Concerned Citizens Questions to Company 6 at the Public Forum on Oct. 16, 2017

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The following is posted on the behalf of Robert Bean of Valley Lee. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of somd.com.



As a communication follow up to the SDVFDRS (Co. 6) Public Forum held on October 16th we are providing you a list of questions that were given to (Co. 6) by the citizens. To date, none of these questions have been answered by (Co. 6) that we are aware of. In our opinion, these questions are pretty straight forward and would not require a lot of time to provide a response. The questions posed are:

Question #1- In your 2018 Capital Improvement Plan, you list a $2,000,000 state grant/loan request. Has that been submitted? Was it submitted as a grant request or loan? What is the backup plan if the state does not give you a grant or loan?

Question #2- How did the FY2018 Operations and Support budget increase by 38% over the FY 2016. What are the actual expenses for Operations and support for FY2017? Question #5; How will you improve the emergency response times and decrease the "did not respond (DNR)" calls based upon the fact the station will basically be at the same location?

Question #3- In your FY2017 budget, you projected a 20-new member increase, what was the actual number of new members?

Question #4- In FY2016, you reported 16 new members, how many are still with the department?

Question #5- Have you provided the county commissioners answers to their questions when you briefed them on Aug. 29th? Will you make those responses available to the public?

Question #6- Why doesn't the new station have a social hall for the community to use? What was the justification for not including one in the new station?

Question #7- What will happen to the old station? Who will pay for the maintenance and upkeep of it? If it is Company 6, are you budgeting for it?

Question #8- Why do you need to have a HELO pad when the emergency helicopters can land anywhere closest to the scene?

Question #9- What is the policy of Company 6 requiring on duty personnel to stay at the station overnight?

Question #10- Do the members get to stay at home on duty nights if they live within a specific distance from the station? If so what is that distance? Will that policy change with the new building?

Question #11- Does the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training charge Company 6 to use their firefighting training facilities?

Question #12- Why do you need to spend money on firefighting training towers when resources are available at Bay District, Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and University of Maryland?

Question #13- Your "fill the boot" sign indicates $700,000 was raised since it started, is it necessary to raise taxes if you continue to receive that type of community donations?

Question #14- If there are no members to run EMS calls during the day, can the department afford to pay for 2 members' salaries to ensure coverage during the day when most volunteers are working? Can the tax increase support this or is it only for the new building? (note: EMS coverage is more important to me than a new station)

Question #15- Has any "more affordable options of renovating the existing firehouse been explored? If so, please provide me the pro and cons related to the inquiries?

Question #16- How often does Company 6 taken advantage of using the Paul Hall Center for Maritime training for firefighting training? (it is a nationally recognized firefighting training center.)

Robert Bean
Valley Lee, Md.
 

NTNG

Member
The following is posted on the behalf of Robert Bean of Valley Lee. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of somd.com.



As a communication follow up to the SDVFDRS (Co. 6) Public Forum held on October 16th we are providing you a list of questions that were given to (Co. 6) by the citizens. To date, none of these questions have been answered by (Co. 6) that we are aware of. In our opinion, these questions are pretty straight forward and would not require a lot of time to provide a response. The questions posed are:

Question #1- In your 2018 Capital Improvement Plan, you list a $2,000,000 state grant/loan request. Has that been submitted? Was it submitted as a grant request or loan? What is the backup plan if the state does not give you a grant or loan?

Question #2- How did the FY2018 Operations and Support budget increase by 38% over the FY 2016. What are the actual expenses for Operations and support for FY2017? Question #5; How will you improve the emergency response times and decrease the "did not respond (DNR)" calls based upon the fact the station will basically be at the same location?

Question #3- In your FY2017 budget, you projected a 20-new member increase, what was the actual number of new members?

Question #4- In FY2016, you reported 16 new members, how many are still with the department?

Question #5- Have you provided the county commissioners answers to their questions when you briefed them on Aug. 29th? Will you make those responses available to the public?

Question #6- Why doesn't the new station have a social hall for the community to use? What was the justification for not including one in the new station?

Question #7- What will happen to the old station? Who will pay for the maintenance and upkeep of it? If it is Company 6, are you budgeting for it?

Question #8- Why do you need to have a HELO pad when the emergency helicopters can land anywhere closest to the scene?

Question #9- What is the policy of Company 6 requiring on duty personnel to stay at the station overnight?

Question #10- Do the members get to stay at home on duty nights if they live within a specific distance from the station? If so what is that distance? Will that policy change with the new building?

Question #11- Does the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training charge Company 6 to use their firefighting training facilities?

Question #12- Why do you need to spend money on firefighting training towers when resources are available at Bay District, Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and University of Maryland?

Question #13- Your "fill the boot" sign indicates $700,000 was raised since it started, is it necessary to raise taxes if you continue to receive that type of community donations?

Question #14- If there are no members to run EMS calls during the day, can the department afford to pay for 2 members' salaries to ensure coverage during the day when most volunteers are working? Can the tax increase support this or is it only for the new building? (note: EMS coverage is more important to me than a new station)

Question #15- Has any "more affordable options of renovating the existing firehouse been explored? If so, please provide me the pro and cons related to the inquiries?

Question #16- How often does Company 6 taken advantage of using the Paul Hall Center for Maritime training for firefighting training? (it is a nationally recognized firefighting training center.)

Robert Bean
Valley Lee, Md.

So is the leadership in Co. 6 going to answerthese questions? Or are the citizens of the 2nd and 9th just supposed to roll over and just accept a tax increase with no explanation to these and other questions?
 
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