Charles County Board of Fire and Rescue Commissioners Meeting – October 16, 2025

The Charles County Board of Fire and Rescue Commissioners convened on October 16, 2025, at 7:00 PM, with Chairman Lynn Gilroy presiding. The board approved several equipment replacement requests, adopted the Fire Association and EMS budgets for 2025–2026, and received updates on the LOSAP fund, grant delays due to the federal shutdown, and the cadet program. All votes were unanimous unless noted.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the September 25, 2025 meeting were approved unanimously (motion by Robert Ansel, second by Natasha).
• LOSAP Report for September 2025: Bill Deere reported total fund balances of $23,563,689.98 as of September 30, 2025 (up from $23,345,500.85 in August). Expenses included $114,122.52 from Wilmington Trust and $8,892.79 from the Truist account. The LOSAP board is considering increasing member payouts, which would require county legislation.
• Letters of Information – Escrow Account Distributions & Quarterly Reports: The board acknowledged the monthly escrow distribution for September (expenses totaling $20,478.16 for fire/EMS accounts) and quarterly updates on several capital projects: the Nanjemoy Volunteer Fire Department’s new Pierce Rescue Engine (placed in service Sept. 10, final cost $1,004,591), the Charles County Rescue Squad’s ambulance 518 replacement (chassis ordered), the MDT replacement project (80% complete, finish by December), and the donated Ford F-250 (awaiting emergency lighting installation). All were received without objection.

Discussion Items and Requests

• 10th District Volunteer Fire Department – UTV Replacement: The board removed this item from the table (motion by Robert Ansel, second by Derek Jones) and approved the purchase of a 2025 Kubota UTV for $35,857, funded from the apparatus escrow account ($34,500) and operations/maintenance ($1,357). The current UTV will be sold or reutilized. Vote: Unanimous.
• Special Operations Rope & Hardware Upgrade: Special Operations Chief Ryan Sirkotowski requested $44,972.75 to upgrade rope and hardware for all rescue squads. The board approved the expenditure from the Special Operations escrow account, noting adequate funds (>$100,000). Vote: Unanimous.
• Cobb Island VFD – Ambulance 68 Replacement: The department requested approval to replace a 2014 ambulance (60,000 miles) with a 2027 Ford F-550 PL Custom ambulance costing $492,543 (including power load stretcher and stair chair). Funding would come from EMS capital ($401,589) and the EMS OM account ($90,954.82). The 30-day layover period was waived due to projected price increases. Vote: Unanimous.
• Cobb Island VFD – Fire Rescue Boat 6 Replacement: The department requested approval to replace the totaled 2000 Alumacat catamaran with a 2026/2027 Metal Shark 38' Defiant NXT fire rescue boat at a cost of $1,779,127.80. Funding will come from the apparatus capital account ($2,202,485.49 on hand), with no debt incurred. The 30-day layover was waived because the vendor will raise prices after October 31, 2025. The boat serves the entire Potomac River area. Vote: Unanimous.
• 2025–2026 Budgets: The Fire Association annual budget was approved with increased apparatus values (4.5–6.5%), building allowance ($250/sq ft), and a projected fire tax increase to $17,806,499 (from $16,798,300). The EMS budget was approved at $6,040,431, with the county providing $5,564,500 (85.9% of the budget); departments must fund the remainder through fundraising. Both budgets had been reviewed by the respective executive committees. Vote: Unanimous on each.

Key Outcomes

• Approvals Granted: All four capital requests (UTV, rope/hardware, ambulance 68, and fire boat 6) were approved, each with a waiver of the required 30-day layover for the ambulance and boat purchases.
• Budget Adoption: The Fire Association and EMS budgets for the 2025–2026 fiscal year were adopted unanimously.
• Upcoming Action: Distribution of fire tax and EMS funds will be presented at the November 2025 meeting. The board will also discuss penalties for a department that submitted its annual financial statement 10–11 days late; the October 1 statutory deadline was missed.
• Other Updates: The volunteer coordinator noted that $1,200 has been collected for a scholarship in memory of Chief Dan Stevens. A FEMA grant for 125 sets of PPE is on hold due to the federal government shutdown. The cadet program has 21 members, all of whom completed the emergency telecommunications course. Capital project quarterly reports for several departments are due at the November 20 meeting.

The meeting adjourned following a motion by Bill Deere.