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Record of Proceedings

Charles County Board of Fire and Rescue Commissioners Meeting - March 19, 2026

County Commissioners & Boards — Thursday, March 19, 2026
BodyCharles County, Maryland
SessionCounty Commissioners & Boards
DateThursday, March 19, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 47:12

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:31

Welcome everyone to the March 2026 meeting of the Charles County Board of Fire and Rescue Commissioners.

0:37

My name is Lynn Gilroy, and I am the chairman.

0:40

I also represent the Charles County Volunteer Fireman Association as the executive committee chair.

0:47

With me tonight are several other members of the board.

0:55

First representing the Charles County Association Emergency Medical Services is Mr.

1:00

Bill Deer, who's the vice chairman.

1:02

Bill I know he's here.

1:13

It's just a matter of getting in knowledge and make sure his audio is working.

1:22

Yes.

1:24

Bill.

1:25

Okay.

1:28

Who was that?

Unassigned speaker

1:29

That was Daddy.

Speaker 1

1:30

Okay.

1:31

Okay.

1:32

All right.

1:34

Also, we have with us Mr.

1:36

Derek Jones, who's governor's appointee.

Unassigned speaker

1:42

Thank

Speaker 1

1:42

you, Mr.

1:42

Chairman.

Unassigned speaker

1:45

We

Speaker 1

1:45

also have uh Mr.

1:46

Robert Ansel, who's a county commissioner appointee.

Unassigned speaker

1:50

Thank

Speaker 1

1:51

you, Mr.

1:51

Chairman.

1:55

And we do have a quorum.

Unassigned speaker

2:00

I

Speaker 1

2:00

don't think is anyone I missed, did I?

2:03

Okay.

2:05

Before we get started, I would like to take a moment to recognize three members of the fire and EMS community that we've lost in the last week or

Unassigned speaker

2:15

two.

Speaker 1

2:16

First, Mr.

2:17

Sam Bowling from the Cobb Island Volunteer Fire Department and EMS.

2:22

He was formerly chair of the executive committee for the Charles County Volunteer Fire Association for a number of years.

2:31

We also have lost Mr.

2:32

Bill Caswell, who is the department treasurer with the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department and EMS, another asset that's been over over 10 or 12 years since he took over the that job.

2:48

And finally, Mr.

2:49

Jimmy Headley with the Potomac Heights Volunteer Fire Department and EMS.

2:54

And Jimmy was a former EMS captain in the early days of the EMS in Potomac Heights.

3:37

Anyone had any changes or additions, corrections?

3:43

Mr.

3:43

Chairman,

Speaker 2

3:44

make a motion to approve the minutes as presented.

Speaker 1

3:46

Bill

Speaker 2

3:47

Deer.

3:47

Bill Deer made the motion

Speaker 1

3:49

and second to approve.

Speaker 2

3:51

Second by Robert Angel.

Speaker 1

3:53

Second by Robert Ansel.

3:55

Any other deletions or corrections.

3:59

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

4:03

Aye.

4:04

Aye.

4:05

And the chair also votes aye.

4:08

They are therefore approved.

4:10

I'll sign those uh at the end of the meeting.

4:21

Next we have the letter of information from the monthly expenditures.

4:29

Oh, I'm sorry.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Fire Department Operations█████████████████████████████████████████████51%
Procedural█████████████████19%
Financial Literacy████████9%
Technology and Innovation████████9%
Engineering And Infrastructure████5%
Education████4%
Cannabis Regulation██2%
Personnel Matters█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Charles County Board of Fire and Rescue Commissioners Meeting - March 19, 2026

The Charles County Board of Fire and Rescue Commissioners held its monthly meeting on March 19, 2026, at 7:00 PM. Chairman Lynn Gilroy called the meeting to order, with a quorum present. The board recognized the recent passing of three community members: Sam Bowling (Cobb Island VFD), Bill Caswell (Waldorf VFD treasurer), and Jimmy Headley (Potomac Heights VFD). The meeting covered routine approvals, multiple apparatus project updates, a major technology savings report, approval of training funds, and moved into closed session for a personnel matter.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes: Approved as presented. Motion by Bill Deer, second by Robert Ansel. All in favor.
  • LOSAP Report (February 2026): Total funds were $25,388,654.36 ($24,447,627.69 in Principal Financial; $941,026.67 in Wilmington Trust). Change in value before expenses: +$352,733. Expenses included $99,629.27 from Wilmington Trust (benefits, distributions, insurance). No questions.
  • Monthly Expenditures (Escrow Accounts – February 2026): Monthly pre-approved expenses of $9,455.26, plus various account expenditures (mobile data terminal, administrative, credit card, fuel, new vehicle, fire prevention supplies, MDT licenses, professional services, scholarships, cadet uniforms). Approved as presented.

