Wicomico chiefs oppose fire service agreement; Day says they don't get a say

The chiefs of Wicomico County’s volunteer fire companies said they cannot support a fire service agreement between the county and the city of Salisbury, citing disputes over funding and territory for the new Station 13.

The Wicomico County Fire Chiefs Association voted unanimously to reject the contract that was signed in April by Mayor Jake Day and County Executive Bob Culver, according to a letter from Joe Morris, the group’s president.

Morris could not be reached for comment Tuesday, and his letter did not specify how many fire chiefs attended the meeting and cast votes.

The letter, dated Aug. 24, was hand delivered to Culver, Day, the Wicomico County Council and Paul Wilber, the county attorney.

In the letter, Morris said the Chiefs Association met July 26 and during a lengthy discussion had “multiple concerns” about the fire service agreement.

BACKGROUND: Culver orders Fire Station 13 territory change over objections

Among the concerns is that the Chiefs Association awarded territory to Station 13 on June 28, three days before the fire service agreement took effect July 1, Morris said. 

But Day said the chiefs’ rejection of the agreement is irrelevant.

“They don’t get a say,” he said. “They aren’t party to the contract and have no power  to accept or not accept it.”

The mayor also disputed the chiefs association’s belief that its awarding of territory prior to July 1 was binding.

“That’s not how contracts work,” he said, adding that once the document is signed, it cannot be changed even if it is prior to the date it takes effect. 

The chiefs association also expressed its concerns that the Salisbury Fire Department has notified the county’s Emergency Services that it will not accept or provide mutual aid from Station 13, Morris said.

The chiefs also questioned whether the fire territory map presented to its membership is actually the map presented on April 7, when Culver and Day inked the five-year deal that sets the annual amount the county will pay the city for providing fire and ambulance services outside city limits.

READ MORE: Station 13 firefighters hit obstacles with funding, equipment questions

Culver, who has said he supports the chiefs association and the Station 13 volunteers who split with the Salisbury Fire Department, is proceeding with a plan to have Station 13 take over part of Salisbury’s territory outside the bypass on Sept. 15.

Both Day and County Council President John Cannon have warned that proceeding with giving territory to Station 13 would be a violation of the fire service agreement.

The dispute between the city and the firefighters started the night of Feb. 22 when Company 1, the volunteer unit at Salisbury's Station 1 on Beaglin Park Drive, announced it would separate from the Salisbury Fire Department effective July 1 after the city refused to participate in formal mediation to iron out disputes.

But Day ordered them off the premises immediately. Since then, the firefighters have tried to gain part of Station 1's territory outside the Salisbury bypass.

On May 25, the firefighters sued the city and its fire chief for the return of equipment and other items they say belong to them, plus $494,316 in damages.

On June 30, the fire company reached a partial agreement with the city that allows it to take possession of some items housed at city Station 1 they say belong to them. Station 13 Chief Cory Polidore has said the items include furniture, computers, a vending machine, TV sets and exercise equipment.

Following a hearing in Wicomico County District Court, attorneys for both sides said the agreement does not include apparatus or operational equipment. The ownership of those items is still under dispute.

Twitter: @LizHolland5