AGENDA DATE: 1/6/2021
TITLE:
Title
Ordinance to Amend Chapter 6, Fire Prevention, of the County Code
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Ordinance to Amend Chapter 6, Fire Prevention, by Removing References to the Scottsville Volunteer Rescue Squad
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Kamptner, Farley, Eggleston, Oprandy, Childress
PRESENTER (S): Greg Kamptner
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: In a letter dated December 9, 2018, the Chair of the Scottsville Volunteer Rescue Squad’s (“SVRS”) Board of Directors informed the Albemarle County Fire and Rescue Department (“ACFR”) that SVRS “had been “unable to attract sufficient membership to be able to provide a level of service that is anywhere near the equivalent of the service received by the balance of the County” and “formally request[ed] that ACFR take over the day-to-day operation of [the] squad with effect immediately.” ACFR immediately thereafter began providing emergency staffing SVRS shifts. SVRS’ membership continued to decline after December 9, 2018 to the point that, by April 17, 2019, ACFR was providing virtually all of the emergency medical services in the SVRS response area.
In its April 17, 2019 resolution (Attachment B), the Board “regrettably [found] that SVRS does not have and cannot reasonably be expected to recruit membership to justify its continued existence in the Albemarle County Coordinated Fire and Rescue System.” The April 17, 2019 resolution removed SVRS “as a participant in the Albemarle County Coordinated Fire and Rescue System” and, as a result, SVRS was no longer authorized to provide emergency medical services in Albemarle County.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Mission: To enhance the well-being and quality of life for all citizens through the provision of the highest level of public service consistent with the prudent use of public funds.
DISCUSSION: The proposed ordinance (Attachment A) removes the references to SVRS in Sections 6-100 and 6-102 of Chapter 6 of the County Code. For the reasons stated above and in the Board’s April 17, 2019 resolution, the effect of this ordinance is to reaffirm SVRS’s April 17, 2019 removal as a participant in the County’s Coordinated Fire and Rescue System, and that, as of that date, SVRS was no longer authorized to provide emergency medical services in Albemarle County.
BUDGET IMPACT: None
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Board adopt the proposed Ordinance (Attachment A).
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Proposed Ordinance
B - Resolution dated April 17, 2019