St. Mary's County, MD Emergency Services Board for St. Mary's County, 9 Jun 2021

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: 6/9/21 Emergency Services Board for St. Mary's County

Description

No description was provided for this meeting.
If this is YOUR meeting, an easy way to fix this is to add a description to your video, wherever mtngs.io found it (probably YouTube).

A

Good evening welcome to tonight's emergency services meeting for june.

A

My name is gary bell and I am the chair of the emergency services board.

A

With us tonight we have sean davidson, our county rescue chief.

A

Mr steve walker, director of emergency services, dr dan geary, will not be with us this evening.

A

Carol bone is the chairman of the rescue services association, rescue squad association.

A

Hattie norris, our vice chair, will also not be able to be with us this evening. J.A nelson, our.

A

President of the saint mary's county fire board association and c.p badinsky, our county fire chief.

A

We do ask that you turn off your cell phones or any pager device, while.

A

We're in our meeting and with that uh we will go ahead and start our meeting and uh ask for the.

A

Approval of our minutes move to approve the nets.

A

Motion by sean second by jay, to approve the reading of our our minutes, all those in favor.

A

Aye aye all right, they always have it um moving along into our looks like the cad replacement.

A

Steve did you have that so today uh uh we were actually holding cad demonstrations, so we've.

B

Been going through the procurement process, we're down to uh two vendors, this process has been going.

B

On all week, so we started monday and uh it is of course monday tuesday, wednesday and thursday.

B

In the room that is helping to evaluate is, of course, some members of the board, and then we have.

B

Some other ems members, fire department, members, sheriff's department and, of course, a number of.

B

Our dispatching people so they're demonstrating it in this part of the process for the procurement.

B

We are going to do this, then we're going to have a debrief with the technical.

B

Committee, that was doing the evaluation and and representatives from the different organizations.

B

With luck, we will have a cad vendor selected by next week. At that point in the process, then.

B

We will get to review the cost bids because we don't get to do that until we reviewed.

B

This process, so hopefully within two three weeks, we'll have something you know selected.

B

And then we begin to plan out how this is going to be implemented. So we we are looking very good.

B

uh It's been a long road, but it's still a long road ahead of us but good progress and I think.

B

You know, and certainly you know, members of you guys want to talk about it. If you, if you don't.

B

uh It is a long daunting process to sit in that room and painstakingly go through uh some. Some.

B

Of that, um I would just say thanks for making sure we were part of it, I mean you know whether.

C

Being a long day or not, I think it's, uh you know, a lot of questions were asked and answered and.

C

You know a lot of good information was out there, yeah we're getting there, but we are getting there.

B

And it's it's: the furthest, we've gotten and real progress is, is right on the right on the edge so.

B

It's good news, so I will say that our experience today was further proof that I have no poker face.

A

Anything else anybody else for steve all right. Thank you so again, thank you.

A

uh Next on our agenda is ems, supplemental staffing, okay, so so we know that we've been.

B

Through a very long process getting to where we are with the budget, so the budget is now.

B

Done we can now speak in definitives because it is very hard to do that when it changes.

B

Daily weekly- and it has changed that much certainly, we know that we had.

B

A budget request in for for 32 emts, and we got half of that now that doesn't mean that.

B

It was simply cut off, we do have the contractor, that's providing for the other half of that.

B

That said, it's still very challenging to to keep the ambulances running to where they should be.

B

It just is becoming very difficult to staff the contractors having that problem, we're having a.

B

Problem and of course, the volunteers are having the problem, so it's difficult, so our budget that.

B

We got approved for ems is 16 full-time, one admin coordinator that is basically doing payroll and.

B

Different parts of the support, then we have one ems billing coordinator: that is the person that.

B

Will be assisting in doing the transport building services uh which a part of that just did part of.

B

This report, we are working very hard on that marianne has been helping scott's been helping.

B

Marion has actually helped us make a lot of progress. I appreciate that, um but we are very.

B

Close to that uh we're hoping july 1st we'll be ready to start doing billing, but we'll see so but.

