New Castle County

The primary discussion centered on the process for commissioning a Comprehensive Development and Operational Study, derived from the FACETS report recommendations. Key points included formulating an RFP, establishing a selection committee that involves the fire service as clients in the vendor selection process, and clarifying the scope, which touches upon sensitive topics like the structure of the fire station system and evaluation of existing stations. A significant portion of the meeting involved detailed discussions regarding the review of the current EMS system, specifically concerning ambulance billing and revenue streams. The Committee resolved to recommend that the fire service designate a representative to collaborate with the county procurement office during the RFP development phase to ensure fire service interests are fully incorporated into the scope documents. Concerns were also raised about the unbudgeted nature of the study costs.

Key discussions focused on the implementation of Executive Order 2026-01, which amended previous motions by increasing the quorum requirement from five to seven members and extending the final report deadline to January 31, 2027. The committee proceeded to consider and approve amendments to the by-laws reflecting these changes. Clarification was sought and provided regarding whether redevelopment of Brownfield Projects is subject to impact fees. Furthermore, the committee addressed a third-party study, confirming it was conducted in 2022, not 2025. In reviewing the FY2027 budget update, the committee discussed a proposed $200,000 increase for Special Operations and preliminary salary figures totaling approximately $37.8 million. Regarding FACETS Report recommendations, the committee agreed that members would independently prioritize the recommendations using a defined framework before discussion at the next noticed meeting to ensure compliance with FOIA requirements. A recommendation concerning an operational/emergency resource study was deferred pending completion of overall prioritization. Updates were provided on proposed legislation to modify building permit fee caps, which is projected to generate over $1 million annually for the Fire Service Fund. Finally, the committee established a recurring meeting schedule for the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.

The meeting included a review of the Rules of Order. The primary new business involved Application 2025-0712-H for "Project Washington" at the former G.Z. Tybout Farm site, which the Board voted to table pending the submission of the Phase IB survey report. During the discussion, a correction was made to the public hearing minutes regarding terminology. The Preservation Planner announced the next public hearing is scheduled for January 20, 2026. Discussions also touched upon edits to the bylaws, which will be added to the February Business meeting agenda as the edits have not yet been received.

The agenda for the public hearing included standard procedural items such as Roll Call and Rule of Order, followed by segments for Old Business and New Business. A key item under New Business was Application 2026-0030-H concerning a building permit for the restoration of the 1916 playhouse known as the "Wrens Nest" located on the Nemours Estate Property. The agenda also scheduled a Report of the Preservation Planner, a Public Comment period, and Adjournment. The document notes that the next business meeting is scheduled for March 3, 2026.

The committee addressed several critical operational and funding issues. Key actions included a unanimous motion to request an amendment to the Executive Order to raise the quorum requirement from 5 to 7 voting members. The committee also unanimously requested that the County Executive extend the final reporting deadline from March 1, 2026, to January 31, 2027, citing the ambitious original timeline. Discussions focused on short-term funding stabilization for FY27, proposing a temporary model based on a percentage of total salaries and benefits for the 21 fire companies, while excluding specific costs like training and uniforms. A major policy discussion centered on long-term sustainability, resulting in a motion to request the reclassification of fire service funding from Grant-In-Aid to a formal budget line item under the Department of Public Safety as contractual services. Furthermore, an overview of fire service impact fees was provided, noting legal usage constraints and proposing transparency improvements, such as posting current balances online. The committee also reviewed the Volunteer Fire Service Assistance Fund, discussing potential increases to the non-residential cap, and addressed capital financing options, including Conduit Debt Financing.