[Adopted as Ch. 42, Art. I, of the 1984 Code]
[Adopted 3-22-2007 by Bill No. 3-07, effective 5-6-2007]
The Allegany County Emergency Services Board is hereby created to regulate the fire, emergency medical services, and related services in Allegany County. The Allegany County Emergency Services Board will have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations governing the emergency service operations and related functions. The Board is directed to organize and establish a Fire Services Committee and an Emergency Medical Service Committee as more fully detailed in § 146-3 of this article.
[Adopted 3-22-2007 by Bill No. 3-07]
A.
The County Commissioners of Allegany County are hereby authorized,
empowered and directed to appropriate funding to the Allegany County
Emergency Services Board for redistribution to the eligible fire and
rescue organizations as herein provided.
B.
The funding is to be an amount that is at least equal to the average
amount of funds expended by the Allegany County Commissioners during
the previous three fiscal years. For the purpose of this section,
the amount expended by the Allegany County Commissioners in any fiscal
year shall not include any distribution or expenditure of funds made
by the Allegany County Commissioners from revenue collected by the
County from the taxation of paper gaming within the County, nor shall
any one time special allocations be considered in the amount of funds
expended by the Allegany County Commissioners.
C.
The funds appropriated under this article shall be used as an addition
to, and shall not be substituted for, monies appropriated from other
sources. The appropriation provided herein may be increased at any
time by a resolution of the County Commissioners prior to the annual
levy date, to apply to the subsequent fiscal year.
D.
Subject to the criteria established in § 146-4, the Emergency Services Board shall recommend to the County Commissioners how the funds should be allocated, which recommendation shall be provided to the County Commissioners prior to the annual levy date to apply to the subsequent fiscal year.
[Amended 5-5-2015 by
Bill No. 3-16, effective 7-1-2016]
[Adopted 3-22-2007 by Bill No. 3-07]
A.
Membership. The Allegany County Emergency Services Board shall be
composed of 10 members representing the following:
(1)
The Chairperson of the Fire Service Committee. The term of office
will be for one year.
(2)
An individual who is a member of the Fire Service Committee and has
been selected by majority vote by the Fire Service Committee. The
term of office will be for one year.
(3)
A representative of the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office
who is assigned to conduct or supervise operations in Allegany County
or his/her selected designee to serve in his/her absence. His/her
term on the Allegany County Emergency Services Board will continue
until a replacement appointment is selected.
(4)
The Chairperson of the Emergency Medical Service Committee. The term
of office will be for one year.
(5)
An individual who is a member of the Emergency Medical Service Committee
and has been selected by majority vote by the Emergency Medical Service
Committee. The term of office will be for one year.
(6)
A representative of the Region 1 Emergency Medical Services Council
who resides in Allegany County and represents an Allegany County group
on the EMS Council. His/her term on the Allegany County Emergency
Services Board will continue until a replacement appointment is selected.
(7)
A representative of the career fire and emergency medical service
in Allegany County. (Fifty-one percent of the membership must be full-time
employees in order to qualify as a career service department.) This
position will be a two-year term selected by and rotated between the
departments with the order of rotation being selected initially by
a lottery.
(8)
The Director of the Allegany County Department of Public Safety and
Homeland Security or his/her selected designee to serve in his/her
absence. His/her term on the Allegany County Emergency Services Board
will continue until a replacement appointment is selected.
(9)
An Allegany County citizen who is not affiliated with any emergency
services organization or division of government in Allegany County.
This position will serve on the Fire Service Committee.
(10)
An Allegany County citizen who is not affiliated with any emergency
services organization or division of government in Allegany County.
This position will serve on the Emergency Medical Service Committee.
B.
Membership selection.
(1)
Criteria for membership in positions established in Subsection A(1), (2), (4) and (5) of this section include:
(a)
The Committees which the members will be representing must meet
together and select their representatives to the Allegany County Emergency
Services Board and the alternates to serve in their absence;
(b)
The names of the members selected and their alternates are to
be submitted to the Allegany County Emergency Services Board Chair
in writing prior to the January Emergency Services Board meeting;
(c)
Failure of the organizations to select a representative by the
January meeting will result in the Allegany County Emergency Services
Board Chair recommending to the Allegany County Commissioners an individual
from the area of the vacancy to fill the membership opening; and
(2)
All proposed new appointments and alternates as proposed under Subsection A of this section will be submitted by the Allegany County Emergency Services Board Chair to the Allegany County Commissioners for ratification. New Allegany County Emergency Services Board members will take office at the February meeting pending their ratification by the Allegany County Commissioners.
