Charles County Board of Fire and Rescue Commissioners Meeting – February 20, 2026

The Charles County Board of Fire and Rescue Commissioners held its February meeting on February 20, 2026, chaired by Lynn Gilroy. Board members attended both in person and online. The meeting covered routine approvals, financial reports, multiple apparatus replacement and construction requests, a new response dashboard presentation, and quarterly project updates.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of January 15, 2026 Meeting Minutes: Motion by Bill Deere, seconded by Robert Ansel. Approved unanimously.

LOSAP Reports

• December 2025 LOSAP: Beginning principal balance $23,671,347.00; total funds $24,808,729.34; change in value before expenses $188,907.86; net change after expenses -$128,441.60.
• January 2026 LOSAP: Beginning principal balance $24,098,890.15; total funds $25,135,550.17; change in value $326,820.83; net change after expenses -$100,721.44. The LOSAP board is scheduled to meet March 13, 2026.

Monthly Escrow Expenditures (January 2026)

• Pre‑approved expenses totaling $86,541.32 were presented by Fire/EMS Coordinator William Smith as a letter of information, including: Coordinator’s account ($9,270.17), MDT account ($1,781.60), Board Secretary ($542.30), administrative accounts, vehicle escrow accounts, Fire Prevention Public Education ($1,368.78), training/safety equipment ($687.98), and records management ($72,159.20). No questions raised.

Discussion Items

• Newburg Volunteer Rescue Squad – EMS Utility 14 Update: Letter from President Andrew Spaulding (Feb. 3, 2026) stating the new utility is at Nelson Emergency Vehicle Lighting for lighting, lettering, and striping; expected in service in coming weeks.
• Newburg Volunteer Rescue Squad – Amos 148 Remount: Update letter; remounting by FESCO to begin summer 2026 with final inspection scheduled September 28, 2026.
• Dentsville VFD – New Pole Building Project: Quarterly update from President Lee Hayes Jr. (Feb. 3, 2026): Building plan review completed with minor comments; site plan approved; stormwater management plan step 3 nearing submission; third‑party cost estimate completed.
• Potomac Heights VFD – Ambulance Replacement Request: Letter from President Molly Ballantine (Feb. 3, 2026) requesting purchase of one new ambulance (PL Custom on Ford F‑550, 2027 chassis) to replace a unit exceeding 10‑year life expectancy. Total cost $528,963.30 (unit $487,923, power load system $33,312, portable equipment $41,040.30). Funds available in EMS Apparatus Replacement Escrow; approved by membership and board. Motion by Bill Deere to approve and waive the 30‑day layover period (due to vendor quote expiration). Seconded by Robert Ansel. Approved unanimously.
• Benedict VFD – Ambulance 5.8 Replacement Request: Letter from President Calvin Thompson Sr. (Dec. 27, 2025) requesting replacement of 2008 PL Custom ambulance with a 2026 Ford F‑550 Horton custom ambulance demo unit. Total cost $471,959.20 (unit $393,391, power load system $78,560.82). Funding from EMS Apparatus Capital ($426,814.70) and EMS O&M ($45,145.12). No debt; unit will be sold and proceeds returned to escrow. Motion to bring off the table (from prior meeting) by Bill Deere, seconded by Robert Ansel. Approved. Then motion to approve purchase by Bill Deere, seconded by Derek Jones. Approved unanimously.
• Indian Head VFD – Command Unit 9 Update: Quarterly letter from President Rick Bowie: 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe SSV delivered Nov. 20, 2025; now at Nelson Emergency Lighting; final completion letter to follow.
• Indian Head VFD – Engine 9‑4 Update: Quarterly letter: 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 delivered Oct. 21, 2025; outfitted and returned Jan. 30, 2026; lettering/striping pending; final completion within a month.
• 10th District VFD – Engine 82 Update: Quarterly letter from President Wally Damson; unit at Atlantic for construction; expected completion last week of March 2026.
• Bryan Road VFD – Acceptance of Donated UTV: Letter from President Joseph Gonar (Jan. 3, 2026) requesting acceptance of a 2005 Polaris Ranger UTV donated by Hughesville VFD. Costs <$5,000 ($3,500 for trailer from B&L Trailers). Funded from Fire O&M. Motion to untable by Bill Deere, seconded by Derek Jones. Approved. Motion to approve acceptance by Bill Deere, seconded by Derek Jones. Approved unanimously after discussion clarifying trailer cost included in total.
• Hughesville VFD – Pole Barn Construction Request: Letter from President (Feb. 3, 2026) requesting $65,000 (50% Fire, 50% EMS building allowance) to construct 30×40 pole barn and finish detached garage. Bids: Riceville Construction $26,800 (selected), Shirk Pole Building $44,532, Blue Chip Structures $30,995. Existing shed will be sold. Motion to untable by Bill Deere, seconded by Derek Jones. Approved. Then motion to approve by Bill Deere, seconded by Derek Jones. Approved unanimously.
• Response Dashboard Presentation: County Fire Chief Mark Kaufman demonstrated a new online dashboard showing 2025 EMS response statistics: total EMS responses 26,348; career 79.35%, volunteer 20.65%. Station‑by‑station breakdown, mutual aid data, and response credits explained. Dashboard includes tabs for station stats, mutual aid, and credits per station. Departments may dispute credits within 30 days of receiving monthly stats. Chief Kaufman offered to present quarterly reports if the board desires. Board members expressed interest in quarterly updates beginning after March 2026 stats are finalized (likely April).
• Coordinator’s Report (William Smith, read by Chairman): General Assembly session began; meeting with Lombardo Ayers & Comp on March 2; State Cancer Grant may be withdrawn due to FEMA fund freeze; recruitment billboard to be installed on Route 301 north of Billingsley Road; cadet class updates (21 cadets, Firefighter I one unsuccessful, Hazmat Ops started, EMT course ongoing); Skills USA results were not as expected; Charles County will host next year.
• Capital Projects Quarterly Report Notification: Reminder that the following projects must submit quarterly reports by the next meeting (March 19, 2026): Bryan Road VFD truck 11 replacement and solar project, Charles Kenny M ICU ambulance 608 replacement, Charles Kenny VFA mobile display terminal, Hughesville VFD UTV 2 replacement, Waldorf VFD engine 32 replacement, Westlake ambulance 127, ambulance 39/399 replacement, station 12 remodel, station 12 bay door replacement.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: January 2026 minutes (unanimous).- Approved: Potomac Heights ambulance purchase with layover waiver (unanimous).
• Approved: Benedict VFD ambulance 5.8 purchase (unanimous, after being tabled).
• Approved: Bryan Road VFD acceptance of donated UTV (unanimous).
• Approved: Hughesville VFD pole barn project (unanimous, after being tabled).
• No action needed: LOSAP reports, escrow expenditures, quarterly updates (letters of information) were received without objections.
• Future action: Chief Kaufman will present quarterly response dashboard reports starting after Q1 2026; capital project reports due March 19, 2026.
• Meeting adjourned: Motion by Bill Deere, seconded by Commissioner Stewart. Adjourned.