[4:47] all the time, dog. Look, you can have a

[4:50] head like this with a dent.

[4:53] >> I'm getting another. I'm getting

[4:54] another.

[4:55] >> It's protected, sir.

[4:56] >> I'm getting another one.

[4:58] >> I have to move.

[4:59] >> The only dent is from where

[5:29] Hi.

[5:33] » My blood pressure. That's awesome.

[5:36] You were cracking me up.

[10:00] more to my pain as I

[13:19] Okay, we will call the August 2026

[13:23] meeting of the fire and advisory board

[13:25] to order and we will ask for a roll

[13:28] call.

[13:33] Dennis Godc

[13:34] >> here. Eric Haley.

[13:39] Uh Mike Shaw here.

[13:42] Williams

[13:43] >> here.

[13:44] >> Robert Weber

[13:44] >> here.

[13:45] >> Alan McKenzie.

[13:47] >> Andrew Her

[13:49] >> here.

[13:50] >> We have everybody but Caesar.

[13:52] >> Okay. Uh first thing I want to do is uh

[13:56] welcome uh the new representative to the

[13:59] board, Andrew Happer.

[14:02] Andrew is the And now we have uh

[14:06] Representative Haley here as well.

[14:08] Andrew is our newest member representing

[14:11] District Three. Welcome, sir. Uh

[14:13] wondering if you were actually going to

[14:15] be in the cockpit of an aircraft doing

[14:18] this meeting.

[14:19] >> No, no, this this uh this month I'm not.

[14:22] I'm up at Lake George, New York with my

[14:25] family and then uh

[14:27] >> Yeah. No, it's been a good week here and

[14:29] then next week I or next month I will be

[14:31] in person or I plan on it.

[14:33] >> Perfect. Well, welcome aboard.

[14:35] [clears throat]

[14:36] >> Thank you. Nice. It's nice to be here.

[14:38] >> All right. Approval of the minutes of

[14:40] the July 16th meeting.

[14:43] >> I have a motion.

[14:44] >> Motion approval.

[14:45] >> Motion by Mike Shaw. Second by Bob

[14:48] Weber.

[14:50] >> Any questions on the motion?

[14:53] >> All in favor signify by saying I.

[14:55] >> I.

[14:57] >> Opposed.

[14:59] Okay.

[15:02] Uh chairman's report. So, first fire

[15:06] service strategic planning committee

[15:07] update. Um,

[15:11] we met two Wednesdays ago. Uh, we will

[15:17] >> last Wednesday.

[15:18] >> Was it?

[15:19] >> Last Wednesday.

[15:19] >> Okay. Well, we meet next week too,

[15:21] right?

[15:21] >> Yes. [laughter] Um

[15:24] and um

[15:27] it was our meeting to review the

[15:29] requests for information that were sent

[15:32] out uh by the county supported by the

[15:36] committee uh as opposed to the requests

[15:39] for proposals. We've explained the

[15:41] reasons uh for that previously. Uh we

[15:45] reviewed the request for informations.

[15:48] There were eight responses.

[15:50] Um

[15:52] there were three of those that we had to

[15:58] review portions of or the whole document

[16:01] in executive session because they claim

[16:04] propriet what is it proprietary

[16:08] uh material uh in some of their

[16:11] proposal. Um we we discussed the rest uh

[16:16] in public session and uh the amounts

[16:26] uh that they

[16:28] estimated which they're not held to this

[16:32] for

[16:33] uh their RFP uh response their bids to

[16:36] the RFPs.

[16:38] Um

[16:40] they were from $88,000 to $282,000.

[16:48] Um we did review them u to the extent

[16:52] that we graded them on whether they met

[16:54] all of the requirements of the RFI. Uh

[16:58] whether we believe they had the

[17:00] experience

[17:02] um and the staff that were competent to

[17:04] do the study. Uh, and all that does is

[17:08] says that they are eligible to apply for

[17:12] the RFP.

