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Record of Proceedings

Charles County Board of Fire Rescue Commissioners Meeting - April 16, 2026

County Commissioners & Boards — Thursday, April 16, 2026
BodyCharles County, Maryland
SessionCounty Commissioners & Boards
DateThursday, April 16, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 32:49

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:30

Good evening, everyone.

0:31

Welcome to the April meeting of the Charles County Board of Fine Rescue Commissioners.

0:37

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

0:40

I also represent the Charles County Volunteer Farmers Association.

0:45

With me tonight is Mr.

0:47

Bill Deere, who is the vice chairman and represents the Charles County Association Emergency Medical Services.

Speaker 2

0:53

Thank you, Mr.

0:54

Chairman.

Speaker 1

0:55

Also we have online Miss Natasha Suberperry representing the governor's office.

Speaker 2

1:02

Good evening, Mr.

1:03

Chairman.

Speaker 1

1:04

And also with us, Mr.

1:06

Robert Ansel, representing the county commissioners of Charles County.

Speaker 2

1:10

Thank you, Mr.

1:11

Chairman.

Speaker 1

1:13

Okay, at this time we'll go through the agenda.

Unassigned speaker

1:18

We

Speaker 1

1:18

have the approval of the minutes.

Unassigned speaker

1:28

Bill,

Speaker 1

1:28

you want to go through that in minutes?

Speaker 3

1:30

Yes.

Speaker 2

1:32

Look good to me, so I make a motion to approve as presented.

Unassigned speaker

1:36

Okay,

Speaker 1

1:37

motion to approve is presented.

1:38

I have a second.

1:39

Second.

1:40

Okay.

1:40

All those in favor say aye.

Speaker 2

1:42

Aye.

1:43

Aye.

Speaker 1

1:44

Those opposed.

1:45

Ayes have

Unassigned speaker

1:46

it.

Unassigned speaker

1:48

Next

Speaker 1

1:48

we have the Low SAP report for March of 2026.

Unassigned speaker

1:52

Okay,

Speaker 2

1:52

Mr.

1:53

Chairman, Low SEP report for March 2026.

1:57

Opening balance or ending balances for as of March 31st.

2:02

Principal Financial was $23,328 or $328,832.70.

2:10

Wellington Trust, $825, $825,807.

2:18

So the total funds were $24,154,640.33.

2:26

Total funds that were at the end of February were $25,388,654.36.

2:35

So we had a change in value between February and March of a negative one million two hundred and thirty-four thousand fourteen dollars three cents.

2:45

So the breakdown in Wilmington Trust's account, uh we have one less disbursement.

2:50

So for totaling 326, we paid out one death benefit of $97,204.39.

Unassigned speaker

3:00

We

Speaker 2

3:00

have actually the benefits paid were $97,204.39 cents, one death benefit of $10,000.

3:14

So total expenses from Williamton Trusts were all $118,204.39 cents.

3:33

We earned $2,520.35 cents in interest.

3:38

So total deposits for Wilmington Trust was $2,200 nine hundred and eighty-five dollars thirty-five cents.

3:46

So a change in value for Wilmington Trust was a negative one hundred and fifteen thousand two hundred and nineteen dollars four cents.

4:01

So total expenses out of uh principal, which was formerly truest, uh totaling nine thousand eight hundred and seven dollars and ninety-seven cents.

4:11

So at the end of March, we have a total of twenty-four million one hundred and fifty-four thousand six hundred forty dollars thirty-three cents on hand uh for Low SAP.

Speaker 1

4:23

Okay, thank you.

4:24

Any questions.

Unassigned speaker

4:30

Okay,

Speaker 1

4:31

next we have the letter of information for the monthly expenditures and the escrow account for March.

Unassigned speaker

4:38

Bill,

Speaker 1

4:38

you got that?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procurement and Contracts█████████████████████████████████████████████59%
Emergency Services██████████████18%
Budget Equity Analysis████████10%
Procedural████5%
Volunteer Management████5%
Capital Improvement Program██3%
Summary of Proceedings

Charles County Board of Fire Rescue Commissioners Meeting - April 16, 2026

The Charles County Board of Fire Rescue Commissioners met on April 16, 2026, with Chairman Lynn Gilroy presiding. Vice Chairman Bill Deere, Governor's Office representative Natasha Suberperry (online), and county commissioner representative Robert Ansel were present. The board approved financial and training expenditures, received numerous apparatus and operational updates, and discussed volunteer property tax incentive legislation.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes: A motion by Bill Deere to approve the minutes as presented was seconded and passed unanimously.
  • Low SAP report for March 2026: The report showed total funds of $24,154,640.33 as of March 31, a decrease of $1,234,014.03 from February's $25,388,654.36. No questions were raised.
  • Monthly expenditures and escrow account letter for March 2026: The board received the information letter covering escrow account expenses, including quarters ($7,369.63), mobile display terminal account ($1,113.50), administrative fees ($1,600), credit card charges, vehicle fuel and equipment costs, a recruitment billboard ($1,800), and a training simulation subscription ($7,995). It was noted these expenses had already been approved by the Fire and EMS executive committees.

