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service will fit within the existing service so as not to adversely affect the level of service or
<br /> operation of other franchises to render services, and a need exists for rendered service in order
<br /> to improve the level of service available to residents of the County, helping to assure the
<br /> provision of adequate and continuing service, which preserves, protects, and promotes the
<br /> public health, safety, and welfare.
<br /> He said that on December 14, 2004, the Board of County Commissioners approved an
<br /> application for franchise agreements for the two active volunteer rescue squads in Orange
<br /> County. Prior to approving that application, the Board held a public hearing to determine that
<br /> the franchise was necessary to assure the provision of adequate service, etc. On August 16,
<br /> 2005, the Board approved an Emergency Services Events and Facilitation Agreement Renewal
<br /> for both of the rescue squads (Attachment 1). The EMS services provided in the agreement
<br /> were rescue services defined as light and heavy extrication, underwater revive rescue,
<br /> wilderness and land search, and two primary ambulance providers for special events only.
<br /> He said that, on or about June 27, 2008, he ordered the stand down of the Orange
<br /> County Rescue Squad based upon information he had received from several sources. Some of
<br /> the sources were the local and area fire departments and fire districts, his staff members,
<br /> members and staff from rescue squads in the County, and from citizens throughout the County.
<br /> He said that in all of the positions that he has assumed in this business, he has always sought
<br /> to find the basis of his responsibility. He said that in Chapter 13 of the County Code of
<br /> Ordinances, as of January 23, 2007, he read, "The County Manager shall employ a Director
<br /> who shall be a person well versed and trained in planning operations involving the activities of
<br /> many different agencies, which will operate to protect the public health, safety, and welfare in
<br /> the event of danger from disasters." He continued, "The Director shall be responsible to the
<br /> County Manager in regard to all of these phases of emergency mentioned and accept it." He
<br /> said that he takes this responsibility very seriously. His staff has been trying for many years to
<br /> get control of an organization that is uncontrollable. He said that the rescue squad has not been
<br /> abiding by the rules and has not complied with the State laws of North Carolina. He thinks that
<br /> it is his responsibility and duty to take control of this.
<br /> Shortly after the stand down, a meeting was convened, chaired by Chair Jacobs, to try
<br /> and work through the issues and bring the rescue squad back online. He asked Lieutenant
<br /> Jamie Joseph on his staff to work with Chief Brian Matthews and his staff to gather the roster of
<br /> members to see if they met and complied with State requirements, and if the squad would allow
<br /> the County to make a determination to assess it objectively, capably, and fairly. He said that he
<br /> has never been more frustrated because he has tried on many occasions to meet with, to call,
<br /> to email, to get information, and to gather rosters and accurate records, and at almost every
<br /> turn, he was stymied by information that was inaccurate, incomplete, or missing. He felt that the
<br /> stand down was justified. He offered that the Sage Report in 2006 was not an ideal report and
<br /> the report recommended dissolving the squad as a separate organization.
<br /> He said that, as far back as 2006, the report that was commissioned by the Board of
<br /> County Commissioners alluded that there were problems with the squad. He said that the
<br /> squad is a potentially dangerous organization and he is concerned about the management
<br /> capabilities, the business practices, and the operational safety in the field.
<br /> He said that the Orange County Rescue Squad meet does not meet State compliance
<br /> requirements for operating a light, medium, heavy-duty rescue or EMS transport service. He
<br /> said that the organization has not produced documentation allowing assessment.
<br /> Lieutenant Jamie Joseph said that he was tasked with looking into this matter by Colonel
<br /> Montes de Oca and gathering the information and documentation based on the rescue squad
<br /> and the training. He made contact with Chief Matthews via email, and he could not get on the
<br /> same page. He gave nine different dates of possible meetings, and it took almost a week for
<br /> Chief Matthews to respond with a possible date. There was a meeting with some rescue squad
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