Discussion Items

  • Hughesville VFD – UTV 2 Final Report: 2026 Can-Am Defender 6x6 UTV delivered November 2025. Final cost $41,224.05 (approved $39,494.97, under 10% variance). Old UTV transferring to Bryans Road VFD. No questions.
  • MDT Replacement Project Closeout (County Fire Chief Mark Kaufman): All 1,200+ mobile data terminal installations completed early, leveraging manufacturer promotions and local installation vendor. Total taxpayer savings: $427,511. Next steps include mounting solutions for fire/rescue boats, smaller handheld MDTs for UTVs, and updated training videos. Also switched cellular carrier from Verizon to AT&T FirstNet, saving ~$5,000/month. Five-year bumper-to-bumper warranty on all units. Board commended the savings.
  • Waldorf VFD – Engine 32 Quarterly Update: Production to start in April, delivery expected early July, in-service late August/early September.
  • Waldorf VFD – Ambulance 3939 & 127 Update: No new updates for 3939. Ambulance 127 will now be tracked separately under Westlake VFD (recently separated from Waldorf). Engineering meeting scheduled March 3-4.
  • Bryans Road VFD – Truck 11 Update: Factory visit completed, changes to original plans, awaiting new drawings and sign-off.
  • Bryans Road VFD – Solar Panel Project: Panels delivered, engineering complete, permitting/interconnection approval expected late March/early April, installation May/June. This will be the first fire/EMS station in Charles County with solar panels.
  • CCEMU – Ambulance 608 Final Report: New ambulance placed in service January 2026. Final cost $443,958 (under budget $3,259). Old unit listed for sale. President Matt Brady present.
  • Westlake VFD – Station 12 Remodel Update: Men's and public restrooms nearly complete, control room work ongoing (tile, painting, cabinetry). Contractor performance concerns communicated; each room must be fully completed before starting others.
  • Westlake VFD – Bay Door Replacement: Eight apparatus bay doors at Station 12 completed, commissioned, operational. Minor post-installation adjustments underway, no safety issues.
  • Cobb Island VFD – Inflatable Boat 6A Replacement: Letter of intent submitted; committee formed. Will bring formal request once complete.
  • Fire & EMS Training Funds – FDIC Conference: Cobb Island VFD requested $4,040 (airfare, hotel, per diem, rental vehicle) for three members to attend FDIC Indianapolis (April 19-25). Approved at executive committee level. Similar EMS request for same amount also approved.
  • Capital Projects Quarterly Report: Upcoming projects for April include: CCVRS Ambulance 518, Cobb Island fire/rescue boat 6 replacement, Cobb Island ambulance 68, 10th District UTV 8, Waldorf EMS command vehicle, Waldorf Car 3, Westlake EMS utility 12. Reminder emails to be sent for due reports.
  • William Smith (Fire/EMS Coordinator) – General Update: Monitoring Maryland General Assembly legislation on cannabis use while working in fire/EMS – board strongly opposed. Legal counsel transitioning from Watkins to Lombardo & Ayres. Cancer screening grant withdrawn; will present alternative package at July budget session. Recruitment billboard live on northbound 301 near Billings Road. Office lights repaired with LEDs. Cadet program: all but one of 66 EMT kids passed module 3; retest tomorrow. First-year kids completing hazmat operations. National Registry EMT exam March 24; state practical exam April 9. SkillsUSA competition had judging discrepancies; Charles County will host next year and fine-tune process.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved minutes, LOSAP report, and monthly expenditures.
  • Accepted all apparatus project updates and closeout reports.
  • Approved training fund requests for FDIC conference for both fire and EMS ($4,040 each).
  • Commended the MDT replacement project for saving $427,511.
  • Moved into closed session (motion by Bill Deer, second by Robert Ansel) to discuss personnel matters as per general provisions. Meeting adjourned thereafter.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome everyone to the March 2026 meeting of the Charles County Board of Fire and Rescue Commissioners. My name is Lynn Gilroy, and I am the chairman. I also represent the Charles County Volunteer Fireman Association as the executive committee chair. With me tonight are several other members of the board. First representing the Charles County Association Emergency Medical Services is Mr. Bill Deer, who's the vice chairman. Bill I know he's here. It's just a matter of getting in knowledge and make sure his audio is working. Yes. Bill. Okay. Who was that? That was Daddy. Okay. Okay. All right. Also, we have with us Mr. Derek Jones, who's governor's appointee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We also have uh Mr. Robert Ansel, who's a county commissioner appointee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And we do have a quorum. I don't think is anyone I missed, did I? Okay. Before we get started, I would like to take a moment to recognize three members of the fire and EMS community that we've lost in the last week or two. First, Mr. Sam Bowling from the Cobb Island Volunteer Fire Department and EMS. He was formerly chair of the executive committee for the Charles County Volunteer Fire Association for a number of years. We also have lost Mr. Bill Caswell, who is the department treasurer with the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department and EMS, another asset that's been over over 10 or 12 years since he took over the that job. And finally, Mr. Jimmy Headley with the Potomac Heights Volunteer Fire Department and EMS. And Jimmy was a former EMS captain in the early days of the EMS in Potomac Heights. Anyone had any changes or additions, corrections? Mr. Chairman, make a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Bill Deer. Bill Deer made the motion and second to approve. Second by Robert Angel.

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