Making History

County Executive Leggett greeted Battalion Chief Dorcus “Dee” Howard Richards to honor her for 27 years of service to the County and the Department of Fire and Rescue Service. Earlier this year, Chief Howard Richards received special recognition from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) during the NAACP’s 41st Annual Freedom Fund Dinner and was recognized as the first African American female promoted to the rank of Battalion Chief in the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.

Pictured (l to r): County Chief Administrative Officer Tim Firestine; County Executive Ike Leggett;
Battalion Chief Dee Howard Richards; and Fire Chief Scott Goldstein

Video: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ccm/mosaic

Acting Fire Chief Scott Goldstein on Proposed Budget

From our friends at MyMCMedia. Acting Chief Goldstein shares his thoughts on the proposed FY16 County budget:

 

In The Community

Last night Engine 712 (Hillandale) participated in the Broad Acres Elementary School Community Picnic.  Also dropping by the event was County Executive Leggett who took a moment to stop by and say hello to the Engine Crew.  In the photo with Mr. Leggett is Captain Eric Couse, FF Desmond White and FF Carl Feaster. 

Photo Courtesy of Captain Eric Couse

An Important Budget Message from the County Executive to County Employees

Dear Fellow County Employee:

I want to inform you of an important issue facing the County that could have an adverse impact on every County agency and employee.

Many of you are aware that the November ballot will contain County Question A. The Question gives voters the opportunity to decide whether County Council Bill 13-10: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Transport Fee, which passed in May, should remain law.

Under the law, the County would be allowed to recover ambulance transport costs from premiums already paid to insurance companies, Medicare, and Medicaid -- $14 million this year and $170 million over the next 10 years. All revenues would be dedicated, by law, to strengthen our Fire & Rescue Service. No County resident will ever get a bill for ambulance transport, co-pays or deductibles -- whether they have insurance or not.

The County’s current year budget includes $14 million in revenue from the EMS Transport Fee. Two weeks ago, I forwarded a list of $14 million in proposed budget cuts (see link) to the Council. These reductions are unfortunate, but will be necessary if the EMS Transport Fee is not approved.

Council President Nancy Floreen said it well: “Given our already tight budget, any further cuts will echo across the County. Our obligation is to maintain a balanced budget. If residents vote against the ambulance fee, they will be voting for $14 million in cuts to services."

Nearly every jurisdiction in the Washington region collects millions of dollars in ambulance reimbursements from insurance companies, Medicare, and Medicaid – with no adverse effects. They are using those resources to save lives – and Montgomery County should do the same. We cannot afford to leave this money on the table.

Unfortunately, all of you have felt the impact of the County’s increasing resource demands and decreasing revenue due to current fiscal constraints. To keep our emergency services strong and not adversely affect other critical services and programs and our overall workforce further, we need the additional revenue that the ambulance reimbursement will provide.

Many of you have asked for facts and accurate information on the EMS Transport Fee. For more information, you can go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/emstransportfee.

As always, thank you for all you continue to do every day to serve this County and help us weather the challenges we face.

Ike Leggett
County Executive

NEWS ADVISORY

Fire Chief and County Executive to Recognize Everyday Heroes

Local Residents Actions Save Others

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

2 p.m.

Lobby Level Auditorium, Executive Office Building

101 Monroe Street, Rockville

Rockville - - - County Executive Isiah Leggett and Fire Chief Richard Bowers will recognize a group of “Everyday Heroes” in a brief ceremony in Rockville. Several individuals and groups of professionals will come together to be recognized for their collective ‘life-saving’ action(s) that occurred throughout the County over the past months at various emergencies.

Incidents include a security guard who alerted the occupants of an apartment building to a fire on the top floor which brought four alarms worth of personnel and equipment to the scene; the quick life-saving actions of lifeguards arriving early at a community pool to find a 3-year-old boy unresponsive in the pool; co-workers at a construction site who quickly responded to assist their colleague after he collapsed by initiating life-saving actions and medical equipment; and, a FedEx delivery driver who came to the rescue of three unconscious elderly occupants of an idling vehicle.

Because of their quick thinking, decisive action and willingness to ‘get involved,’ several people are alive today. In some cases the survivors, victims, co-workers and family members will be present at the ceremony.

# # #