Kent County Chiefs Association

By-Laws, S.O.G.’s & S.O.P.’s

Subject: Individual Companies/Squad requesting

          County Funding Above Normal

          Appropriations Policy

S.O.G. 1-1-34

Approved

October 2026

Approved by: President James L. Price, Jr.

Revised

I.                   Purpose

To establish a policy for individual Fire/Rescue/EMS Companies/Squad requesting County funding above the normal statutory appropriations each company/department receives.  The process below will increase uniformity while ensuring equity for all funding requests during the annual budgetary process.

II.                Policy

A. The Kent County budget cycle planning proceeds in late January of each calendar year.  The County Commissioners of Kent County have recommended that requests for capital or other funding outside of exigent or emergent circumstances be included in the annual Kent County budget cycle.

B. Fire/Rescue/EMS Companies/Squad that desire to request the Commissioners of Kent County, MD to allot additional funding for a need, shall notify the President of the Kent County Chiefs’ Association of their intentions.

C. The Company/Squad Chief and/or President shall provide written notifications to the Chiefs’ Association President with the following information:

1.  A description of what the funding is being requested for

2.  An estimated cost of the project based on recognized Kent County

   procurement policies and practices.

3.  The Chiefs’ Association President shall request a date from the Director of

   the Office of Emergency Services for all collective Kent County additional

   funding requests to be presented to the County Commissioners of Kent

   County for inclusion in the proceed fiscal year budget.

D. The Chiefs’ Association President shall forward the above information to the Director of Kent County Office of Emergency Services for awareness and inclusion in the Fire Chiefs’ allotments as part of the Kent County Public Safety budget category.

III.              Exceptions

A. The above prescribed process does not preclude and/all Volunteer Fire/Rescue/EMS Companies/Squad from requesting emergency funding from the County Commissioners of Kent County.

1.  If emergency funding is going to be requested, then the process outlined in

   II. B & C of this S.O.G shall be followed.  Justification for the immediate

   or emergent needs shall/must be provided.

2.  The requesting Volunteer Fire/Rescue/EMS Companies/Squad shall notify

   the Chiefs’ Association President and the Director of Kent County Office

   of Emergency Services prior to discussion/presentation to the County

   Commissioners should avoid any surprise questions that the

   Commissioners may ask of them prior to the request or public

   presentation.

Betterton Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Renny Grapes

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

President Eddie Morris

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief John Darling

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

President Ben Coppage

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Community Volunteer Fire Company of Millington, Inc.

Chief Vince Baxter

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

President Wayne Starkey

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Galena Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Jeffrey R. Haley

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

President Steve Bisbee

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Kennedyville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.

Chief James L. Price, Jr.

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

President Mark Dixon

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Kent & Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad, Inc.

Chief Jason Lobley

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Mike Pinder

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

President Andy Glenn

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Kent County Emergency Service Board

Chair Lynn Sutton

Submitted for Emergency Service Board Approval on _____November 2nd, 2026_________

Compliance Date ________December 1st, 2026______________________________________