[17:14] The [snorts] bottom line is anybody can

[17:16] put in for the RFP, even if they didn't

[17:18] put in for the RFI. We uh unanimously

[17:23] approved all eight of them to go

[17:25] further. And at our next meeting

[17:29] um this coming Wednesday, right?

[17:32] >> Yes. Um, we will be discussing

[17:36] when we're going to uh send out the

[17:40] RFPs. We're going to talk about any uh

[17:44] changes to the RFP that uh we think need

[17:47] to be made based on some of these

[17:49] responses to the RFI.

[17:52] And uh we're going to discuss um funding

[17:56] of the uh uh for the RF for the for the

[18:00] project when the bids come back.

[18:03] I I there will not be a decision on

[18:05] funding uh at this next meeting, but we

[18:08] are going to discuss it and we're going

[18:11] to discuss the process. There's a lot of

[18:15] legal things that come into play. Um and

[18:20] from the fire services standpoint and

[18:23] there is no conflict at this time with

[18:26] the county on this. Um but our position

[18:29] is that um we want to be

[18:34] uh an integral part of the selection

[18:37] process.

[18:39] Um I I I don't have all of the legal

[18:44] issues in front of me, but there are

[18:46] some concerns

[18:48] um about

[18:50] all of us being on the selection

[18:52] committee. Um whether that's

[18:54] appropriate. We can't have two people

[18:58] from the county and two people from uh

[19:01] the the fire side of the committee

[19:03] because that would constitute a

[19:04] subcommittee.

[19:06] Um so Aaron uh Goldstein, the county attorney, has

[19:12] been working with us and it continues to

[19:14] work with us. We're bringing it up now

[19:17] simply because it's something for people

[19:19] to be aware of, but um we don't

[19:22] anticipate any problems. Um,

[19:27] and our relationship and work with the

[19:30] county continues to be very positive.

[19:34] Um,

[19:35] I miss anything?

[19:37] [snorts]

[19:40] » It's good.

[19:40] >> Okay.

[19:41] >> Yeah.

[19:44] >> And um,

[19:48] that's the extent of my report. I I'm

[19:50] not going to report any further right

[19:52] now on the uh outreach program that we

[19:56] talked about last month, but that

[19:57] continues to move forward.

[20:00] Anyone have any questions for me?

[20:03] Okay.

[20:09] Uh emergency communication. So, um we

[20:12] didn't receive a report, but I will tell

[20:15] you that I was contacted by assistant

[20:18] chief Williams today. his stepmother

[20:20] died overnight.

[20:22] Um, so that's why he is not here and I

[20:25] certainly didn't expect him to provide a

[20:27] report. Uh, so just on behalf of the

[20:30] board, uh, want to express our

[20:33] condolences to him and and hope that his

[20:36] family is doing as well as possible.

[20:40] Emergency medical services.

[20:42] >> Good evening, Mr.

[20:43] >> Doctor. How are you,

[20:44] >> doctor? Far from that other wouldn't be

[20:47] here. Uh staffing doesn't really have

[20:51] much change since the last report. Still

[20:53] authorized at 159. Um we have 15

[20:57] vacancies actually. Yeah. 15 vacancies.

[21:01] We have 30 people 30. Yeah. 30 people in

[21:05] training. That's 15 from our seventh

[21:06] academy. Happy to report that 14 of

[21:08] those passed their national registry

[21:10] paramedic exam. Uh the remaining one

[21:13] will be retesting in a few weeks.

[21:16] uh 12 are still in the ETH academy.

[21:18] Happy to report that all of them are now

[21:20] nationally certified EMTs

[21:22] and entering their paramedic portion of

[21:24] the program and we have three selective

[21:26] certified paramedics in field training

[21:28] from various different areas throughout

[21:30] the country and they're progressing

[21:33] well. Um

[21:36] run volume year to date 25,12

[21:40] incidents. Uh that's slightly down by

[21:43] about 800 from same time period last

[21:46] year transporting about 50% of those

[21:49] which is our average currently.

