From Harford County government:
Harford County Executive David R. Craig has announced his plan to help address concerns related to public safety, particularly fire and emergency medical services. Following failure to reach agreement on a bill to create a Harford County Fire and EMS Commission last month, the County Executive has issued Executive Order 12-3, which establishes the Harford County Public Safety Commission.
The Executive Order was established pursuant to Section 412 of the Charter of Harford County and Section 25A, Section 5(S) of the Maryland Code. The Executive Order will remain in place until rescinded.
“Today we embark on a new path to help address the many issues confronting public safety in Harford County, most notably our fire and emergency services. Today we begin the journey of improving public safety in a responsible, reasonable and proactive manner, as opposed to posturing, playing politics with public safety and in general promoting the status quo,” County Executive Craig stated.
Executive Order 12-3 establishes an 11 member Public Safety Commission with the primary purpose of reviewing matters pertaining to the county’s volunteer fire and emergency medical services system (EMS) and in turn, make specific recommendations to the County Executive regarding such matters. Among the issues which will be studies by the Commission will be fire service training, volunteer recruitment and retention, EMS training, response and patient care; EMS service fees; emergency service communications, including dispatch protocols and procedures; funding needs of the fire and EMS service as well as the role of Harford County Government in providing support for fire and EMS companies in apparatus purchase, maintenance and/or repairs and other pertinent matters.
“As indicated several times in the past, the Administration is willing to work with the Harford County Fire and EMS Association, and in that regard, I have appointed one person to the Commission representing the Association and a fire chief to represent that Harford County Fire Chiefs,” Craig stated. “I have opened the door for the Harford County Fire and EMS Association providing them with two seats at the table and invite them to work with the Administration for the overall good of public safety and fire protection for the citizens of Harford County,” the County Executive remarked.
Those appointed to the Harford County Public Safety Commission are:
– Tony Bennett, Chair – Famous and Spang Insurance
– Dr. Tim Chizmar – Upper Chesapeake Health System
– Stephen Gamatoria – Susquehanna Hose Company
– Chris Gibbons – Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association
– Judy Mills-Hinch – Aberdeen Fire Department
– Edward Hopkins – Fire Chief, Bel Air and member Harford County Fire Chiefs Liaison Committee
– Lt. Walter Kerr – Maryland State Police Aviation Division and member Level Volunteer Fire Company
– Theresa Lewis – Vice President and business manager – Total Urgent Care
– Charles “Bud” Ramsay – former local businessman, member Citizens Budget Advisory Board for the Harford County Council
– Russell J. Strickland – retired Assistant Director, Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute
– Bob Tibbs – owner/operator of Charolais beef operation at Shadow Springs Farm and member Citizens Budget Advisory Board for the Harford County Council
The Harford County Public Safety Commission will begin their duties effective June 1, 2012. The Commission will continue to examine and recommend follow-up actions and “next steps” to the County Executive related to the Harford County Fire and EMS Master Plan, known as the “Fire Study”.
“The Harford County Public Safety Commission is comprised of citizens from Harford County with extensive fire and emergency services experience, as well as those from business, government and citizens at-large. Each person brings a unique perspective to the Commission and I’m sure will carry out their duties with dedication and a special commitment to the taxpayers we all serve,” County Executive Craig stated.
I am so proud of the County for finally dealing with the issues in the fire and EMS service caused by the population growth in the county. We need to examine and possibly redesign our emergency response system.
Come on now. If the County Exec’s office is going to try and subvert the commenting on this story, they should at least wait until there are some more comments on it.
Womp Womp,
I do not have any connection to the county or the county executive’s office other than being a falls ton resident who has family in the fire company. Do not dismiss my comments use because you do not agree.
The fire companies are under-staffed and have not adopted their systems to the new climate in Harford County. There is room for improvement. The olunteer fire companies do a great job but times are changing and we need to change with them. This commission is a good start.
MO MONEY, MO MONEY, MO MONEY!!!!!Lets create a commity to create commities……I have nothing better to do with my hard earned money….huh…If we don’t already have a department or a commity to deal with such problems,,fine,,,but you mean to tell me we have survived THIS LONG without one????? or is some one , or department not performing to standard????
The commission costs no money. You are very uninformed. Think before you open your mouth.
My bad,,,didn’t know they were all Volunteers and not just a new comity. Thanks for correcting me. And wow,,,I am impressed..first time hearing of a “free” commission.
Well done Mr. Craig. Well rounded panel addressing a very current issues facing all citizens of Harford County. With the volume of extremely serious accidents occuring now on an almost daily basis this is far too important of an issue for the status quo too be maintained.