B

We're making progress on that, so that's good, but anyway, so that's really the update I have on it.

B

For the time being, we are going to be monitoring it very closely. As far as the coverage and- and I.

B

Certainly will be going back to the commissioners as soon as I'm able to to ask for more if we need.

B

That so we'll we'll see how this goes so be glad to try and answer questions. If I can, mr walker, yes,.

D

How many full-time positions you have filled right now today? uh Well, so you know we, we can't fill.

B

Them until july 1st, but we think how many do you think you have, we think we have 12 think because.

B

Until they're confirmed and done the background which we are doing, but we think we got 12.

B

The application process for the other ones there is an open enclosure period.

B

I've asked to modify that to make it open until filled that will give us the ability to begin.

B

Reviewing immediately and I'm hoping to start tomorrow, and we hope that that will accelerate.

B

And allow us to fill the rest by july 1st. So, by your best estimate you will have 12.

D

As of today, first, that's where I think we are now that could that could come back to.

B

Less it could go a little bit further, depending on the background. All right do we have a new.

D

Contract with a contractor, because the current contractors contract expires the end of june.

B

It doesn't really expire, it goes month to month. So that's really what we're working on.

D

I'm not sure that that's really fair to anyone to go month to month. At this point, so we could.

B

Talk offline because that's a contractual issue that needs to be discussed through the county.

B

Attorney so we can, we can discuss it. Okay, I just remember reminding you in an rsa meeting, probably.

D

About three months ago, that you know we needed not to wait till the 11th hour to get this done.

D

So that we could be sure that we had adequate staffing july 1st, okay, thank you.

A

Is there any other comments or.

A

All right, so next on our agenda is a harris radio system. Paris, radio system is working as expected.

B

uh Doing very well knock on wood, always tomorrow evening is an interesting thing. That harris has.

B

Some new portable radios that we're going to take a look at some of them are very specifically.

B

Intended for fire department personnel, they are rated to.

B

Withstand a high temperature for a period of time, so we're going to take a look at that.

B

And see if that is something that is good for our system, so we're going to do that and.

B

Then they also the current radius that we have will be coming to end of life before too long.

B

They have a replacement which is an update, xl95 we're going to take a look at those.

B

Very nicely that all of the equipment that we have that will attach to the xl75 shoulder.

B

Mics and what not we'll use the exact same equipment so that that can be transferred over.

B

There's the possibility that we will begin to purchase these as we need to replace radios.

B

Such as we've had some that have been lost, we've had some that need additional radius.

B

It's likely that that is where we may go with that.

B

So we're beginning to take a look at that we did some some uh exploration of some expansion.

B

Of other systems, one was the marine band radio system that we built out last year. uh It was.

B

A beginning of a process, so we have worked on uh looking at what it will take to expand that.

B

And we have gotten a proposal on that and I have submitted that in to the county administrator to.

B

Have that funded with the american recovery act funding until that comes in and we go before the.

B

Commissioners, I'm waiting on whether that will be approved or not, but that is in in the mix for for.

B

One of the funding projects so, but that's where I am on harrison unless you have a question.

A

I guess the other day um and I don't know if, if a message was sent out, I know with my particular.

A

Company um to my knowledge, we weren't alerted, but we lost the texting capability within the.

A

I guess the 911 texting active 9-1-1 yeah and I and I learned about that, as you know,.

B

So apparently, I'm not sure we knew how long it was out. uh I I don't have an answer for you. Why you.

B

Weren't notified again, I didn't. I wasn't notified until like monday morning. um Again, I don't know.

B

The extent of of what how it affected us, uh I I will I'll tell you what I will do. Yeah a bit.

B

Of exploration on that and I'll send a message out to because I do know. For instance, I didn't.

A

I wasn't carrying a pager and I know some of our other members and we did have a cpr call. um It.

A

Wasn't effective, we got out, I guess our company did quickly and all that, but um I think that was.

B

Active901 correct it was yeah right, okay, so so that that actually clarifies a little bit more so.