[21:53] Uh Narcan use still continues to trend

[21:57] downward. We're at 528 administrations

[22:01] uh year to date compared to 132. Um, we

[22:05] actually just, uh, Lieutenant Small, who

[22:08] is our quality assurance person, met

[22:11] with the opioid state committee today,

[22:14] um, to kind of discuss maybe what's

[22:17] going on and why we're seeing less use,

[22:19] but that's a good thing. Um, we're happy

[22:23] to see that number. Um,

[22:26] blood, today was a busy day. We gave

[22:29] three units uh but we are up to 417

[22:32] blood administrations year to date or

[22:34] I'm sorry since program inception of May

[22:36] of 23 and 111 administrations year to

[22:40] date.

[22:43] The only other thing I really have uh

[22:46] selections still continue for the ninth

[22:48] academy. Again our plan is to run

[22:50] another academy uh on the heels of the

[22:53] eighth just starting at DelTech. That

[22:55] academy most likely will be run at good

[22:57] fellowship. So they'll be going

[22:58] simultaneously about five or six months

[23:01] apart from each other. There's no start

[23:03] date set yet though for the ninth

[23:04] academy. Um and that will hopefully

[23:07] fully staff us if uh 100% of people

[23:11] graduate. We are still actively

[23:13] recruiting. Um and then I know it's been

[23:16] mentioned before, emails went out to all

[23:18] the presidents and chiefs, but October

[23:20] 2nd is our 50th anniversary celebration

[23:22] at the Chase Center at the riverfront.

[23:24] Uh we've had a couple table buyouts. uh

[23:28] tables of eight from three fire

[23:30] companies thus far and uh that's open

[23:35] for RSVP till September 10th. Any

[23:39] questions on that? Uh Lieutenant Small

[23:41] actually is the coordinator of this

[23:43] event for us and we'll be glad to answer

[23:45] any questions. That's all I have.

[23:47] >> Board members, any questions for the

[23:50] captain?

[23:53] board members online.

[23:57] Okay. Uh is there anyone present from

[24:00] the County Fire Chiefs Association

[24:04] online? And if not, is uh Wally on board

[24:09] for special ops?

[24:12] Okay. Anyone from the Newcast County

[24:14] Firefighters Association?

[24:16] >> We have no reports, sir.

[24:18] >> Okay. County government, Mr. Dunn.

[24:23] Good evening. Um, all uh Stephanie has a

[24:26] report on the uh latest spreadsheet of

[24:31] companies that have filed all their

[24:32] necessary paperwork and who's been paid

[24:34] and she can answer any questions or

[24:36] concerns with that. That's all I have,

[24:38] sir. Thank you.

[24:39] >> Thank you,

[24:40] >> staff. What are the numbers right now?

[24:43] >> Yeah, I was going to say if we knew who

[24:44] did not get on their

[24:47] >> So, the blue is completed and that's why

[24:49] they have check numbers.

[24:50] >> All right, cool. The peachy orange color

[24:53] is we still need something and white the

[24:56] only white tally bill hasn't done any

[25:01] >> Oh, okay.

[25:03] Representative Haley,

[25:07] >> I did speak with uh Caesar today about

[25:09] that and he was going to reach back out

[25:11] to Tallyville

[25:13] and Kenny and I have both talked to them

[25:15] yesterday. So hopefully they get

[25:17] something.

[25:17] >> Eric,

[25:20] can you unmute?

[25:24] » Annie, who did we talk to yesterday at

[25:26] Tallyville?

[25:27] >> Hold on. Hold on.

[25:29] >> Caesar.

[25:30] >> Yeah.

[25:31] >> Can you speak to

[25:34] uh I guess President Miller?

[25:39] » Yep. I've reached out to him twice. I'm

[25:41] waiting for a message back now.

[25:44] >> Okay. Has he I mean is there an issue or

[25:49] I cannot answer that question?

