Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker backed away from his proposed overhaul of the county’s volunteer fire commission, if only temporarily.
Baker’s staff withdrew an executive order to change the makeup of the fire commission, a nine-member panel representing the county’s 1,300 volunteer fire fighters. County Council members also tabled accompanying legislation, granting the county’s career and volunteer firefighters 60 days to find a compromise.
Volunteer firefighters were adamantly opposed to the proposal, a move they called a power grab by new Fire Chief Marc Bashoor.
Baker’s plan would have reorganized the commission’s makeup to include three volunteers, three career firefighters and three civilians. Commission members would be nominated, rather than elected from the volunteer ranks. The proposal also would strip the commission’s oversight of about $11 million of the county’s fire and emergency management budget, placing the funds under Bashoor.
Council members had asked Baker to allow a chance to strike a compromise with the county’s volunteer firefighters.
But some reiterated that change will come to commission, like it or not.
“It is a time to change the relationship between the commission and the fire department,” said Councilman Mel Franklin, D-Upper Marlboro. “The question is not if, but how and when, because I do believe change must occur.”
If no compromise is reached, Councilman Will Campos, D-Hyattsville, promised to reintroduce the legislation as is. Campos said he had no issues with Baker’s proposal.
Baker’s staff plans to make a new executive order on March 1 reflecting any negotiations between career and volunteer firefighters.
