics and 20 volunteers. Lehigh and Allen townships each have 20 and 10 active volunteers, respectively.

Despite the struggle in Allen, Wescoe said the merger talks have gone smoothly. The merged companies will elect a new board and officers and will also form a community advisory committee to solicit feedback and to help with the new company's business affairs.

"We'll cut costs and provide the service better," said Wescoe.