(3)
Criteria for membership in positions established in Subsection A(9) and (10) of this section include: The Allegany County Commissioners shall appoint two citizens at large. These members will not be affiliated with a fire, rescue or emergency medical service company. Initially, to provide for staggered terms, one citizen will be appointed for a one-year term and one citizen will be appointed for a two-year term. After the initial term, all terms will be for two years and can be followed by more than one term in succession.
(4)
Any member may be removed from the Allegany County Emergency Services
Board by the Allegany County Commissioners for inefficiency, neglect
of duty, malfeasance in office or attendance. Vacancies will be filled
within 30 days by the methods outlined above and will be for the unexpired
term. Failure of the organization to select a replacement representative
within 30 days will result in the Allegany County Emergency Services
Board Chair recommending to the Allegany County Commissioners an individual
from the area of the vacancy to fill the membership opening.
(5)
All members will serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed
for expenses incurred in the course of their Allegany County Emergency
Services Board duties.
(6)
Alternates of record are not considered members of the Board but
shall have full privileges, including voting, in the absence of the
appointed member which they represent.
C.
Board officers and duties.
(1)
The officers of the Allegany County Emergency Services Board shall
be a Chairman, a Vice Chairman, and a Secretary. All officers will
be selected from the Board membership.
(2)
The Chairman will be selected from and by the Allegany County Emergency
Services Board and ratified by the Allegany County Commissioners.
The Chairman will vote in decisions of the Board only to break a tie
and will report directly to the County Commissioners. The Board will
also elect the Vice Chairman and the Secretary. The election of the
Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary will be held at the first meeting
in February of each calendar year. The term of office will be for
one year, February through January. In the event that there are no
candidates willing to assume the office of Chairman, the Director
of the Allegany County Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security
or his/her selected designee will fill the position.
(3)
The appointment or election to the office of Chairman, Vice Chairman,
or Secretary will not extend the term of membership on the Board as
provided for elsewhere in this article.
(4)
Administrative and/or clerical support for the Board will be provided
through the Allegany County Department of Public Safety and Homeland
Security.
(5)
The Chairman will be the chief administrative officer and preside
over all meetings of the Board. The Chairman may appoint and assign
members of the Board to committees as he/she deems necessary. The
Chairman may also appoint nonboard members to committees or duties
in order to take advantage of expertise and experience of persons
not members of the Board. Nonboard members so appointed will not have
voting rights on the Board, and will serve only in the special capacity
for which appointed and have only the responsibilities designated
by the Chairman.
(6)
The Vice Chairman will assume the Chairman's duties in the absence
of the Chairman.
(7)
The Secretary will be responsible for maintaining accurate records
of all Board business, processing all correspondence, and attending
to other administrative duties assigned by the Chairman.
D.
Board duties and responsibilities. The Allegany County Emergency
Services Board shall be and is endowed with the power necessary and
appropriate to execute the following functions:
(1)
To develop criteria for establishing primary service areas and boundaries
for emergency service organizations and to establish such areas and
boundaries.
(2)
To establish criteria, as per the bylaws of the Maryland State Firemen's
Association, for the establishment of new emergency service organizations
and for the establishment of new substations within existing emergency
service organizations. No new emergency service organization, station
or substation will receive funding allocation unless approved by the
Emergency Service Board. The Board shall consider population, travel
distance, assessable base, and other factors in developing the criteria.
