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Board ratifies updated apparatus grant and master agreements with volunteer departments
Summary
After 18 months of negotiations, commissioners approved modernized master and apparatus grant agreements for volunteer fire, rescue and EMS departments. Revisions address procurement, bonding, service timelines, permitted use by career personnel and electronic signatures; no additional county fiscal impact was identified.
The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved updated master and apparatus grant agreements for volunteer fire, rescue and EMS departments at its Feb. 10 meeting.
Division Chief Jim Richardson of the Fire Rescue EMS division told the board the 1997 master agreement and 2002 apparatus grant agreement no longer reflected current fiscal and procurement practices. The updated documents change procurement standards, add bonding requirements and clarify apparatus service timelines and permitted use by career personnel, while also formalizing electronic signature authority.
Dave McDowell, director of public safety, acknowledged the collaborative process with the volunteer association and county staff. Terry Anderson, president of Solomon's Volunteer Fire Department, and other volunteer leaders signed the updated documents in advance of the meeting; staff told commissioners that all volunteer department presidents had signed the agreements preparing for the vote. Staff said there is no additional fiscal impact associated with approval and that apparatus purchases will continue to be funded through existing capital projects and budgets.
The motion to authorize the board president to sign the updated agreements passed by voice vote. Staff thanked volunteers and county staff for about 18 months of negotiations and work that led to the cooperative agreement.
