Agenda - 03-03-2009 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Identi areas where group purchasing for equipment and personnel benefits costs could be Identify � pp 30 implemented to reduce expenditures. • Make recommendations on improvement to district boundaries based on Department of Insurance and/or Insurance Services Office(ISO)requirements for insurance grading. On May 23,we talked about the following considerations related to strengthening volunteer fire and rescue service: • Combined purchase and acquisition of equipment and supplies where feasible. • Establishment of standards Countywide that would ensure that every emergency responder is provided with the same quality of tools, equipment, and protective clothing, compatible between departments. • Plan for changes in our public safety delivery systems through use of GIS tools and advice on the applicability of land use regulations regarding feasible and desirable locations for future fire and rescue stations. • Undertake a dialogue with the leadership of the fire departments and rescue squads to discuss the long-term future of the delivery of volunteer emergency services in the County and develop a strategic plan to identify how the increased demand for services will be met in the upcoming years. • Review with fire and rescue service leaders the viability of the existing rescue service matrix to determine if it remains a valid framework for service delivery or if updates or modifications are in order. I recommend that during the remainder of calendar year 2005, staff proceed to work with the volunteer and municipal emergency response agencies to perform an inventory of the available personnel, equipment, and facilities resources throughout the County. Simultaneously,we can review the 1994 rescue service matrix and update it as necessary. We would use the information thus gained to develop,with input from volunteer emergency service leaders, a scope of work to be approved by the BOCC for a study of the best future approaches to providing for the continuation of high quality emergency services in Orange County. As the Board has suggested, we will also coordinate with the North Carolina Department of Insurance to ascertain the degree to which they may be able to provide free or low-cost technical assistance to the County staff in a study effort. If the$25,000 set aside in Manager's Miscellaneous proves to be inadequate to carry out the study scope of work desired by the Board,we would recommend additional funding in the 2006-07 budget, to include Commissioner Jacobs's suggestion that we consider earmarking a small contribution from the tax proceeds of each fire district to help complete a study.