Idea of Hiring Chief Splits Md. Vol., Career Firefighters

Dec. 19--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."

As he spoke, about 30 members of Neary's union stood in support of the proposal.

The suggested authority structure would also create a 13-member council that would review policies and advise commissioners and the chief of fire and rescue services. The council would have nine voting members, including five volunteer representatives, two career representatives and two citizen representatives.

However, there is a second proposal on the table to bring more order to the fire and rescue system. Chip Jewell, a member of the Libertytown Volunteer Fire Department, suggested using the title of "director of fire and rescue services." This difference from the first plan would help pacify volunteers, who bridle at the term "fire chief." Jewell's plan would also call for a fire and rescue board rather than an advisory council and would grant this group slightly more influence than it has under the first proposal.

Jewell, who was authorized to speak for the Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association's executive committee, called his plan a compromise between both sides of the issue.

"It's critical that we attempt to find a middle ground," he said.

A third proposal came before commissioners Tuesday. The alternative presented by Zimmerman on behalf of the Walkersville volunteers and Jewell's proposal will be discussed by the county volunteer association at a Thursday meeting.

The second county public hearing on the proposals is scheduled for Jan. 8.

Copyright 2012 - The Frederick News-Post, Md.