Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Charlotte County adopts Public Safety Department ordinance to centralize fire and EMS oversight
Loading...
Summary
The Board approved a new Public Safety Department ordinance on March 13, 2023, establishing a Director of Public Safety, formalizing volunteer fire and rescue entities as part of the county system, creating advisory committees and authorizing background checks and revocation authority for noncompliant providers.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Va. — On March 13 the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance establishing a Department of Public Safety to coordinate fire and emergency medical services across the county.
County Administrator Daniel Witt presented the ordinance, which the board approved by voice vote after a motion by Supervisor Walter T. Bailey and a second by Supervisor Will Garnett. The ordinance formalizes the seven county-recognized volunteer fire departments and the volunteer rescue squad as integral parts of the county system, authorizes appointment of a Director of Public Safety by the county administrator, and assigns the director oversight of daily operations including the 911 call center and the P25 communications system.
The ordinance also creates two advisory groups: a Public Safety Committee that includes county officials and rotating board members, and a Fire-EMS Advisory Committee (FEMSAC) composed of volunteer chiefs, the medical director, rotating board members and citizen appointees. The director is given authority to recommend service-district changes, develop standard operating guidelines, coordinate procurement and capital needs, and to carry out criminal and driving-record checks for applicants and incumbents. The ordinance further allows the director to suspend or revoke privileges to operate as an EMS or fire provider in the county for violations of policy.
Volunteer departments named in the ordinance include Charlotte County Volunteer Rescue Squad, Bacon District Volunteer Fire Department, Charlotte Court House Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Cullen Volunteer Fire Department, Drakes Branch Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Keysville Volunteer Fire Department, Phenix Volunteer Fire Department and Red House Volunteer Fire Department.
The ordinance assigns the Director responsibility for budget recommendations and capital improvement planning for the department; the board will review and approve any changes to the county’s emergency response infrastructure.
Board members praised the collaborative review process and noted the ordinance had been vetted with county fire departments prior to the meeting.