Despite the fussing and recriminations, all 12 of Harford County's volunteer fire and ambulance companies have agreed to the county executive's mandate that they disclose certain financial information and bond their officers in order to continue receiving financial support from the county government.
Harford County Executive David Craig seemed to touch off a firestorm back in September when he said the 12 private organizations would be required to sign a memorandum of understanding in exchange for the county's financial support that is running about $7 million annually for operations and equipment acquisition, plus several million for facilities construction and modernization and another $5 million to help pay emergency medical technicians and for workers compensation.
Leaders of some of the companies initially said they objected to Craig issuing what one of them characterized as an "ultimatum," while a few others said Craig had unfairly placed their financial conditions in the public spotlight. All had been submitting an audited financial statement to the county annually, before Craig announced his requirement.
Craig countered that he wanted the companies to show how they were spending their county stipends and that he wanted officers who handled the money bonded, although some companies said they were already bonding their officers. Craig also said his requirements were no different from those imposed by several other counties.
Even though both their outfits signed Craig's memorandum of agreement, two of the more outspoken fire company leaders got in a few parting shots at the county executive and the media in recent weeks.
Charles Packard, president of Susquehanna Hose Company in Havre de Grace, told the Havre de Grace City Council at the council's last meeting on Nov. 7 that he wanted to rebuff allegations by the media that Craig was "demanding" financial information. Packard also criticized a recent editorial cartoon in The Aegis showing firefighters throwing records into a burning drum.
"I would certainly like to reassure everyone, the council and the folks at home, that the fire company is alive, well, functioning smoothly, but I feel compelled to perhaps mention that we are also in a position of defending ourselves a little bit," Packard said. "I just feel like I can't miss this opportunity [to reply to] misleading and outright false allegation in the local news editorials and what is supposed to be news articles."
He said the company has a balanced budget and its records are scrutinized by an outside auditor.
"The members of the press who wrote these articles are well aware that those [budgets and audits] were there," Packard told the city council members. "I think every one of you attest to the fact that the Susquehanna Hose does a budget every year."
Packard said news organizations implied fire companies were at odds with Harford County over the memorandum of understanding Craig wants each company to sign to continue receiving county financial support.
"Nothing could be further from the truth," he said. "We never had any disagreement with signing an MOU and certainly never had any disagreement with providing financial records."
He said there were "some issues with the initial memorandum" and Susquehanna Hose offered several recommendations to the county executive, which he said were included in the MOU.
Packard pointed out the Aberdeen Fire Department had taken out a large advertisement in The Aegis in which the company defended its budgeting and record keeping and said he did not object to signing the MOU
"We decided we would not reward them [the newspaper] by purchasing an ad in their paper for false and misleading allegations," he said.
Packard said the company had just mailed out a financial appeal to the community and said he appreciated all the support the company received from Havre de Grace residents.
"I just want to assure everyone that the hose company is financially sound, financially responsible and financially transparent," he said. "I just felt it was important for us to take a public stance…I certainly was reluctant to get into a battle of letters to the editor."
Mayor Wayne Dougherty said he did not have any problems with Susquehanna Hose or the Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps, which also signed the MOU.
"It's unfortunate that a clarification has to be done this way," Dougherty told Packard referring to the county's position. "I assure you that the city of Havre de Grace supports the Susquehanna Hose Company and the ambulance corps with high regard, and the city of Havre de Grace has never had a problem as far as [financial] reporting is concerned."
"You and all the members are held in high esteem by this administration and I'm sure you will be by future ones," Dougherty continued. "I thank you for the time you give to this community."
In a telephone interview earlier this month, Tony Coliano, president of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, said the company signed the memorandum of understanding Oct. 31.
Having declined to comment on the situation earlier, Coliano explained he had no problem talking about the MOU and Bel Air's position on it, but he had just wanted to wait until the Harford County Volunteer Fire & EMS Association had signed.
"The county is certainly entitled to an accounting of the funds the county has," Coliano said about the memorandum.
He said his company has provided the county with a certified audit for at least 20 years.
"Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company has supplied Harford County government with an audit every year," he said.
Coliano also noted his company's continued commitment to service.
"Bel Air does not drop a call," he said proudly.