(3)
To establish usage and eligibility requirements for the annual funding
allocation that the County Commissioners shall make to the Allegany
County Emergency Services Board, for distribution to eligible emergency
service organizations which provide twenty-four-hour service, subject
to the following:
(a)
All emergency service organizations receiving funds shall receive
a primary base amount. Additional allocations for substations, population
base, assessable base, travel distance, and ambulance service shall
be based on criteria established by the Allegany County Emergency
Services Board;
(b)
Each eligible emergency service organization shall receive no
less than 2.5% of the Allegany County Emergency Services Board allocation
for fire and rescue organizations;
(c)
The City of Cumberland Fire Department shall receive no less
than 18% of the Allegany County Emergency Services Board allocation
for fire and rescue organizations; and
(d)
Allegany County Emergency Services Board special allocations,
including administrative costs, special funding, etc., will be established
annually. This shall be in addition to the Allegany County Emergency
Services Board allocations for fire and rescue organizations. This
shall not be counted for the purpose of calculating percentage allocations.
(4)
To govern all solicitation of funding by any emergency services organization
based in Allegany County outside of their primary first due response
area. Solicitations outside of their primary first due response area
must receive prior approval by the Allegany County Emergency Services
Board.
(5)
To establish equipment standards for emergency service organizations
that meet the current Maryland State Firemen's Association bylaws.
These equipment standards shall be reviewed and amended as required
on an annual basis by the Allegany County Emergency Services Board.
The Allegany County Emergency Services Board may establish standards
greater than those set forth by the Maryland State Firemen's
Association, provided that funding is identified to exceed these standards.
(6)
To establish training standards for emergency service organizations,
their members and officers that will meet the requirements of the
State of Maryland, its regulatory agencies, and the Maryland State
Firemen's Association. These training standards shall be reviewed
and amended as required on an annual basis by the Allegany County
Emergency Services Board. The Allegany County Emergency Services Board
may establish standards greater than those set forth by the Maryland
State Firemen's Association, provided that funding is identified
to exceed these standards. All emergency services organizations will
provide, upon request from the Allegany County Emergency Services
Board, a listing of all members and their respective training records.
(7)
To establish and review on an as-needed basis the standard operating
and administrative procedures that govern the daily operations of
the emergency service organizations in Allegany County. Procedural
topics to be considered include:
(a)
Emergency response procedures which shall include, but not be
limited to, command, accountability, personnel requirements, equipment
response requirements and specialized operations.
(b)
Communications procedures, which shall include, but not be limited
to, radios and frequencies, alerting, standard operating procedures
(SOPs) for radio usage and equipment numbering.
(c)
Human resources procedures, which shall include, but not be
limited to, tax incentives, recruitment/retention incentives, death
benefits and a length of service award program (LOSAP).
(d)
Inspection and testing procedures, which shall include, but
not be limited to, pump testing of fire equipment, annual inspection
of ambulances, inspection of monitor/defibrillators, automatic external
defibrillators (AEDs), and Department of Transportation inspections.
(e)
Reporting procedures, which shall include, but not be limited
to, state requirements (fire reports, 508 requests, etc.) and Allegany
County requirements.
(f)
Mutual aid agreements.
(g)
Response statistics.
(h)
Quality assurance.
(8)
The Emergency Services Board shall annually evaluate the County-wide
fire and EMS delivery system process and make recommendations to the
Allegany County Commissioners regarding updates and improvements which
have occurred to the system or need to be implemented.
E.
Fire Service Committee. The Emergency Services Board shall organize
and recognize a Fire Service Committee for the purpose of serving
as an advisory group to the Emergency Services Board. The Chairman
of the Fire Service Committee shall make a report at each meeting
of the Emergency Services Board to advise the Board members of the
status of current projects and to present items for Board approval.
The Emergency Services Board shall strongly consider the ratification
of the item as presented based upon the consensus vote of the Fire
Service Committee.
(1)
Committee membership. The Fire Service Committee will be made up
of one chief officer (Chief, Deputy Chief or Assistant Chief) from
each emergency services organization providing fire protection services
in Allegany County. Each organization shall have only one vote.
(2)
Officers and duties. The officers of the Allegany County Emergency
Services Board Fire Service Committee shall be a Chairman, a Vice
Chairman, and a Secretary. All officers will be selected from the
Committee membership.
(a)
The Chairman will be the chief administrative officer and preside
over all meetings of the Committee. The Chairman may appoint and assign
members of the Committee to subcommittees as he/she deems necessary.
