St. Mary's County Emergency Services Board says volunteer stipends coming, plans outdoor AED cabinets and introduces new deputy director

St. Mary's County Emergency Services Board Chairman J. A. Nelson said at the board's Aug. 13 meeting that members should see updates soon to payments from the county’s Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP).

Director Jen Utz of the St. Mary's County Department of Emergency Services told the board the county’s property-tax credits for volunteers have been finalized by the treasurer, the IT team has updated the VIP portal and finance expects stipend checks to be cut “within the next 30 days.”

The updates matter to volunteer fire and EMS personnel across the county because the VIP provides a mix of tax incentives and stipends intended to strengthen recruitment and retention. Utz said staff and the LOSAP board will continue working to improve the program’s administrative efficiency ahead of next year’s cycle.

In addition to the VIP update, Utz marked the first anniversary of the county’s transition to the Tyler computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system, thanking partners and staff for ongoing tweaks and system improvements since the go-live.

The board also reviewed a planned FY26 project to install outdoor automated external defibrillator (AED) cabinets. Utz said the county will place locked outdoor cabinets at 13 parks and at the Garvey Senior Center, and that the Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Aging and Building Services will coordinate with fire-rescue partners on cabinet installation and access protocols so AEDs are available when park offices are unstaffed.

Utz announced the department has hired and onboarded its newest deputy director, John Gosford, who introduced himself to the board and said he looks forward to working with local EMS and emergency-management partners. "Coming back from the federal government ... staying local is certainly welcome to my end," Gosford said.

Sean Davidson, Saint Mary's volunteer EMS chief, praised the combined volunteer and career EMS system and the support volunteers are receiving under the VIP, citing positive patient-outcome data from Southern Maryland Hospital and saying, "we are fundamentally saving people's lives every day." Davidson credited early field recognition and rapid transport for those outcomes.

Board members also recognized the recent Fire Rescue Appreciation Day hosted by the county commissioners and urged residents to check smoke alarms after a nearby fatal fire in Charles County.

Votes at a glance: The board unanimously approved the minutes from the June 11, 2025, meeting and later voted to adjourn; both actions were taken by voice vote with all present members indicating "aye."