[25:52] [clears throat]

[25:53] >> Okay.

[25:55] Was there a respon was there a response

[25:57] to you Kenny?

[25:59] >> Yes Mr. Chairman, we spoke to Vice

[26:02] President Bizolei yesterday, Paul

[26:03] Bazoli. Um, we sent him an email with

[26:06] all the necessary documents um and h and

[26:09] the link. Uh, he said he would um he

[26:12] would make the correct uh contacts and

[26:14] have it taken care of.

[26:18] >> But as of right now, nothing's on our

[26:19] portal because I can see when they even

[26:21] start an application and nothing from

[26:22] Tallyville.

[26:23] >> Okay. Can

[26:26] Kenny, can I uh ask Steph on the peach

[26:30] colored if she can send me what's needed

[26:34] from each of those companies?

[26:35] >> I'll send you this. I can send a

[26:37] spreadsheet to you again like I have.

[26:38] >> Well, this one, but it doesn't say what

[26:40] they're lacking.

[26:42] >> Oh, well, it said like the first three

[26:43] says need to submit on the portal. So I

[26:45] have their MOA but they just haven't

[26:48] submitted their documents on the portal

[26:49] where Belvadier

[26:52] um like Belvadier Etna and Brain 900

[26:55] which Brand 900 should be completed

[26:56] tomorrow.

[26:58] >> Christianana has put everything on the

[26:59] portal but they haven't sent me their

[27:01] signed MOA.

[27:02] >> Same thing with Towns End.

[27:04] >> Yes, Towns End. They were they have

[27:05] their attorney reviewing it so they

[27:07] won't sign it and get it back to me

[27:08] until their attorney says yes.

[27:11] >> Okay.

[27:13] >> I'll get you that in an email. So,

[27:14] >> yeah. So, Belvadier, I spoke to

[27:16] Belvadier, I believe it was last week,

[27:18] and their problem was they didn't have

[27:20] anybody that knew how to get on a

[27:21] portal. And I said, "Call me. I'll come

[27:23] over, do it."

[27:24] >> Yeah.

[27:25] >> You know, Representative Happer, could

[27:27] you give me a call tomorrow at some

[27:29] point? We can talk about Christian.

[27:33] >> Yep.

[27:35] >> Okay. And Caesar also, please. Um,

[27:39] Brandy 100. Freddy 900. We talked to

[27:43] >> Yeah, that'll be done in the morning.

[27:46] >> Yep. He just he submitted the wrong

[27:48] document and he said he'll take care of

[27:49] it tomorrow when he's back at the

[27:50] computer. So hopefully that's

[27:54] >> good. And then you get the money within

[27:57] the same week. If we have it in by

[27:58] Wednesday, you get it by Friday.

[28:03] » Anything else? Uh Mr. Dunn or

[28:06] Madame Warren?

[28:08] >> Yes, sir. Okay. Impact fee request.

[28:13] >> Go ahead.

[28:15] >> No, you're good, Kenny. I got you.

[28:17] Impact fee request. Representative

[28:18] Winks.

[28:19] >> Yes, sir. I have four of them tonight.

[28:23] Bear with me. Bear with me. First one is

[28:25] from Goodwill Fire Company from Chief

[28:28] Maski. Goodwill Fire Company requested

[28:31] utilization of $5,64.80

[28:35] from our impact fee account. These funds

[28:38] will be utilized to add scene lighting

[28:40] on the company's marine rescue unit

[28:43] MRU18. The request amount will cover the

[28:45] purchase of the four 12vt scene lights,

[28:48] two on each side, as well as a fixed

[28:50] generator power lighting in the front

[28:52] and rear of the vehicle. Reading through

[28:55] the documents, they they is it

[28:57] acceptable? And I'll entertain a motion

[29:00] that we accept this.

[29:03] >> Okay. Does anybody make a motion?

[29:04] >> I'll make a motion. top makes a motion

[29:07] and seconded by Mike Shaw.

