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Commission approves Denton's FEMA BRIC clearinghouse submission for police and fire generators
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Commission found Denton's FEMA BRIC-funded project consistent with county plans and approved the town's request to install two emergency generators for the police and fire departments; the project is expected to be 75% federal-funded with a 25% local match.
The Caroline County Planning and Zoning Commission voted April 9 to find Denton's federal grant project consistent with county plans and to recommend the town move forward with FEMA BRIC-funded replacements for police and fire department generators.
Planning staff described the FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and a FEMA Direct Technical Assistance (DTA) team that helped Denton prioritize projects. Staff said the immediate items Denton submitted as the town's first BRIC application are replacement generators for the police department and the fire department; longer-term priorities identified by the DTA assessment could be submitted later.
Staff explained that the project aligns with the county's recently updated hazard mitigation plan and that the proposed funding split for this item is approximately 75% federal grant and 25% local match, with Denton intending to contribute the match from its general fund. Planning staff also explained that, because BRIC grants are distributed via Maryland Emergency Management (MDEM) as the state recipient, the clearinghouse review asks neighboring jurisdictions and state agencies to confirm consistency with county and state goals.
A commissioner raised a potential conflict: a local contractor indicated he had submitted a bid on the work and was advised to step out of discussion and the meeting area; meeting minutes record that the commissioner stepped out and remained in the audience during the vote.
After discussion the commission moved to approve the clearinghouse recommendation. Chairman Jeff Jackson made the motion to approve the Denton clearinghouse project for two generators and to find it C-1 (consistent with county plans, programs and objectives); the motion was seconded and put to a vote. The motion passed with no recorded opposition.
Staff cautioned the commission that FEMA review is competitive and that, although Denton's generator request is straightforward, BRIC submissions can be turned down during federal review. The commission recommended the town proceed with the BRIC application process and noted future applications from Denton and other towns could follow as the DTA assessment identifies additional infrastructure needs.