B

Yeah, so we did a lot of research, so our systems were intact, we're working as they should be.

B

uh Whatever the issue was was on on active 911 side, I think it did clarify that and say that.

C

The text paging was completely down for that time. You said it was completely different. Yeah, the the.

C

Whatever the text messages that go out, no, no, neither the text or the active were coming through.

A

Yeah, I could need to verify that, because I didn't get that message.

A

Yeah but like if it happens, obviously you know just right. I guess the notification to that.

A

um All right so I'll I'll do some research and then I will send something out to all.

B

The chiefs, you know on what we've what we found so very good. Thank you.

A

um I guess our emergency services report, so I know that we've distributed some some.

B

uh Information on the fire rescue loan- I I don't know if there's any need for discussion.

B

So I don't know if you wanted to so. If not, then, then I won't worry about that. Emergency services.

B

Reports, of course, you know that really impacts anything to do with emergency services, information.

B

That came to us is, is that apparently, uh mifrey has had some difficulty in providing some.

B

Certification training for our future first responders. I don't know if, if we want to bring.

B

This up at this time, j.a, I know you wanted to discuss this yeah. I definitely would like to so.

C

um In our fireboard association meeting the last meeting, we had the association actually voted to.

C

Draft a letter to the university of maryland, addressing the issues that we were having.

C

What we did not know at the time we, this came from the departments, the departments all the.

C

Fire departments were having issues getting certificates, getting classes scheduled.

C

Communications with miffy what I learned after uh the fire board association meeting was uh ms.

C

Bell came to the meeting and we found out that the career technology program currently in the.

C

The school system, the students were not getting any of their classes that we were expecting them.

C

To graduate with at the end of the year, so normally in a normal school year, they.

C

They take emt fire, one fire, two hazmat ops, uh vehicle machinery, rescue several classes; well,.

C

We found out we're a couple weeks from school and it doesn't look like any of those. Kids are.

C

Going to have any certifications when they are completed their school year this year.

C

Which that in and of itself was completely disheartening, I mean very, very disappointing.

C

That that we learned that information, so um so that kind of you know put the uh put the cherry on.

C

Top for a lack of better terms for us of you know really needing to address this issue and and.

C

Moving forward with this letter to the to the university of maryland um so- and I don't know.

C

If kelly, you could certainly call kelly if kelly or mrs bachner, if either one of you want to speak.

C

To this I'd, you know gladly appreciate it entirely up to you all, um and I would just say that you.

B

Know in the time that you know what we're facing with ems and the time when we're working very hard.

B

To keep our volunteers not to be able to provide the proper education to the ones that want to be.

B

Volunteers, right so so, and and what I'll tell you there so we have- I mean this so the program was.

C

Implemented back in 2006, so I mean we've had over 170 kids go through this program over the years.

C

And what I've been I have, I don't have complete accurate stats yet, but uh in the fire departments.

C

Alone, 65 or more maybe higher, uh there's a 65 retention rate for those members that have gone.

C

Through this program that stick with the fire departments throughout their their.

C

Service they're still members today and about 40, if you know based off what what I'm just looking.

C

At with all the kids that that have been through it- and I know, have moved on about, 40 percent have.

C

Gotten a career in a related field to fire, an ems, whether it's a paid fireman a paid emt somewhere a.

C

Dispatcher, a police officer, a nurse all those are related to to taking this this course and- and you.

C

Know so our sitting assistant county fire chief, who is a paramedic in prince george's county, is a.

E

Product of that program, yeah absolutely and then you know the chief of lender town, there's chief.

C

You know who's who's, the prince georgia, farmer and there's there's there's there's people throughout.

C

This system that have gone on to bigger and better things and they're still volunteers here in the.

C

System and and the fact that this happened uh and and you know we couldn't do anything to to help.

C

And it's not for a lack of effort from the school board and from from kelly. Because they've tried.

C

And and we're at our wits end with with this at this point so I'll. If you all would like to.