[29:11] Any questions on that motion?

[29:18] Okay, hearing none. All in favor signify

[29:21] by saying

[29:22] >> I

[29:24] >> opposed.

[29:28] Okay, next

[29:29] >> online said I just to the next three are

[29:33] from the Wilmington Manor Fire Company.

[29:37] The first one is Wilmington Matters

[29:39] requesting $44,652

[29:43] of their impact fee funding to expand

[29:46] and modernize the vehicle rescue

[29:48] capabilities of the department's

[29:49] emergency response apparatus.

[29:56] Most of this is that the project will

[29:58] provide additional battery powered

[30:00] hydraulic rescue tool stabilization

[30:02] equipment, [clears throat] glass

[30:03] management tools and supporting rescue

[30:05] Britain to enhance department's ability

[30:07] perform vehicle extradition operations.

[30:10] Um that their basis of doing this is

[30:12] because of the in the increase of

[30:14] vehicle rescues that they have to go to

[30:16] on

[30:18] their station to major highway. Uh read

[30:21] through all this. I read through all the

[30:24] items that they're requesting and it

[30:26] meets the operationals of impact fee

[30:30] request. So entertain a motion we accept

[30:32] that one for 44,652.

[30:35] >> Motion.

[30:36] by Mike Shaw.

[30:38] >> Second.

[30:38] by Bob Weber. Any questions on

[30:41] the motion?

[30:42] >> I have one. I should have asked the last

[30:44] one. The county has approved these.

[30:46] >> You approve it after us.

[30:48] >> I thought that they had to look at it

[30:50] first.

[30:53] I knew that. I was just testing you.

[30:55] [laughter]

[30:57] » All in favor signify by saying I.

[31:00] >> I.

[31:01] >> Opposed.

[31:04] » All right. Okay. Next one. Blington

[31:06] Matter Fire Company. Uh they're

[31:08] requesting $18,376.80

[31:13] from their impact fees. Uh it's for

[31:16] external defibrillators to expand their

[31:18] emergency medical response capabilities

[31:20] throughout the organization. They're

[31:22] going to go on the uh two at the station

[31:24] of 28, one at station 32, one at the

[31:28] response vehicles, and three of the

[31:30] command vehicles. Reading through the

[31:32] description and quotes, it meets the

[31:35] qualifications for the vector fee

[31:37] request.

[31:39] Entertain a motion.

[31:40] >> Do I have a motion? I'll make a motion.

[31:43] Okay, that's dueling motions. Um, so

[31:46] I'll pick one eeny meenie. Bob Weber

[31:50] motion Bob Weber, second by Mike Shaw.

[31:52] Any questions on that motion?

[31:56] All in favor signify by saying I.

[31:59] >> I.

[32:01] >> Opposed?

[32:05] » The last one is from Wilmington Man Fire

[32:07] Company. Uh they're requesting $23,26160

[32:13] from their impact fee funding. It's for

[32:16] thermal imaging equipment and reading

[32:19] through the description. This enhance

[32:21] the fire safety operations

[32:24] emergency responses given the

[32:26] firefighters uh better capabilities of

[32:28] locating victims within a fire.

[32:31] Uh it's four PSS thermal imaging units and nine

[32:39] seek fire pro 300 images reading through

[32:42] the description

[32:44] and through the quotes. This meets the

[32:46] qualifications for the impact fee

[32:48] requestate a motion.

[32:50] >> Anyone make a motion?

[32:52] >> Motion.

[32:53] >> Second.

[32:54] Some guys online are just sleeping.

[32:56] [laughter]

[32:57] Motion by Mike Shaw, second by Bob

[32:59] Weber. Any questions on the motion?

[33:05] All in favor signify by saying I.

[33:07] >> I.

[33:11] » Carries.

[33:12] >> And the last thing I'd like to say is um

[33:14] those fire companies that have money in their bank, use it up because after a

[33:19] certain period of time, 10 I think it's

[33:21] 10 years, right? Yeah.

