Leaders from Worcester County’s fire departments aired their concerns over CARES Act funding before the County Commissioners Wednesday. Photo by Charlene Sharpe
SNOW HILL – Local fire company representatives pleaded with the Worcester County Commissioners this week for funding support from the CARES Act.
The commissioners said at a special meeting Wednesday that county staff would meet later this week to go over each fire company’s CARES request. The commitment to reviewing grant applications comes as the county’s deadline to spend its $4.5 million in CARES funding nears and fire companies’ requests have yet to be answered.
“What we seem to forget, especially at the highest level, is we’re in a pandemic,” Ocean City Fire Chief Richie Bowers said, adding that local fire companies needed financial support. “We are on the front lines.”
Worcester CO. Commissioners hold session to discuss funding, COVID-19 impacts on fire and ambulance companies
December 9, 2020
WORCESTER COUNTY, Md.- Worcester County commissioners held a special session Wednesday with fire and ambulance companies to discuss issues surrounding COVID-19 and CARES Act funding.
“There’s a large amount of frustration with the county, the county commissioners rely on staff for a lot of these things and it seems that staff somewhat dropped the ball on this,” Joe Mitrecic, Worcester County Commissioner President, said.
For these companies, the pandemic has changed how they operate.
They are spending money on PPE, they are having to disinfect a lot more, and for some their calls are taking longer.