C

Make comment: I really appreciate it, but you know that's that's kind of where we're at so I will.

F

Just say that um for any of you who are in our meeting at the other facility about three years.

F

Ago, when we got the program back up on its feet, I've grown to love this program. If you go to the.

F

Firehouse and watch what has happened, I would say in the last three years before this year happened.

F

You can see what a difference it makes for kids and they have passion. They have passion for.

F

This program, which just helps you, as you said, I didn't know the statistics, it just warms, my heart.

F

And we've been doing well, I think we've been growing the program. We've done a lot of things.

F

Kelly and I have a daily relationship, either by text or email and have for the last three.

F

Years- and this is just really disheartening- um we have made sure that the students kelly and I have.

F

Made sure that the students had their pathway for high school and their credits, because this.

F

Is no fault of any of the kvdets, and I want to say that the cadets only did what the cadets.

F

Were given and told to do it really is an adult problem um and that's what's hard for me to handle.

G

Because, as I told kelly, if this was an english teacher or a math teacher, I would be able to go in.

F

And kind of solve the problem with the principal and think that's my job, I'm director of curriculum.

F

I can't help with me free, I don't know the curriculum they're. The service providers.

F

Of this curriculum, so um it is heartbreaking, because now all I can say to a parent or a cadet.

F

That reaches out because they're high school students they can advocate for themselves. They.

F

Want the certifications- and all I can say to them, is now we'll try to find other experiences for.

F

You so that you can get your certifications. I did offer summer school and providing transportation.

F

If miffy would just I give me the instructor, I even found a facility for them in our schools. If.

F

They didn't want to use the hollywood firehouse if that was not accessible. I said I need to know.

F

In two weeks um crickets, I even gave them a form letter and just said put in the dates.

F

And I will get this started. I talked to mr egan at the tech center. We got the facility ready. um I got.

F

The buses ready, I even got buses if they wanted to do a burn in la plata, and you know, because I know.

F

Some of their certifications have to be out of our county, um even though not we're not doing field.

F

Trips, the superintendent gave special permission that if it was a certification field trip for.

F

Miffy he would approve it um all of that. Even we had one scheduled and it was cancelled by mithri.

F

So um thank you for saying that we try, because we really do. We very much believe in this program.

F

Hoping it can get back its feet, um but my heart breaks for these kids yeah and it sounds like.

C

Just just for the uh the feedback for next year, there's a lot of interest in it already. I think we.

F

Have 17 interested yeah, that's where we now have 18. so, and it's just um and just like mrs bachner.

H

um Just stated, I think uh the relationship with the school board has taken. You know a complete.

H

180 over you know where we were at three years ago. um You know we. We definitely needed that.

H

Moment so we could come together and and really look at the big picture and and now we're able.

H

To communicate much better with each other, and I felt um that miffrey um we were working really.

H

Well with me free as well at one point, however, over this past school year, it's definitely taken.

H

A different turn in the beginning of the school year, I would say you know, covid restrictions.

H

um It seemed like we were, you know, semi-workable with me free and, and we understood you know every.

H

Organization had their restrictions that they had to um obey and that sort of thing and and.

H

Through no fault of the school system or mid-free, you know um a lot of students. You know missed out.

H

On opportunities, even at the tech center like in welding and that sort of thing.

H

But it is um very concerning because now we do have 18 students interested in this program.

H

Next school year, but we do not want a repeat of this school year, so I have a couple of questions.

E

um First, uh during the period of the strictest covered restrictions, were we able to set up.

E

Any kind of a mechanism so that these students were able to access murphree's courses online.

H

Yes, so um there was virtual instruction that they were being offered they had. They had the same kind.

E

Of access to that that they would have had to everything else, so we couldn't get access to.

E

Didactic, training to classroom style training like they were getting for everything else,.

E

Is not an excuse for them not being able to complete the material that they have.

F

And they also all came back on in february. There was an opportunity, starting as early as february.

E

For them to have been able to get the class from the the the practical parts of instruction that.