The Chairman may also appoint noncommittee members to subcommittees
or duties in order to take advantage of expertise and experience of
persons not members of the Committee. Noncommittee members so appointed
will not have voting rights on the Committee, and will serve only
in the special capacity for which appointed and have only the responsibilities
designated by the Chairman.
(b)
The Vice Chairman will assume the Chairman's duties in
the absence of the Chairman.
(c)
The Secretary will be responsible for maintaining accurate records
of all Committee business, processing all correspondence, and attending
to other administrative duties assigned by the Chairman.
(3)
Representation on the Emergency Services Board.
(a)
The Chairman of the Fire Service Committee will serve as a member
of the Emergency Services Board. The Vice Chairman of Fire Services
Committee shall serve as the alternate for the Chairman.
(b)
The Fire Service Committee must select a member-at-large representative
to the Allegany County Emergency Services Board, and an alternate
to serve in his or her absence.
(c)
The names of the Fire Service Committee Chairperson and member-at-large
selected and their alternates are to be submitted to the Allegany
County Emergency Services Board Chair prior to the January Emergency
Services Board meeting;
(d)
Failure of the organizations to select one or more representatives
will result in the Allegany County Emergency Services Board selecting
an individual from the area of the vacancy to fill the membership
opening.
(e)
Alternates of record are not considered members of the Board
but shall have full privileges, including voting, in the absence of
the representative which they represent.
(4)
Committee duties and responsibilities. The Allegany County Emergency
Services Board Fire Service Committee shall be responsible for researching,
developing, and providing recommendations to the emergency services
board appropriate to execute the following functions:
(a)
To develop criteria for establishing primary service areas and
boundaries for emergency service organizations.
(b)
To establish equipment standards for fire service related emergency
service organizations. These equipment standards shall be reviewed
and amended as required on an annual basis.
(c)
To establish training standards for emergency service organizations,
their members and officers that will meet the requirements of the
State of Maryland, its regulatory agencies, and the Maryland State
Firemen's Association. These training standards shall be reviewed
and amended as required on an annual basis.
(d)
To establish and review on an as-needed basis the standard operating
and administrative procedures that govern the daily operations of
the emergency service organizations in Allegany County. The standard
operating and administrative procedures to be reviewed include but
are not limited to:
[1]
Emergency response procedures, which shall include, but not
be limited to, command, accountability, personnel requirements, equipment
response requirements and specialized operations.
[2]
Communications procedures, which shall include, but not be limited
to, radios and frequencies, alerting, standard operating procedures
(SOPs) for radio usage and equipment numbering.
[3]
Human resources procedures, which shall include, but not be
limited to, tax incentives, recruitment/retention incentives, etc.
[4]
Inspection and testing procedures, which shall include, but
not be limited to, pump testing of fire equipment, automatic external
defibrillators (AEDs), and Department of Transportation inspections.
[5]
Reporting procedures which shall include, but not be limited
to, state requirements (fire reports, 508 requests, etc.) and County
requirements.
[6]
Mutual aid agreements.
[7]
Response statistics.
[8]
Quality assurance.
(e)
Other duties as requested or assigned by the Emergency Services
Board.
F.
Emergency Medical Service Committee. The Emergency Services Board
shall organize and recognize an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Committee
for the purpose of serving as an advisory group to the Emergency Services
Board. The Chairman of the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Committee
shall make a report at each meeting of the Emergency Services Board
to advise the Board members of the status of current projects and
to present items for Board approval. The Emergency Services Board
shall strongly consider the ratification of the item as presented
based upon the consensus vote of the Emergency Medical Service (EMS)
Committee.
(1)
Committee membership. The Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Committee
will be made up of one chief officer (Chief, Deputy Chief, Assistant
Chief, Captain or Lieutenant) from each emergency services organization
providing emergency ambulance service in Allegany County. Each organization
shall have only one vote.
(2)
Officers and duties. The officers of the Allegany County Emergency
Services Board Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Committee shall be
a Chairman, a Vice Chairman, and a Secretary. All officers will be
selected from the Committee membership.
(a)
The Chairman will be the chief administrative officer and preside
over all meetings of the Committee. The Chairman may appoint and assign
members of the Committee to subcommittees as he/she deems necessary.
