Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hagerstown fire officials urge renegotiation of 2020 MOU, warn ending automatic aid would harm safety
Summary
Fire chiefs and city officials reviewed two years of response data and told the council the 2020 MOU limits Hagerstown's automatic aid but rescinding it would risk slower responses; council members pressed the county funding and tax‑differential issues and urged renegotiation and targeted reimbursements instead of unilateral withdrawal.
Deputy Chief Keith DeBaco and Chief Hopkins gave a detailed briefing on Hagerstown Fire Department operations, county contributions and limits established in the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed 01/16/2020 with the Board of County Commissioners. Staff said the Fire Department has 79 funded career positions, operates five stations and keeps a minimum on‑duty crew of 16 personnel. Presenters noted that national staffing guidance recommends four firefighters per apparatus but Hagerstown currently staffs two per unit.
Using data from 11/01/2023 to 11/01/2025, staff reported HFD handled 8,969 calls in two years: about 85% occurred inside the city and 1,363 were outside city limits (15%). The MOU restricts automatic aid so no agency will send more than 50% of its resources outside its boundaries and the city agreed not to send more than two engines, one ladder and one battalion chief for automatic aid assignments.
Chiefs argued that stepping away from the MOU could reduce wear and fuel costs but would likely increase community risk because closest‑unit response — particularly in areas where borders are irregular — would be disrupted. Chief Hopkins told the council he "would not be in favor of reducing response for safety." Several council members pushed back that the MOU has hampered the city's ability to win fair tax‑differential compensation; one council member said the 2020 agreement had the effect of "nullify[ing] the city's ability" to press the tax‑differential case. Staff and council members coalesced around renegotiation and measures to seek county reimbursement for items such as staffing money, fuel and maintenance rather than an immediate end to automatic aid.
Presenters also highlighted funding differences: county volunteer companies receive $25,000 per station for staffing and gaming revenue shares (~$38,000/year), while city volunteer companies do not receive the same direct staffing money and HFD covers annual fuel/maintenance costs of roughly $288,000 (projected to rise by about 10% in FY27). Staff suggested the council pursue targeted reimbursements and annual review periods for a renegotiated agreement.
The council did not vote to alter the MOU at the work session but directed staff to reopen talks with county partners and to present options for renegotiation and annual reviews.