E

They might have not been able to get otherwise correct good, um so I for the record. I knew that.

E

But you know you say these things out loud in public, so that everybody knows that everybody knows um so uh one thing that I think is instructive.

E

In sort of like the circumstance that I happen to know, is going on internally at southern maryland,.

E

Regional training center for mifrey mifre is that they have actually dual tasked the.

E

Administrator, so he's actually covering two regions. Southern maryland is the busiest region in.

E

The state we offer mifri southern maryland offers twice as much training as any other region in the.

E

State alone and our guy, who manages all of that, is also managing another region. At the same time,.

E

And I believe that that is likely compounded. That's not our problem. That's their problem.

E

But that's a compounding factor. I think that has probably impacted this program.

E

Because our person, who was supposed to be able to pay attention to what was going on had a built-in.

E

Distraction from people who are supposed to make sure he can do his job. um I also think that.

E

Maybe one of the things that we can do um moving forward and as we plan for what's going on next.

E

Year, maybe we need to have some representation from this board as a part of your conversation.

E

um You know both coordinating between. I mean because kelly's you've been amazing, but I.

E

Think that we can offer you some more support in a much more direct fashion than we have been able to.

E

Heretofore um and and just you know, because I mean I work for me free, I know, what's going on in there.

E

And I can call their bs when it is a flop in front of me. um You know, so I I think that that that.

E

One of us being actively a part of that conversation, um especially since we also represent.

E

A significant portion of memphis regular work, not just the special thing that they're doing.

E

For the school you know in partnership with the school for this, so that just I think that.

E

Would lend a little bit more weight to the pressure that we need to put on them to make.

E

Sure that we're getting the services that we need to so is it, mrs bagner? Is it too late to.

E

Make any of these options for the for this year's students available to them.

E

Now I mean, is there? Is there any? Is there anything that we can do to help to facilitate getting these.

E

Opportunities for these students who deserve them- I, I would say yes, um one parent, who reached out to.

F

Me and I'm shocked it's just one parent, um because I was telling kelly. I would not be a happy parent.

G

At all, um I'd be, you know, definitely calling- and I told her I'd love to hear from them too. Yeah.

C

More stuff to add to our absolutely- um uh and I I told the parent she was actually very eloquent and.

F

Lovely because I don't know if I would have been as as much um what we did share with her is kelly.

F

Made a commitment to the cadets. Both graduates, as well as because we have half of them, are.

F

Graduated last week, um as well as the juniors that are in our program, that for the next six.

F

Months she would basically keep a distribution list and anything that comes across her desk.

F

As a training opportunity or a company that has you know an opportunity for certifications.

F

She will get that to them that information to them so kelly. Do you know um what what kind of record.

E

Of what the students were able to do exists, by which I mean so like for ent, for example, that's.

E

My discipline, that's what I know right. um So one of the things that is happening is that as the emt.

E

Program has has developed is, though they should be able to step in wherever it is. They were last.

E

Successful, so if they, if they pass the midterm successfully, then we can, we can step them into the.

E

Second, half they don't have to repeat the entire thing in order to complete the certification.

E

Process so do we do we have any way of knowing where they are? As far as that progress goes.

H

Yes, so um I know the record keeping has been kept for um emt in particular, and and we do.

H

Have a couple students that that could transfer into another emt class after school ends? What.

H

Next thursday, so that is a possibility and of course, as you know, for the students that weren't.

H

Able to make it through the first mod exam, then they would have to start from the first day of emt.

H

And and I think all of the the students are very willing to do whatever it takes to earn.

H

um You know any certification, they're they're, all very committed to their fire departments to their.

H

Rescue squads, um but I did speak to instructor truesdell regarding fire one and he recommended.

H

The students start from day one because he felt there had been too much of a time lapse.

H

And uh because they did the fire classes first, this year, yes yep and they did not make it.

H

To the midterm for fire one um so as in the course was not even completed, correct, correct right.

H

Correct that comment about the poker face again, um so uh part of the reason for bringing that up.

