[Amended 1-12-1993 by Bill No. 92-16]
(a) Appropriation. The County Commissioners shall
appropriate, on an annual basis, in the County expense budget, an
amount of money equal to one and three tenths cents on each one hundred
dollars of assessable property in the County for the assistance, maintenance
and support of the various volunteer fire companies chartered by the
County Commissioners pursuant to this Subtitle.
[Amended 5-15-2001 by Bill No. 01-5]
(b) Distribution. The funds so appropriated by
the County Commissioners shall be distributed and expended by the
County Commissioners among the chartered volunteer fire companies
of the County in as nearly as may be computed an equal sum for each.
The appropriation shall be paid to each fire company no less frequently
than in two equal installments on or before August 1 and February
1 of each fiscal year.
(c) Expenditures restricted. All funds so distributed
by the County Commissioners to the chartered volunteer fire companies
of the County shall be used strictly for fire fighting and protection
within the County and surrounding jurisdictions by the fire company
to which the funds are distributed. The funds shall be expended and
used for the equipment, training and maintenance of such fire companies
and all necessary expenses relating thereto.
(d) Workmen's compensation insurance. The
County Commissioners may also appropriate funds for the funding of
workmen's compensation insurance or other insurance for the volunteer
firemen, ambulance service and training related to fire and ambulance
personnel.
All chartered volunteer fire companies of Worcester County shall
render mutual aid to each other, upon request, in the fighting of
fires and other fire company duties or tasks in Worcester County;
and with the acceptance of a charter, whether by the transitional
provisions hereof or otherwise, all companies agree to render such
aid. Failure to comply with this provision shall be grounds for revocation
or suspension of the company's charter or other appropriate action.
[Added 8-23-1994 by Bill No. 94-19]
The County Commissioners may, by resolution, permit the use
of County Contract services by chartered fire companies in Worcester
County on a direct reimbursement or reimbursement plus costs or overhead
basis.
The following fire companies shall be chartered by the County
Commissioners upon the enactment hereof, provided that each company
shall comply with the requirements of § PS 1-103(a) hereof
prior to charter: Ocean City, Bishopville, Showell, Ocean Pines, Berlin,
Newark, Snow Hill, Girdletree, Stockton and Pocomoke. Such charters
shall be initial charters only, and such companies shall be subject
to all provisions hereof and of resolutions adopted pursuant hereto.
[Added 12-21-1999 by Bill No. 99-9]
(a) Establishment. The County Commissioners may,
by resolution, establish a Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP)
for qualified volunteer members of Chartered Volunteer Fire Companies
and qualified volunteer ambulance companies of the county.
(b) Funding. The County Commissioners may provide
for monetary awards under a LOSAP in addition to other funding to
volunteer fire companies of the county. All payments made to the LOSAP
Trust Fund are no longer considered as assets of the county and are
not subject to state and local laws with respect to management of
public funds.
(c) Expenses of the LOSAP. All expenses for administration
and management of the LOSAP shall be paid by the LOSAP Trust Fund.
No such expenses shall be incurred by the General Fund of the county.
(d) Trustees. The County Commissioners shall serve
ex officio as Trustees of the LOSAP Trust Fund.
(e) Qualification of companies. In order to qualify
under a LOSAP plan, a company must be either a chartered volunteer
fire company pursuant to Subtitle I of Title 1 of this article or
a volunteer ambulance company approved by resolution of the County
Commissioners based upon the following criteria:
(1)
Regularly and continually serve an area under-served or not
served with ambulance service by a chartered volunteer fire company.
(2)
Be registered with the County Emergency Services Department.
(3)
Agree to be subject to periodic inspections by the County Commissioners
to confirm eligibility and continued eligibility.
(4)
Provide such reports and records as required by the County Commissioners.
(5)
Maintain adequate personnel and equipment to serve its area.
(6)
Membership in the company must be open to all physically qualified
adults on an equal basis.