Fire agency improvements recommended
outlet moncler County piumini moncler outlet task force advises hiring part timers, better use of volunteersOld policies drove up overtimePanel wants to scrap 24 hour shifts and layers of managementAnne Arundel outlet moncler
piumini moncler A task force recommended major reforms yesterday to the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, including an overhaul of policies that drove up overtime spending and piumini moncler allowed some firefighter supervisors to double their pay last year. piumini moncler
moncler saldi outlet To piumini moncler saldi reduce overtime, the task force suggested that Fire Chief Roger C. Simonds eliminate layers of management in the department, better use volunteer firefighters, hire part time firefighters and more tightly manage how many people take off on the same day. moncler saldi outlet
It also wants to scrap two longstanding policies that affect emergency responses: the 24 hour shift schedule and Simonds’ requirement that two paramedics ride ambulances to high priority calls.
The draft report is the first official finding that the department must control its overtime spending. But the report does not address a key question the group was asked to answer: Should the county hire more firefighters or continue to pay overtime to moncler saldi uomo fill its firehouses?
“I’m having a hard time making these decisions not knowing what the bottom lines on these recommendations are,” said task force member Henry Farrell, a county budget analyst.
moncler saldi The task moncler saldi outlet force has asked the Fire Department to make last minute calculations that weigh the merits of paying overtime vs. hiring more firefighters. It will meet this morning in hopes of completing the report. moncler saldi
moncler bambino saldi County Executive Janet S. The department exceeded its budget by more than $800,000, and outlet moncler thanks to overtime, 23 firefighters earned more than Owens’ salary moncler uomo of $101,999. moncler bambino saldi
piumini moncler saldi Yesterday’s draft report, which is still subject to a final vote, criticizes Simonds for using about $135,000 in overtime funds to pay firefighters to renovate the warehouse for department use. He moncler outlet online uomo had been denied capital funding for the project. piumini moncler saldi
moncler outlet online uomo Otherwise, the report does not mention Simonds, though some of its recommendations, such as changing the way the department responds to medical emergencies, would roll back longstanding policies. moncler outlet online uomo
moncler uomo “Even though people know I don’t agree with certain things they’ve said, out of this committee there will come good,” Simonds said after yesterday’s task force meeting. He added that he plans to moncler outlet online shop remain chief. moncler uomo
moncler bambino outlet Owens and Simonds, whom she appointed in 1999, will soon meet to discuss the task force’s report and decide what recommendations to implement. Through a spokesman, Owens declined to comment yesterday. moncler bambino outlet
piumini moncler scontatissimi Some of the suggestions would require law changes, and others must be negotiated with the firefighters union. piumini moncler scontatissimi
moncler outlet online shop After meeting 10 times, the task force wants to wrap up in time so that its moncler bambino outlet suggestions can be negotiated into a new union contract and the next budget. The current contract and the county budget expire June 30. moncler outlet online shop
piumini moncler uomo Although excessive overtime spending prompted Owens to create the task force, its scope broadened. Its recommendations yesterday were made with an eye toward faster responses to medical emergencies, less grueling workdays for paramedics, and improved efforts to recruit and retain paramedics. piumini moncler uomo
moncler outlet Nationwide, medical calls account for about 70 percent of fire emergency calls. Anne Arundel’s paramedics complain moncler bambino saldi that they are run ragged, partly because they are sometimes forced to work 48 consecutive hours to fill empty shifts. moncler outlet
moncler donna The task force strongly urged that they no longer work 24 hour shifts, suggesting a mix of 10 and 14 hour days, as paramedics do in Baltimore County. It moncler outlet serravalle also supported training more firefighters see this website https://www.moncleroutlet-i.org moncler outlet as paramedics and putting one paramedic on an ambulance, instead of two, so that paramedics are available in more areas of the county. moncler donna
moncler outlet trebaseleghe Those and other changes would come at a cost to the cash strapped county. moncler outlet trebaseleghe
Although the task force made no specific suggestions on how to pay for the changes, its members said Owens “needs to evaluate” raising money through a tax on cellular piumini moncler uomo phone use or fees charged to developers whose projects strain emergency medical service. Those include assisted living facilities and developments for residents ages 55 and older.
moncler saldi uomo “I think she will struggle to raise the money to implement some of the things we are recommending,” said Chairman Ronald McGuirk, who is moncler saldi also a top adviser to the county moncler outlet trebaseleghe executive. moncler saldi uomo
moncler outlet serravalle Despite their dozens of suggestions, the eight task force members current and former county officials, and a doctor remain divided about a key issue: hiring. moncler outlet serravalle
Without more information about moncler donna costs, some task force members said they did not want to recommend adding piumini moncler scontatissimi firefighters to reduce overtime.
piumini moncler outlet Member Mark Atkisson, who is also the county’s personnel officer, said he believes it would moncler outlet still be cheaper for the county to use overtime instead of hiring piumini moncler outlet.