The Chairman may also appoint noncommittee members to subcommittees
or duties in order to take advantage of expertise and experience of
persons not members of the Committee. Noncommittee members so appointed
will not have voting rights on the Committee, and will serve only
in the special capacity for which appointed and have only the responsibilities
designated by the Chairman.
(b)
The Vice Chairman will assume the Chairman's duties in
the absence of the Chairman.
(c)
The Secretary will be responsible for maintaining accurate records
of all Committee business, processing all correspondence, and attending
to other administrative duties assigned by the Chairman.
(3)
Representation on the Emergency Services Board.
(a)
The Chairman of the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Committee
will serve as a member of the Emergency Services Board. The Vice Chairman
of the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Committee shall serve as the
alternate for the Chairman.
(b)
The Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Committee must select a
member-at-large representative to the Allegany County Emergency Services
Board, and an alternate to serve in his/her absence.
(c)
The names of the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Committee Chairperson
and member-at-large selected and their alternates are to be submitted
to the Allegany County Emergency Services Board Chair prior to the
January Emergency Services Board meeting.
(d)
Failure of the organizations to select one or more representatives
will result in the Allegany County Emergency Services Board selecting
an individual from the area of the vacancy to fill the membership
opening.
(e)
Alternates of record are not considered members of the Board
but shall have full privileges, including voting, in the absence of
the representative which they represent.
(4)
Committee duties and responsibilities. The Allegany County Emergency
Services Board Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Committee shall be
responsible for researching, developing, and providing recommendations
to the Emergency Services Board appropriate to execute the following
functions:
(a)
To develop criteria for establishing primary service areas and
boundaries for emergency service organizations.
(b)
To establish equipment standards for emergency medical service
related emergency service organizations. These equipment standards
shall be reviewed and amended as required on an annual basis.
(c)
To establish training standards for emergency service organizations,
their members and officers that will meet the requirements of the
State of Maryland, its regulatory agencies, and the Maryland State
Firemen's Association. These training standards will be reviewed
and amended as required on an annual basis.
(d)
To establish and review on an as-needed basis the standard operating
and administrative procedures that govern the daily operations of
the emergency service organizations in Allegany County. The standard
operating and administrative procedures include but are not limited
to:
[1]
Emergency response procedures which shall include, but not be
limited to, command, accountability, personnel requirements, equipment
response requirements, and specialized operations.
[2]
Communications procedures, which shall include, but not be limited
to, radios and frequencies, alerting, standard operating procedures
(SOPs) for radio usage and equipment numbering.
[3]
Human resources procedures, which shall include, but not be
limited to, tax incentives, recruitment/retention incentives, etc.
[4]
Inspection and testing procedures which shall include, but not
be limited to, automatic external defibrillators (AEDs), and Department
of Transportation inspections.
[5]
Reporting procedures, which shall include, but not be limited
to, state requirements (EMAIS reports, 508 requests, etc.) and County
requirements.
[6]
Mutual aid agreements.
[7]
Response statistics.
[8]
Quality assurance.
(e)
Other duties as requested or assigned by the Emergency Services
Board.
[Adopted 3-22-2007 by Bill No. 3-07; amended 5-5-2015 by Bill No. 3-16, effective 7-1-2016]
The County Commissioners shall make semiannual appropriations
to the emergency services organizations based upon authorization by
the Allegany County Emergency Services Board on October 1 and April
1 of each fiscal year. The County Finance Office shall distribute
said sums to the eligible fire and rescue organizations.
A.
Before the Board shall release the sums herein provided to the respective
fire, rescue and emergency medical service organizations, said Board
shall have the power to require the officers of said fire and rescue
organizations to appear before it and show, to the satisfaction of
said Board, that any sums of money paid, or to be paid, shall be used
for the purchase, repair, or maintenance of firefighting and rescue
equipment; for the repair and maintenance and/or upkeep of the buildings
used by the respective organizations; or for the payment of personnel
salaries and benefits.
B.
Any organization failing to comply with the purposes stated herein
or with the rules and regulations, as promulgated by the Board, shall,
after investigation by the said Board, be declared ineligible for
receipt of funds, and no further distribution shall be required until,
in the opinion of the Board the respective organization has remedied
all deficiencies, and is in compliance with all appropriate legal
regulations.[1]