[33:22] >> It expires and you're going to lose that

[33:24] money.

[33:25] >> So use it up while it's there.

[33:29] Okay, old business. We actually do have

[33:32] something for old business. Um, last

[33:35] month, if you recall, there was uh some

[33:39] time issues with

[33:42] um a policy

[33:44] passed by the chief's association. We

[33:46] weren't able to get on to the um

[33:53] agenda in time. and it essentially is a

[33:58] uh dispatch procedure for in what is now

[34:01] titled investigation alarms. Um this

[34:06] policy did go into effect

[34:09] um the day after the last meeting. We

[34:12] weren't able to take formal action. So

[34:15] uh

[34:17] if we can um get a motion now to approve

[34:26] I'll make a motion.

[34:28] [laughter]

[34:31] » There you go. It woke up. Motion and

[34:34] second. Um,

[34:36] >> it was McKenzie and Caesar.

[34:38] >> Okay.

[34:38] >> Yeah.

[34:40] >> Any questions on the motion?

[34:46] » All in favor signify. But this was a

[34:48] 90day trial.

[34:50] >> 90-day trial.

[34:52] Um, all in favor of the motion signify

[34:54] by saying I.

[34:56] >> I.

[34:58] >> Opposed.

[35:02] Okay. So, we have

[35:05] two

[35:07] new policies that were passed at the

[35:09] last chief's meeting. Um

[35:13] and

[35:17] unfortunately the uh secretary sent

[35:21] a memo with these things but it was the

[35:25] memo for us to approve a new 1040 policy

[35:29] which we did previously. So just

[35:32] disregard that in your in your packet.

[35:35] Um the first one basically now when

[35:40] there's a up until now when there's a

[35:42] working fire

[35:44] um the BLS unit comes from a separate

[35:47] company from the home company. This

[35:50] policy will revise that and if there is

[35:54] an available

[35:56] dedicated nonfire staff BLS unit in the

[36:00] home company they will be able to

[36:02] respond.

[36:11] All right. So

[36:14] there's also a

[36:16] second

[36:18] change to this policy

[36:23] which changes language. It takes the

[36:26] word go out and inserts a the word a

[36:32] company can be doublepulled when a

[36:35] company is staffed with multiple units.

[36:38] previously said no company can be double

[36:40] pulled even if

[36:44] staffed with multiple units. Now it says

[36:46] a company can be double pulled when a

[36:49] company is staffed with multiple units.

[36:51] Um

[36:56] the other one used to say 3.05

[37:00] 5. This is policy 40147.

[37:06] A rehab

[37:08] unit will be dispatched on all second

[37:10] alarm fires. And it takes out where it

[37:14] said that the primary unit was PA200.

[37:18] And it now is updated to

[37:21] the ED shall contact the incident

[37:24] commander to ask if a rehab unit is

[37:26] needed. If needed, Newcastle County EMS

[37:31] shall be contacted for availability.

[37:36] Okay. Any questions on that?

[37:40] I'll entertain a motion to approve both

[37:43] of those changes in a single policy.

[37:46] >> Motion.

[37:49] » Okay. We had a motion and who second it

[37:52] for any.

[37:53] Yeah, that's fine. Any questions on the

[37:57] motion?

[38:01] All those in favor signify by saying I.

[38:04] >> I.

[38:08] All right. District reports. District

[38:11] number one, Representative Shaw.

[38:16] No report other than thank you for

[38:18] approving W man Banners

[38:21] impact fees.

[38:23] Well needed.

[38:25] District number two, Vice Chairman

[38:27] Haley.

[38:31] » Uh, as already reported, Claymont

[38:33] completed theirs.

[38:34] Uh, BH will be completed in the morning

[38:37] and President Miller said they're close

[38:39] and he's got any issues, he'll contact

[38:41] me in the morning.

[38:43] >> Thank you, sir. District 4,

[38:48] Representative Weber.

