HomeMy WebLinkAbout19.09.12 - Minutes, Emergency Services Advisory CouncilDivision of Emergency Services
Washington County, Maryland
16232 Elliott Parkway, Williamsport, Maryland 21795
240-313-4360 Fax: 240-313-4361
ESAC Regular Meeting, Sep 12, 2019
Members Attending: Dave Hays
Bob Moncrief
Dick Hopkins
Dwayne Lunsford
Ron Horn
Michael Hosier
Gary Ferrell
Guests: Todd Smith, WCVFRA
Jon Hart
Sam Anderson
Ward Fleger
Jeb Eckstine
Daniel Young
Randy Wagner
Jeff Cline
Emily Keller
Hopkins: Opened the meeting at 7pm. No quorum; proceeded with a work meeting but after a
ten-minute delay a quorum was assembled. Last meeting minutes accepted (Ferrell/Hosier).
Company-12 Report (Eckstine) (see attached report Eckstine_9_2019.pdf)
Waiting but still optimistic about tanker grant.
Fund drive stuck at ~$22K. The Westfields development returned <1%. There were various
discussions on how to increase fund raising. The consensus was that most residents of Westfields
are from out of the area and do not understand that Fire/EMS is not completely funded by Wash.
Co taxes.
Co-12 has been asked to help two other local units with their fundraising.
Began using county bulk purchasing plan to good effect.
Hays: Due to delay in the old schoolhouse demo, suggested re-securing doors and windows to
preclude unauthorized entry (liability concern).
Eckstine: As part of the October celebration of Co-12 going off probation, suggested that the
next ESAC meeting be held at their facility. Motion carried (Ferrell/Lunsford).
DES Director’s Report (Hays)
City/County MOU: concept well-received by Commissioners and City Board. It is expected that
the Association may be a hang-up for getting approval by all companies.
Testing for new hires: (agility/background-security/previous work history/driver-operator
clearance) still ongoing but county cannot make official hires until the SAFER grant positions
are definite. Will continue doing agility and written testing while waiting. Approximately 39
candidates in pool for part and full-time slots, expect at least 30 after test failures.
SAFER Grant (Hart), no word yet. Awardees are announced in batches and there still are several
rounds to go.
Moncrief: if all positions filled, how to handle part timers working out of the county during
times of mass disasters or extreme weather events? Hart: that’s why we need to concentrate on
full-time hires that will stay in the county.
Keller: what is plan-B if we don’t get the SAFER grant? Hays: use budget forecast in the county
budget planned the for out-years to hire maybe 10 positions and then resubmit another
application next year.
Insured Assets of Companies: Still finding savings in over-insured assets, particularly older
vehicles. Need to keep finding and adjusting as needed.
Fiscal review of companies: all fuel receipts for reimbursement received. Bids being taken for
county-wide audit.
Command vehicle: received an extensive IT upgrade. Will be available for a tour at a future
meeting.
Site bids for training center are due.
Smithsburg EMS Report (Young/Fleger)
Six new volunteers recruited, additional ones in training with some coming over from the
Smithsburg FD because they think EMS is “cooler”. Fund raising is on target. Decided to
discontinue the chase truck to Franklin and Frederick county calls because they do not want
single staff out alone in that vehicle. But will continue two-person medical units.
County support is much appreciated, and they will do whatever it takes to make things right.
Hays: their turn around has been extraordinary. But hurdles remain (reimbursement of earnings
and vacation time, 401K), county continues to analyze.
Physicals and Fit Testing: (Anderson). In discussion with Health-At-Work as the professional
provider. Sam also wrote a spreadsheet program to track and notify anniversary dates for
physicals and fit testing. Working with Association to optimize the process. Plan is for a
database with all volunteers. They will receive an email at 60 days, then 30 days. If no action,
then suspension. Wagner: this is not happening now? How can we be sure this new system will
fix this? Still some issues with companies (chiefs) not using email. Moncrief: trouble with
company staff turnover and keeping the database up to date. Hays: system should be up soon.
But who has ultimate responsibility to formerly suspend those who do not comply? Should be
the county as it is an enforcement of the law.
More on fit testing: (Hays) county is hoping to buy another testing machine (to make the fourth
one available in the county). It is hoped that the four machines could then be regionally
positioned to make testing faster and easier (less travel time to a testing facility).
Apparently $240K was allocated last year for physicals and fit testing but only $60K was spent.
System is not being used as expected.
Association Report (Moncrief)
They decided that the accounting firm that does their auditing will do the full audit as required
by the county. Wagner: you ma y want to reconsider that because the county will still be doing
your audit. So why waste your money repeating? County also wants to make sure that all
companies and the Association are audited under the same standards and guidelines.
There is hostility about the voucher system. And the companies were concerned about the MOU
between the county and the city. Horn: heard rumors that companies are worried about losing
their money. Hays: this is an MOU between governing bodies (city and county), not companies
or the Association. It is about adequate coverage for the citizens and liability for personnel.
Horn: have the companies/Association lost sight of the mission? Moncrief: companies were
concerned that they were not part of the MOU process. Hays: the MOU language will be
clarified, but individual MOUs between companies may need to go away. MOUs of this type are
best made between governing bodies not companies or the Association.
Next meeting: October 3, 2019 at Company-12