“A proposal to hire a regional fire chief in Frederick County, Maryland, has split career and volunteer personnel who fear authority will be taken away from local volunteer companies.”

(PHOTO SOURCE: Regionalbestpractices.org)

“A controversial proposal to establish a countywide fire and rescue chief earned mixed reviews Tuesday night at the first of two public hearings on the issue.

“About 100 people showed up to the hearing, with career personnel turning out in strong numbers to support the creation of a chief to oversee Frederick County’s professional and volunteer rescue system. However, some municipal leaders and volunteer service members voiced displeasure about the plan, arguing that it could chip away at the authority of local volunteer companies.

“‘I believe that you’re starting the wedge to dissolve the volunteer service,’ said Thurmont Mayor Martin Burns.

“Commissioners President Blaine Young said county officials do not want to see this happen.

“‘None of us want to kill volunteerism,’ he said. ‘We want to see that continue. But at the same time, we want to streamline and make things as efficient as possible for everyone involved.’

“The proposed authority structure — crafted over about 18 months by a committee of stakeholders — would charge a countywide chief with enforcing fire and rescue rules and policies. Beefing up the position now filled by Tom Owens, the county’s fire and rescue services director, would help bring more organization and unity to the system. At the hearing, Owens said he now has the responsibility but not the authority to make sure all rescue companies are meeting county-set standards.

“But many volunteers don’t like the proposed solution to this problem.

“‘We are not and have not asked for this confrontation. This has been jammed down our throats because of a job description that went awry,’ said Vaughn Zimmerman, speaking on behalf of the Walkersville Volunteer Fire Co. and the Walkersville Volunteer Rescue Co.

“Changing Owens’ job description would represent a simpler fix, Zimmerman argued.

“Career personnel brought a different perspective to Tuesday’s meeting.

“As things stand, standards often vary between the county’s 26 volunteer fire and rescue companies. These discrepancies can be inconvenient or, at worst, dangerous, said John Neary, president of the Career Firefighters Association of Frederick County.

“Neary said naming a countywide chief would be taking ‘positive steps toward unification of the fire service in Frederick County.'”

To read this Frederick News-Post (reprinted at Firehouse.com) article in its entirety, click here.