Discussion Items

  • MDT equipment for fire rescue boats: The board approved a request to use MDT escrow funds to purchase and install RAM mounts ($1,559.23) and installation/supplies ($2,195.50), totaling $3,754.73, for docking stations on fire rescue boats. Chairman Gilroy noted that over half a million dollars remained in the MDT refresher account and that existing MDTs on boats could be reused. The request was unanimous.
  • 10th District VFD UTV replacement final report: The new UTV was placed in service at a total cost of $38,085.30, within the 10% overage margin above the approved $35,857. The old unit will be donated to the Charles County Association of EMS.
  • Quarterly apparatus updates: The board received updates on Waldorf VFD Car 3 and EMS Command 3 (chassis expected within 60 days, production starting within two weeks); Cobb Island VFD EMS Rescue Boat 6 and Ambulance 68 (production delays due to government contracts); Westlake VFD EMS Utility 12 and Fire Utility 12 (delivery scheduled April 8, 2026, followed by upfitting); and Ambulance 518 (in production, estimated delivery July 2026).
  • Bryans Road VFD Rescue Squad extrication tools: The department took delivery of a new set of Hurst hydraulic extrication tools to replace a 20-year-old set; after trade-in, the total cost was $94,116.38, paid from its OM account. The letter was received as information.
  • CCMICU video laryngoscopy training: The Charles County Mobile Intensive Care Unit requested approval to allocate up to $50,000 from the Elaine Wedding memorial fund for advanced video laryngoscopy (VL) training through a professional cadaver lab. The request cited the upcoming July 1, 2026 MIMS mandate requiring VL capability for all EMS programs, the limitations of mannequin training, and cost ranges of $1,200 to $3,000 per participant. Training will cover volunteer and Department of Emergency Services paramedics. A point of order was raised that the funds were non-tax and approval was not required; Chairman Gilroy acknowledged the funds were non-tax but thanked the medic unit for transparency. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.
  • Volunteer Coordinator's report (Bill Smith): The transition to the new accounting firm Lombardo and Ayers is ongoing; a quote was received for an enclosed trailer for the donated Company 8 UTV, which will return to the board next month; 21 cadets completed third-quarter grades, the annual banquet is scheduled for May 22, and 12 applications were received for the next cadet year; the property tax incentive bill was not heard in Annapolis this year, but the county commissioners will meet on April 21 to discuss raising the volunteer property tax credit from $500 to $2,500; Eddie Godwin of Company 14 was recognized for becoming first vice president of the volunteer fire association.
  • Capital projects quarterly report: Upcoming projects include Bryans Road UTV 11 and ambulance replacement, Dentsville construction, Hughesville outbuilding, Newburg EMS Utility 14 and ambulance 148 replacements, Potomac Heights ambulance replacement, and 10th District engine 82 replacement. Company 8 was congratulated on completing engine 82.
  • Natasha Suberperry departure: Chairman Gilroy acknowledged that Suberperry is stepping down from the board due to personal circumstances. She confirmed she would remain until a replacement is appointed, and the board thanked her for her service.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved the minutes as presented.
  • Approved $3,754.73 in MDT escrow spending for mobile display terminal equipment and installation on fire rescue boats.
  • Approved up to $50,000 from the CCMICU Elaine Wedding memorial fund for cadaver-based video laryngoscopy training.
  • Accepted multiple information letters and quarterly apparatus updates.
  • Noted that the Charles County commissioners will discuss increasing the volunteer property tax credit from $500 to $2,500 on April 21, 2026.
  • Adjourned by unanimous motion.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the April meeting of the Charles County Board of Fine Rescue Commissioners. My name is Lynn Gilroy, and I am the chairman. I also represent the Charles County Volunteer Farmers Association. With me tonight is Mr. Bill Deere, who is the vice chairman and represents the Charles County Association Emergency Medical Services. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Also we have online Miss Natasha Suberperry representing the governor's office. Good evening, Mr. Chairman. And also with us, Mr. Robert Ansel, representing the county commissioners of Charles County. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Okay, at this time we'll go through the agenda. We have the approval of the minutes. Bill, you want to go through that in minutes? Yes. Look good to me, so I make a motion to approve as presented. Okay, motion to approve is presented. I have a second. Second. Okay. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Those opposed. Ayes have it. Next we have the Low SAP report for March of 2026. Okay, Mr. Chairman, Low SEP report for March 2026. Opening balance or ending balances for as of March 31st. Principal Financial was $23,328 or $328,832.70. Wellington Trust, $825, $825,807. So the total funds were $24,154,640.33. Total funds that were at the end of February were $25,388,654.36. So we had a change in value between February and March of a negative one million two hundred and thirty-four thousand fourteen dollars three cents. So the breakdown in Wilmington Trust's account, uh we have one less disbursement. So for totaling 326, we paid out one death benefit of $97,204.39. We have actually the benefits paid were $97,204.39 cents, one death benefit of $10,000. So total expenses from Williamton Trusts were all $118,204.39 cents. We earned $2,520.35 cents in interest.

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