PO BOX 14

KENNEDYVILLE, MD 21645

Kent County Chiefs' Association

Representing

BETTERTON CHESTERTOWN GALENA KENNEDYVILLE KENT -Q.A. RESCUE MILLINGTON ROCK HALL

Kent County Chiefs’ Association

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I. NAME

Section 1.

  The official name of this association shall be:

THE KENT COUNTY CHIEFS’ ASSOCIATION of KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND

ARTICLE II.  MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.

Any Fire and EMS Company in Kent County, which is regularly organized and incorporated and shall have complied with the latest minimum standards as set forth by the Kent County Chiefs’ Association and the Maryland State Firefighter’s Association is eligible for membership upon payment of One Hundred ($100.00) Dollar’s initiation fee.  They shall meet these standards and have membership in the Kent County Chiefs’ Association before receiving any funds from the Kent County Commissioners.

Section 2.

The Charter members of the Association will be the Chiefs of each Company presently in existence, and they are Edward Connors – Millington, Jack Dwyer – Galena, Calvin McHerny – Kennedyville, Elmer Price – Betterton, Evans Neal – Chestertown, Burgess Tucker – Rock Hall, and Paul Adams – Kent & Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad.

ARTICLE III.  OFFICERS

Section 1.

The Elected Officers of the Association shall be President, Vice President of Fire, Vice President of EMS, Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary/Treasurer.

Section 2.

The President and the Vice President of Fire shall be filled by a Chief Officer (Chief, Deputy Chief or Assistant Chief) of a Company in the Association.

Section 2-A.

The Vice President of EMS shall be filled by an EMS Line Officer of a Company in the Association.

Section 3.

The President shall preside at all meetings, sign orders on the Treasury for payment of funds, shall appoint all Officers and Committees not otherwise provided for. He/She 

shall perform such other duties as may be required of him/her by the Association.

Section 4.

The Vice President of Fire and the Vice President of EMS shall assume the duties of the President in his/her absence and duties assigned to him/her by the President.

Section 5.

The Secretary shall record the proceedings of each meeting in a book provided for that purpose. He/She shall publish all the activities of the Association.

Section 6.

The Treasurer shall receive all Monies due the Association. He/She shall make a monthly report to the Association, giving an authorized statement of all receipts and disbursements, accompanied by the orders and vouchers, therefore.

Section 7.

The Assistant Secretary/Treasurer shall assume the duties of the Secretary and Treasurer from Article III. Section 5 and 6.

Section 8.

Appointed Officers and Committees shall assume the duties the President assigns them.

ARTICLE IV.  MEETINGS

Section 1.

Regular meetings of the Association shall be held on the fourth Thursday of each month at 1900, unless rescheduled by the President one week in advance.

Section 1-A.

Meetings shall be held on a rotating basis at each Member Company.

Section 2.

The President or the Vice President of Fire or the Vice President of EMS shall call all Special Meetings and shall notify in writing all Chief Officers of each organization of all meetings.

Section 2-A.

Notification in writing may be accomplished by email or text message or phone call.

Section 3.

A quorum shall consist of five companies present for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Association.

Section 4.

  Order of Business/Meeting Agenda

a.              Meeting called to order.

b.             The Pledge of Allegiance

c.              Roll call of Companies, Elected & Appointed Officers, Committee Chairs, Guest and supporting Agencies.

d.             Reading of the minutes from the previous meeting.

e.              Correspondence.

f.               Guest

g.             Chief Association Officer Reports

·         President

·         Vice President of Fire

·         Vice President of EMS

·         Secretary

·         Treasurer – Fire and EMS Treasurer Report

·         Assistant Secretary/Treasurer

·         Chaplain

h.             Kent County Office of Emergency Services

·         Director

·         Chief of Communications

·         Chief of EMS

i.               Chester River Hospital Center Liaison

j.               Kent County Medical Director

k.             Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Service System Region IV

l.               Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute

m.           Kent & Queen Anne Volunteer Fire, EMS & Rescue Association

n.             Maryland State Firefighters Association

o.             Maryland Fire Chief Association

p.             Committee Reports

·         By-Laws, S.O.G.’s & S.O.P.’s

·         Chief’s Dinner

·         Emergency Service Board – Fire

·         Emergency Service Board – EMS

·         Fire Police

·         Fire Prevention

·         Hall of Fame

·         Health & Safety

·         Knox Box

·         LOSAP

·         Public Information Officer/Social Media

·         Review – Written Complaints

·         Scholarship

·         Standards

·         Training

·         Website

·         Other Committees not listed above.

q.             Unfinished/Old Business

r.               Application for Membership

s.              New Business

t.               Election of Officers – January Meeting

u.             For the Good of the Association

·         Station 2

·         Station 3

·         Station 4

·         Station 5

·         Station 6

·         Station 7

·         Station 8

v.             Next Meeting Location

w.           Adjournment

Section 5.

Each Company shall have one vote at all regular and special meetings.

Section 5-A.

Kent County Office of Emergency Services shall have one vote on EMS related issues.

Section 6.

The President shall break any tie vote.

ARTICLE V. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1.

Officers shall be elected annually at the regular meeting in January and shall serve until the next annual meeting.

Section 2.

The election of officers shall be by ballot. In the event of a tie vote, the President shall cast the leading vote. In the event of a vacancy, the office shall be filled at the next regular meeting by appointment by the President for the unexpired term.

Section 3.

The outgoing President, Vice President of Fire, Vice President of EMS, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, Appointed Officers, and Committee Chairs shall turn over all properties of the Association to their successor no later than the regular scheduled meeting in February.

ARTICLE VI. ASSESSMENTS AND MONIES

Section 1.

The annual dues of the Association shall be Twenty-five ($25.00) dollars per Company, with the privilege of assessment as needed to meet the expenses of the Association. Dues may be waved on a year-by-year basis.

Section 2.

The President or Vice President of Fire or Secretary or Treasurer or Assistant Secretary/Treasurer shall sign checks for the Fire Checking Account.

Section 2-A.

The President or Vice President of EMS or Secretary or Treasurer or Assistant Secretary/Treasurer shall sign checks for the EMS Checking Account.

Section 3.

The President, the Vice President of Fire, the Vice President or EMS, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary/Treasurer may be issued a debit card to use for Chiefs Association business. Receipts shall be turned into the Treasurer or Assistant Secretary/Treasurer within one week of purchase.

ARTICLE VII.  AMENDMENTS, REVISIONS AND REAFFIRMATION

Section 1.

Amendments to these by-laws may be made at any regular meeting by submitting them in writing, bearing proper title, article number and section number. Amendments are to be read at two regular meetings, and adoption shall be by a simple majority vote of Companies present and voting.

Section 2.

Amendments and/or new S.O.G.’s and standards shall be made at any regular meeting by submitting them in writing, bearing proper title, article number and section number. Amendments and/or new S.O.G.’s and standards are to be read at one regular meeting, and adoption shall be by simple majority vote of Companies present and voting at the next regular meeting.

Section 3.

If no amendments or revisions have been made to the By-Laws, S.O.G.’s, S.O.P.’s, Company Standards and Apparatus Standards within a five (5) year period, they should be submitted for reaffirmation. Reaffirmation may be voted on at the meeting that they are submitted for reaffirmation.

January 1998

Revised December 2004

Revised December 2006

Revision September 2024

Revision September 2025

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