E

Is that the class that I am currently teaching is finishing their module two stuff tonight.

E

So we should talk if there's anybody that we can maybe like pull into that now, because I have seats.

E

So that's something that I know like right now in real time is something that we might be able to.

E

Do for at least some of them, and I greatly agree rather than later, um but right now um we only have.

H

uh Cadets that have made it through um mod one. It's worth talking about. Okay, absolutely.

F

We will talk and I think that's when the first glimmer of something was maybe up was. It was.

F

Christmas and I, as I said, I've worked with three years now with knowing the pacing of your program.

F

I mean, I don't know the content, but I know the pacing um and I I let a question out we're in.

F

Firefighter one and it's december and we started like something's off now pacing. Let me tell you.

F

School-Wide is off, I mean if you have children in our school system. You know, pacing is off.

F

um You know when kids were virtual, but not that much off um so um and their grades were stellar.

F

We've never had such high grades for cadets, so I didn't see when I was getting passed back of.

F

Grades that there was a concern, because in other years there were concerns, there were kids who were.

F

Really really struggling, especially when we go to emt kids were really my brady kids. That.

F

Were really really struggling and so we'd have parent conferences and things like that and I.

F

Just thought they were doing fantastic given their grades. So I didn't question that things were not.

F

Going properly um until december came- and I was like we're aware and that's my frustration is.

I

I mean you're sitting here. These cadets normally get at least seven disciplines.

I

Fire one fire: two hazmat ops, awareness, emt, arf and rescue machinery, at least seven of them and.

I

And if they join into junior and stay junior and senior, they normally get these within a.

I

And now in one year, they're not getting one of those certifications and that's my frustration.

I

Is to say wow, you know I mean somebody. We got to get somebody's attention because this is.

I

Totally unacceptable, I think we're the only county that this has happened to in the southern.

I

Region so I mean I'd like to make a motion that this board write a letter.

I

This board write a letter to uh university of maryland, director cox of uh memphis.

I

Expressing our frustration with this and that we want some attention at least going into next year,.

C

Second, I said the motion by cp second by j.a, um is there any discussion on the motion.

A

All those in favor aye all right, opposed so ordered all right. Thank you for your support.

C

Absolutely thank you. Thank you. We appreciate you coming. I you know, I think, there's no question that.

C

The school board's buying in this I mean I've, seen dr smith, come to the graduation of what 10.

C

Kids a few years ago, so it's been great. He asked for a report every month um and now, every week.

A

And as a parent, the program does work like say: my son was one of the early participants.

A

And now he has a career in prince george's, county and and he serves as the fire chief.

A

In leonard town, so it definitely does work when it's when it's it's done right. So thank you.

E

I have kind of a cascade of thoughts if, if we can, if the three of us can take a minute.

E

When we're done to just you know and and maybe my mind, vomit will mean us.

E

Something and maybe it'll mean nothing to you, but but I I I have a couple of.

E

I think maybe potential future solutions that that I specifically for the from the board of ed's.

E

Perspective might be things that you'd need to run up the flagpole in order for us to be able to.

E

Pull the trigger with, but I think it's worth talking about. Thank you phil. Thank you. Thank you.

A

All right next on our agenda is low-set. Okay, so a couple different things have have been occurring.

B

With that, so the first I'll talk about the actual budget that was approved so at the end of the.

B

Budget uh commissioner hewitt commissioner morgan and then the other supported it. uh They had made a.

B

Recommendation there was some excess funding and they recommended that they take excess funding.

B

uh And place that into the retirement fund for low sap, and it would uh basically solidify and support.

B

That retirement fund, uh so for every year, 2020 2021 2022, that amount of money that goes in was.

B

A million dollars this year that what was approved is 3.2. That's so that's a 2.2 million increase now.

B

That specific money again goes into the investment account solidifies it and ensures that that is a.

B

Soluble and good account for years to come now. That's the first part. The second part.

B

In response to the letter that this board wrote to the commissioners asking for some very specific.

