An organization that represents paramedics from the county's volunteer fire departments has joined two firefighters groups in issuing a vote of no confidence in the county's director of public safety.

Representatives of nine member companies from the Carroll County Ambulance Association took a vote of no confidence in Howard S. "Buddy" Redman, the county's public safety administrator, association President Libby Leubberman said. Delegates from three companies abstained, and two companies were not represented at the meeting, Leubberman said.

The association conducted its vote Thursday at the request of the Carroll County Fire Chiefs and Volunteer Firemen's association. The fire chiefs took a unanimous "no confidence" vote last month in Redman's ability to handle his job of overseeing public safety and the 911 communications center in the county. The fire chiefs asked for, and received, a similar vote of no confidence from the firemen's association three weeks ago.

"We decided to support the other two associations," Leubberman said. "There was no discussion because it's already been discussed and it is some of the same issues [with us]."

The firefighters and emergency medical volunteers expressed concern about projects not being completed in a timely manner, noting a proposed communications tower for Lineboro and a plan to create a highly detailed map of the county, projects that have been in the works for four years.

The groups also complain that dispatchers in the county 911 center make too many mistakes, and they claim that Redman does not communicate well with firefighters.

Redman has said that the complaints are unfounded and that he has always been willing to listen to firefighters' concerns.

The three groups plan to take their complaints to the new board of commissioners after the members are sworn in next week.