[38:51] >> Uh, no reports.

[38:52] >> Okay.

[38:54] uh district five. The only uh report I

[38:57] have to make is that um all three

[39:02] of the companies in the district have uh

[39:05] indicated uh that they are endorsing me

[39:08] for reappointment. Kenny, can you tell

[39:10] me where that is?

[39:14] » Uh it is being worked on. It'll be sent

[39:16] over to council [snorts] um as soon as

[39:18] possible, sir.

[39:19] >> Okay. Thank you very much.

[39:22] Yes, ma'am. Still waiting for a letter

[39:23] from Ellir Fire Company stating that

[39:25] they are so we can't move forward until

[39:28] Ellir sends me that.

[39:31] >> Kenny, I understand you've had a

[39:33] conversation and that's not an issue.

[39:35] >> That's it. I'm just waiting.

[39:36] >> No, no. I mean,

[39:37] >> yeah.

[39:38] it that's correct. It's not an

[39:40] issue. Um, what I meant by moving, we're

[39:42] drafting what we need to draft and for

[39:44] in introduction, but yes, we do need

[39:46] that final signature page.

[39:48] >> Yes.

[39:50] >> Thank you. District six.

[39:54] » I did. Oh,

[39:55] >> you did.

[39:56] >> Geez. District three. Andrew Happer. I'm

[39:59] sorry, Andrew.

[40:01] >> Man, good start. Um, I mean, I have

[40:03] nothing to report. Obviously, this first

[40:05] meeting for me, but um I do plan on

[40:09] meeting with the companies in my

[40:12] district before the next meeting, as

[40:13] well as having a conversation with all

[40:15] the board members, just, you know,

[40:17] introduce myself and all that. So,

[40:21] Okay, sounds good. We're looking forward

[40:23] to it, Andrew. Um, okay. Now, let me go

[40:27] to district six.

[40:29] >> I have nothing to report, sir.

[40:30] >> Nothing to report.

[40:31] >> Yes. Thank you.

[40:32] >> And finally, district number seven,

[40:34] Representative McKenzie.

[40:36] >> No report, sir. Thank you.

[40:38] >> Okay. Is there any public comment? We

[40:42] have no public here in the room.

[40:45] >> Um, but Mr. Chairman,

[40:48] >> go ahead. U sorry I I have to revert

[40:51] back to my report real quick. I did um

[40:53] thank you for the reminder guys when you

[40:55] were talking about impact fees. So uh

[40:58] legislation is being introduced uh to

[41:00] increase the impact fees by 9.23%.

[41:04] That is an inflationary adjustment that

[41:06] was required in the legislation that

[41:08] passed last year um or maybe it was two

[41:11] years now. Um there is also a study that

[41:13] will commence very shortly on on the

[41:15] impact fees with a an outside

[41:17] consultant.

[41:19] This these uh actual numbers the actual

[41:22] increases per structure for the fire

[41:25] service etc etc will be detailed in the

[41:28] legislation. I will send that over to uh

[41:31] well Stephanie will send it out to uh

[41:33] the chairman and the members of the

[41:34] board as soon as we're ready to and um

[41:37] once it is introduced to council it will

[41:39] then revert to the planning board. Uh

[41:42] planning board must approve any land use

[41:44] type um legislation.

[41:47] That'll take about um a month or so to

[41:50] get through the planning board. Then

[41:51] back to council for a vote. Um, I'm sure

[41:54] we're going to have significant uh

[41:55] public input on this. Uh, but we will

[41:58] keep you posted. Thank you.

[42:00] >> Okay. And I apologize. Kenny did make me

[42:03] aware of this last week and I failed to

[42:05] let anybody know. So, thanks for

[42:07] remembering that. Um,

[42:10] I would assume that the legislation in

[42:12] Dover on the permit fee increases never

[42:15] saw the light of day.