B

Things to be done, uh I I've received a a memo, um a copy of a memo from uh miss catherine preston.

B

Director of human resources. So if you recall that there's a lowsat board of trustees.

B

And that handles that retirement fund, uh currently that there is nobody on the board from emergency.

B

Services in my department and I'm working on that to try to see if I can get them to.

B

To to uh take it before the commissioners and ask for that, I think it's time for us to have some.

B

Representation on there, but but that said, that's a that's a side piece so from in this memorandum.

B

This is from catherine pratzen subject: let's have points and service credit, 2022 benefit requests.

B

Date was june 4th and it talks about historical information. Just for you guys to remember.

B

July 21 2020, commissioner, submitted a request to this board to review the kovit 19 impact. Consider.

B

Alternative benefit credit october 14 2020. The esp responded with a recommended point award process.

B

For 2020, with a recommended point award process for 2021 additional benefits, beginning in 2022.

B

To include increased point, accruals increased benefit amounts, health, insurance, property.

B

Tax incentives, free landfill access gift cards and death benefits in december of 2020. The.

B

Commissioners approved the revised 20 20 point award process. That was the 2020 award process.

B

uh For covit in march of 2021, the commissioner certified that eligibility list.

B

Incorporating the revised point award process so remember this taking us up to where we are.

B

This is not addressing yet the recommendation. I think you did most of the work on so we're.

B

Not there yet so then calendar year, 2021 recommendation from the esb as follows:.

B

For county year 2021 an award of four close half points each month, volunteers able to demonstrate.

B

A reasonable restriction on participation during the pandemic response continuing to the end of the.

B

State of the emergency, reasonable restrictions restrict activities from the member's physician.

B

Recommendation restrict activities for a member who provides in-home care.

B

For an at-risk family, prohibition on volunteer participation by the employee and member's.

B

Employer so with board approval, that's the low sap board that she's referring to amending the point.

B

Award process for county fire, ems and ls volunteers for county year, 21.

B

Will be initiated and presented to the commissioners so with board approval in response.

B

To the proposed calendar, 2022 benefit changes, the following actions will be taken and analysis of.

B

The financial impact to alter the current benefit payments with a proposed will be requested. An.

B

Analysis of the legal and risk implications to provide volunteers with employee benefits will.

B

Be requested, a survey of maryland counties and volunteer benefits provided will be conducted.

B

The timeline commissioners will be sent a summary member describing the board. Let's have board's.

B

Approval and next steps on june 9th I will provide an update, which is what I'm giving to you to the.

B

Esb proposed 20-21-point award process will be presented to the commissioners and with approval.

B

Public hearing process for the 2021 revision to the saint mary's county code will commence.

B

So they'll be they'll, set a date and propose it and it will begin to work through that process.

B

At the august 27 2021 board meeting, the analysis will be presented along with any recommendation.

B

Recommendations of requested action and then on this it says that our uh request was submitted.

B

uh So anyway, so that's where we are at this point, so is that a two-page memo that says.

G

We're working on it say that again, is that a two-page memo that says we're working on it.

B

You know okay, but it's important for everybody. That's watching to know the history of this.

B

Okay- and I think I think it is- I don't dispute, I don't disagree, I'm just.

B

The good news is check it out. While we have thought that nothing has been occurring.

B

Much has been going on and there's progress and and I'm hopeful that this will end successfully.

B

And we we will get what the board has recommended. Do you know by chance who is actually on the low.

E

Sap trustee, I know some important. I will know more so the last meeting was on friday. I was.

B

Away on on my vacation leave, I had mr gardner step in for me, but I know that the county.

B

Attorney is serving as as the board chair right now, while dr bridget's away and of.

B

Course you have the hr director, uh I I don't know the extent of the makeup of the others. So.

B

But I do think it's time for us to to be a part of that board. And will you be able to share that with.

A

Us, if, once you find out who it is yeah I'll, be glad to send it I'll get I'll get it and I'll send.

B

An adult to all of us. Thank you, thank you, but, and it's also it is online if you wanted to search for.

