[HISTORY: Adopted as indicated in article
histories.]
[P.L.L., 1930, Art. 6, secs. 235–237;
1927, ch. 270, secs. 1–3; 1931, ch. 174, secs. 1–3; 1941,
ch. 79, secs. 235–237; 1943, ch. 825, secs. 235–237; 1945,
ch. 443, sec. 235–237; 1948 Sp. Sess., ch. 26, secs. 235–237;
1965, ch. 27, secs. 235–237; amended in its entirety 5-13-2014 by Bill No.
2014-3]
A.
Criteria for receipt of funds; use. The County Commissioners
of Caroline County are hereby authorized and empowered to make annual
payments in any amount to the volunteer fire companies of Caroline
County for the purchase, repair or maintenance of fire-fighting equipment,
provided that the fire companies remain active bodies and active fire-fighting
organizations for the benefit of the County.
B.
Distribution. Payment made pursuant to this Article
shall be distributed as determined by the County Commissioners from
time to time in consultation with the Budget Director and the volunteer
fire companies.
A.
The County Commissioners of Caroline County are hereby
authorized and empowered to levy annually an amount determined by
them for the above purposes on the assessable property of Caroline
County.
B.
Before the County Commissioners shall be required
to pay the moneys levied for the purposes of this chapter to the respective
fire companies, the Commissioners shall have the power to require
the officers of volunteer fire companies to appear before them and
show to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that any sums of money
paid by the Commissioners to the volunteer fire companies under this
article have been properly expended for the purposes set forth in
this Article and also that the respective volunteer fire companies
are active fire-fighting organizations.
C.
In the event that any of the volunteer fire companies
subject to this Article cease to remain active fire-fighting organizations
or have not properly used the moneys appropriated to them for the
sole purposes set forth in this Article, then the County Commissioners
are authorized to pay to the other volunteer fire companies mentioned
in this Article, in equal proportions, the unexpended moneys or to
retain the same in the County treasury for general County purposes.
[Adopted by the County Commissioners 5-13-2014 by Bill No. 2014-3]
The Commissioners of Caroline County, Maryland, have established
a volunteer firefighter Length of Service Award Program. The purpose
of the Length of Service Award Program is to provide a benefit to
individuals who have fulfilled specific service requirements as an
active volunteer member of one of Caroline County's volunteer fire
departments or companies. For the purposes of this Article, an "active
member" is defined as a person who has accumulated a minimum number
of points per calendar year, in accordance with the point system set
forth in the Caroline County Length of Service Award Program as adopted
by resolution of the County Commissioners and as may be amended from
time to time by resolution.
[Amended 10-8-2019 by Bill No. 2019-5]
A.
Establishment and charge. A Length of Service Award Program Committee
shall be constituted for the purpose of guiding the administration
of the program on behalf of the Caroline County Commissioners and
qualified members of Caroline County's volunteer fire departments
and companies.
B.
Membership. The Committee shall consist of eight voting members:
(1)
A representative from the Denton, Federalsburg, Goldsboro, Greensboro,
Preston, Queen Anne's-Hillsboro, and Ridgely volunteer fire companies;
and
(2)
A County Commissioner or designee.
(3)
In order to qualify for service on the Committee, members representing
a fire company must be a resident of Caroline County and a member
in good standing of that company and must remain so for the duration
of their term.
C.
Nomination and appointment. Representatives of the volunteer fire
companies shall be appointed to the Committee by the County Commissioners
in the following manner:
(1)
Nomination.
(a)
Each volunteer fire company shall select a primary and secondary
nominee to represent the company on the Committee.
(b)
The nominees shall be submitted to the County Commissioners,
along with any other background information requested.
(c)
The County Commissioners shall forward the names of the nominees
to the Volunteer Fireman's Association at least 14 days prior
to a scheduled meeting of the Association.
(d)
The Association shall have the opportunity to object to any
nominee. If the Association objects to a nominee, it shall provide
a written explanation to the County Commissioners, along with a record
of a roll call vote on the objection. Such written documentation shall
be provided to the County Commissioners within 14 days of the vote
by the Association.
(e)
Failure by the Association for any reason to take up a nomination at its next scheduled meeting after receiving such nomination, or failure by the Association to forward written documentation of an objection within the time frame specified in Subsection C(1)(d), shall constitute the waiver of the Association's right to object.
(f)
The Commissioners shall consider any objection raised by the
Association when making an appointment but shall not be bound by the
objection to reject a nominee.
(2)
Appointment.
(a)
The Commissioners shall appoint the nominee designated as the
primary nominee for a company, unless the primary nominee is found
to be ineligible for service on the committee under the Caroline County
Ethics Ordinance.[1] The County Commissioners may also choose not to appoint
the primary nominee if the Association has objected to the appointment.
(b)
If the primary nominee is rejected for a reason specified in Subsection C(2)(a), the County Commissioners shall appoint the secondary nominee.
(c)
In the event both nominees are found to be ineligible to serve,
the County Commissioners shall request the nominating fire company
submit a new slate of nominees.
D.
Terms and vacancies.
(1)
Terms. Initial appointments of volunteer fire company members shall
be as follows: two for one-year terms, two for two-year terms, and
three for three-year terms. The length of the initial terms shall
be determined by blind draw. Thereafter, all appointments shall be
for three-year terms. Members may serve an unlimited number of terms.
A member whose term has expired may continue to serve until a successor
is appointed.
E.
Additional provisions.
(1)
The Committee shall have no authority to enter into contracts on
behalf of the County nor incur any obligation binding upon County
government unless expressly authorized to do so by the County Commissioners.
(3)
Additional duties of members, removal from office, appointment of
officers, conduct of meetings, and other responsibilities of the Committee
shall be established by resolution of the County Commissioners and
as subsequently amended. The authority of the Committee shall be limited
to those powers expressly set forth in or as allowed by this Article.
A.
Establishment. Eligibility criteria, certification procedures, service
benefits, and death benefits for the Length of Service Award Program
shall be determined under program regulations adopted by resolution
of the County Commissioners. No changes to the Length of Service Award
Program shall be made by the County Commissioners without providing
any proposed change to the Committee for review and recommendation.
B.
Committee recommendation. The Committee shall make annual recommendations
regarding program eligibility criteria, certification procedures,
service benefits, and death benefits to the County Commissioners during
the County's normal budgetary process.
C.
Benefit adjustments. No adjustments to Length of Service Award Program
benefits shall be made during a fiscal year unless there are sufficient
funds available in the adopted annual budget to cover the adjusted
program benefits.
A.
Annual appropriation. The Length of Service Award Program shall be
funded in the Caroline County annual budget in the amount necessary
to pay all reasonably anticipated benefits for the fiscal year.
B.
Reserve fund balance. In addition to providing funding through the
annual budget, the County Commissioners shall maintain a dedicated
and restricted reserve fund balance of at least $15,000.