[42:18] >> So, that will have to be in Jan the

[42:20] January session. We will need support

[42:22] from you all uh here in Newcastle County

[42:25] Fire Service and the fire and animals

[42:26] advisory board. Um we do have a

[42:29] potential sponsor here in Newcastle

[42:30] County, a senator. So u yes yes u but we

[42:34] have to wait till January.

[42:35] >> Okay. Thank you. Any other public

[42:39] comment?

[42:45] » Chief Snider

[42:48] just following up from February. Is

[42:50] there any any further discussion on uh

[42:54] assistance with recruitment and

[42:56] retention with the uh funding request?

[43:03] » Um

[43:05] now can can you can you lighten this a

[43:08] little bit?

[43:10] >> Yeah, I brought up in February's meeting

[43:12] that it seems like a lot of the push for

[43:14] funding is going towards staff, but

[43:15] there needs to be some concentration on

[43:17] volunteer retention. Some of the

[43:19] examples that were provided were like

[43:21] discounts on property taxes or something

[43:24] to help entice our volunteers to stay or

[43:27] get a little bit more active.

[43:31] » I see that. Hold on. I'm I I absolutely

[43:34] don't doubt you were chief. I'm looking

[43:36] to see

[43:38] um

[43:44] so I can give you a reason why we're all

[43:48] sitting here with our brows furrowed

[43:50] when you brought up something. Uh, I do

[43:53] see a note here on the um

[44:01] on the meeting from February

[44:03] uh about recruitment and retention and

[44:06] are you suggesting that we include

[44:09] something in our county budget request

[44:12] on that or just overall?

[44:15] I

[44:15] >> think it might have to be a combination

[44:17] of both.

[44:19] >> Okay. All right.

[44:22] Um,

[44:23] as you probably remember from the last

[44:26] couple of meetings, um, fire service and

[44:29] county association,

[44:31] we are, um, will meet in September,

[44:37] um, and review two proposals for our

[44:41] FY28

[44:43] budget that we are researching at this

[44:46] time. We're going to decide on one and

[44:48] then present it to the presidents and

[44:50] chiefs. Um, and we will have this

[44:54] discussion at that time. We will also

[44:57] include this in our discussion with the

[45:00] uh alternative funding committee that

[45:02] the DVFA has set up with three members

[45:06] from uh each county

[45:09] um trying to uh

[45:13] coordinate

[45:15] the uh state budget request with needs

[45:18] from each of the counties.

[45:20] And um thank you for reminding us

[45:22] because uh

[45:25] that slipped through the cracks and it

[45:26] shouldn't have. I apologize.

[45:31] Anyone else?

[45:32] >> It'll it'll reflect on your next

[45:33] evaluation. That's fine.

[45:35] >> I appreciate that, sir. [laughter]

[45:39] Anyone else public comment?

[45:43] Any representatives have anything

[45:45] further?

[45:48] Miss Lauren, do you have anything? Yes,

[45:50] sir.

[45:51] >> Hey. Um

[45:52] >> Oh, I actually I'm sorry. I do. The next

[45:55] meeting is September 17th, which is

[45:57] conference.

[45:59] Are we still Will you guys be back? Will

[46:01] you

[46:01] >> say the same thing?

[46:02] >> I will uh confer with the board members

[46:06] and make a decision.

[46:09] >> Um I know I'll be back. I'm coming back

[46:11] on Thursday. So,

[46:14] >> yeah. I I I'll see. I'm not a fan of clo not having

[46:20] meetings, but we'll see. We'll see who's

[46:22] going to be available.

[46:23] >> Yeah, I'll be here. So,

[46:24] >> and we'll get it out. Yeah.

[46:26] >> Thank you. Okay, we're going to adjourn

[46:29] the meeting. And I want to say in 33

[46:31] minutes,

[46:34] » that's never my goal, by the way. Never

[46:37] my goal.

[46:42] Thank

Fire & Ambulance Advisory Board Meeting - August 20, 2026

Agenda

Transcript