Rebecca Gay, Assistant County Manager, reported on County volunteer fire services. She reviewed the existing contract obligations which include auditing, gear inspection, fire incident reporting, rosters, training, and response time requirements. She said no department is meeting the response time criteria, and the Board was asked to consider what level of service they would like in the County.
Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Chief, Ralph Melton, attended to respond to questions, provide input regarding operations and to make recommendations for improved service. Representatives from volunteer departments were on hand to respond to questions and provide input as needed. Ms. Gay reviewed the Fiscal Year 2023 expenditures for volunteer and paid fire service in Knotts Island and Corolla and reviewed appropriations and expenditures of other counties for comparison. Finance Director, Sandra Hill, discussed funding and budget processes, and impacts resulting from delayed audits and communications.
Chief Melton said response times can be improved if personnel are present at each station, and Commissioners were presented with staff recommended contract revisions:
- Reducing contract terms from five to two years
- Include fire reporting requirements
- Require departments report to the Chief of Fire and EMS
- Utilize corporate fuel cards for apparatus and tracking
- Require standard insurance provider
- Require housing for staff and equipment, including housing for EMS staff
- Eliminate the 3% annual increase; return unused funds to the fire fund balance
Commissioners highlighted several recommendations. The Board also discussed allowing paid response for volunteer members and how to address volunteer members who are also employed by the County. Following discussion and consideration, the Board directed the following:
- Continue to allow unused operating funds to roll-over.
- Require timely and accurate audits.
- Allow incentive pay and paid staff to be included in budgets
- Prohibit pay from County departments to dual role employees for volunteer response
The meeting was recessed from 10:14 AM until10:26 AM.
Ms. Gay reviewed Departmental process for requesting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the standardization of items, all of which will be purchased by Fire and EMS, with extra equipment ordered and stored at the Public Safety Annex for new personnel. Budget appropriations for capital requests were reviewed, and use of operating funds and facility improvements were discussed. Specific capital requests by department and County funding recommendations were presented to Commissioners.
Ms. Gay discussed the method for funding of fire apparatus and replacement, implementing recommendations based on a study performed by VFIS. Engines will be funded and replaced on an annual basis and, going forward, apparatus will be owned by the County and leased to the departments. Ms. Gay will review current needs and will prioritize based on existing equipment. She will investigate a multi-year manufacturing contract for standardization of the fleet for consistency of operations and maintenance.
She presented information and costs of setting up a Flying Squad consisting of paid staff to augment mainland fire stations. Following discussion, Commissioners chose not to move forward at this time, but the idea could be revisited in the future if needed.
A recess was called from 11:35 AM. The meeting reconvened at 11:45 AM.