Fire and Emergency Services Commission reform

The volunteer fire rescue association president read the association's position that all policy documents, including fire chief general orders, should go through commission review, and criticized the chief's practice of bypassing FESC.

The Bethesda Fire Department president appeared as a panelist on the FESC bill on behalf of the volunteer fire and rescue association.

The assistant chief administrative officer stressed the executive branch values the commission and the county's dependence on both career and volunteer firefighters, and described how some general orders merely implement countywide policies.

The battalion chief, speaking for the fire chief, said the department under Chief Smedley has worked hard to collaborate, has incorporated volunteer association suggestions into policies, and apologized if past practice fell short.

The acting division chief relayed the fire chief's appreciation for collaboration and desire to modernize fire service governance; the committee also sent well wishes to Chief Corey Smedley recovering from knee surgery.