Agenda - 06-07-1978 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Memorandum Tot Orange County Board of Commissioners From: Sam Gattis, County Manager Date: dune 6, 1978 Subject: Request for County Funding of Fire Marshal Office In Maya elegation representing the County Association of Fire Chiefs appeared befoe the Board and requested the County Commissioners create the office of County Fire Marshal and pay the expenses of this office from general county funds. The Board of Commissioners referred this request to the County Manager for rIcommendation. T have not included this request-in the Manager's budget this year for several reasons, a principal one being our general lack of funds. First years funding withoyt clerical assistance and including a vehicle, supplies, rent, etc. might run aro nd $24,000. This does not include funds for actual programs, if there are any Subsequent years budget would not repeat original start up costs but some sec tarial help would offset part of this. Aside from a general lack of funds othe problems arise. First, are general county funds the appropriate source for fi�ancing this activity? A fire marshal will provide no significant service to th municipalities of Chapel Hill and Carrboro as each has its paid fire departm ;t with full time personnel. Second, an appropriate mechanism exists to finance this activity already, the various special fire taxes. Third, some of the services of a fire marshal (but not many at this time) could be provided by the Comnun cation Center Director at no cost to the departments if they chose to accept the . I feel it is inappropriate to combine Civil Preparedness funding and funding of the fire RIArshal office. If combining is to be done Civil Preparedness should be joined wit the Communication Center into. an Emergency Services Department as both are tots ly county funded. At this point the source of funding for a fire marshal has n t been determined. In time I feel the County should create a Department of Emergency Services that could amgng other things coordinate efforts of the Communication Center, Emergency Medical Services, Civil Preparedness and volunteer fire. I do not propose law a forcement be involved in this department. For this year however, I feel the Co my has increased its investment in the emergency services area as much as it reasonably can.