B

Committees and boards, so, but I don't I don't know the extent of it. I think uh certainly the.

B

Finance director has got to be on it because of you know the the finances that are involved, but I.

B

I don't know who else what and I think it's good that they're doing a survey of the counties and.

C

They can look to our neighbors and cover and see that they're. You know right right and what we're.

C

Asking for is comparable and while I know you you ever every one of you and me we're all anxious.

B

To get this completed, it is nice to see there's something underway and it and it hasn't just been.

B

Been not responded to or or answered at all, so all right did. I have one more thing I needed to do.

B

Or was that the last one? I think that's the last one. That's on our agenda.

A

Yeah all right, uh thank you for that information, so definitely been waiting for that um with that.

A

We'll move into new business or is there any new business any new business uh board member time.

A

um Me first please, um I just wanted to say um I wrote a couple of things down so that.

E

I wouldn't ramble too much because I know how I can be, but I think it was really disappointing.

E

To watch the board of commissioners play politics with people's lives in the budget process.

E

I sat in this room and I looked at them and I challenged them to be public servants and to.

E

Consider the input that they were getting from experts and people who've invested lifetimes of.

E

Experience in the provision of emergency medical services uh and the first time that our system.

E

Came to them and said we really need a fundamental bit of help from you. uh They chose not to listen.

E

And uh while there was not necessarily a hundred percent unanimity among in the opinions of the.

E

People uh who make up our system, you can't expect thinking people to ride in lockstep.

E

And no one believed we didn't need uh the 32 personnel that we asked for.

E

So what the actions of our board of commissioners did was introduce further confusion.

E

And uncertainty into a process that has already been stressful and divisive in a way that is.

E

Unsafe in ignoring the advice that they received.

E

They chose to make public health policy for the citizens of saint mary's county based on.

E

Their hopes rather than facts and rather than real advice, and I think that that is a shame and I hope.

E

That we are able to compensate for their short-sightedness in our endeavor to continue.

E

To provide the best thing that we can for the people we have committed ourselves to. Thank you.

A

Is there any other board members comments.

A

um Personally, I'd like to confer with sean, um I watched the their budget sessions also.

A

um Hopefully, um I think a couple of them promised in december to relook at this issue.

A

And hopefully that definitely happens and then uh so that we can perhaps hire that the additional 16.

A

Personnel that we originally uh had asked for, so um thank you, sean for your comments.

A

Again, is there any other board members? I just got a question: why ruin that.

I

I guess this would be uh director walker if there a lot of you, the 16 personnel.

I

um And the contractor can be done still monthly. Are you? Could you possibly offset to make that.

I

32 with the contract, I know it would be confusing it'd be easier just to make the 32 positions, but.

I

Are you capable of still funding the contract also with full-time employees, so you're saying, can we.

B

Do the contract and the full-time at the same time, yeah to you request, I mean the request was for 32.

I

You know full-time employees and they gave you 16.. So my guess, my question is, since you approved for.

I

16 ftes, which are certainly out scouting and hopefully to get them on by one july.

I

If you see there's a shortfall, can you fall back possibly also.

I

By using that contract, that's actually the intent and that's the direction of the commissioners to.

B

Use the contractor for the additional people yeah, it's not to cut it to 16 and not it would that we.

B

Can't we can't we, we barely can cover what we're doing now and that's through a lot of cooperation.

B

Through all of the rescue squads through all of the the people that we do have on hourly.

B

And through my staff I mean you know mr scott raleigh goes out and rides. The ambulance takes.

B

Shifts kirsten does mr stamey. Does it really is a true partnership, that's occurring, but it's taxing.

B

Absolutely daunting with what's occurring right now, but the question that you've asked that is.

B

The intent of the commissioners at this time to do exactly what you said. Okay, so thank you.

A

All right, any other comments. Is there any comments from the public? All right make a motion to it.

I

John second question by cp, second, by carol to adjourn all those a favor hi all right. Thank you.

G