WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD - The Task Force meeting concerning the suspended fire company in Fairplay is in their last weeks before presenting their recommendations to Washington County Commissioners.
Charles Summers, Washington County Division of Emergency Services, presented 78 applications from people interested in positions at Fairplay.
"They would like to provide service to the Fairplay Area, however, they are not going to do that with the current management of that fire company," says Summers.
Nearly half the applicants are certified firefighters and most of them also live in and around the Fairplay area.
Stephanie Clipp is going on six years as a volunteer with Fairplay and says she has seen her friends and family get kicked out over the past years.
Clipp is currently listed as "not in good service."
She says, "If you're showing an opinion that does not vote well for the membership or for the higher ups they find a way to get you out."
The Task Force also voted in December to add a recommendation for a change in leadership.
"We voted to include a recommendation that the current administration, specifically Mr. Heller and Mr. Pennington, be removed from office and new administration be put in place," says Paul Miller, Fairplay Task Force.
County officials have asked the Task Force to present their final proposals by the end of this month.
For now the outpouring of interested applicants appears to be a positive sign.
Summers says, "It shows that there is a tremendous amount of support providing the necessary fire service here in the Fairplay Area."
"I have a very vested interest in it," says Clipp, "I love the community, and for the most part, we got along but unfortunately, the leadership, they're ruining it."
The next Task Force meeting will be 7 p.m. on January 14th at Rockland Woods Elementary School.
Charles Summers, Washington County Division of Emergency Services, presented 78 applications from people interested in positions at Fairplay.
"They would like to provide service to the Fairplay Area, however, they are not going to do that with the current management of that fire company," says Summers.
Nearly half the applicants are certified firefighters and most of them also live in and around the Fairplay area.
Stephanie Clipp is going on six years as a volunteer with Fairplay and says she has seen her friends and family get kicked out over the past years.
Clipp is currently listed as "not in good service."
She says, "If you're showing an opinion that does not vote well for the membership or for the higher ups they find a way to get you out."
The Task Force also voted in December to add a recommendation for a change in leadership.
"We voted to include a recommendation that the current administration, specifically Mr. Heller and Mr. Pennington, be removed from office and new administration be put in place," says Paul Miller, Fairplay Task Force.
County officials have asked the Task Force to present their final proposals by the end of this month.
For now the outpouring of interested applicants appears to be a positive sign.
Summers says, "It shows that there is a tremendous amount of support providing the necessary fire service here in the Fairplay Area."
"I have a very vested interest in it," says Clipp, "I love the community, and for the most part, we got along but unfortunately, the leadership, they're ruining it."
The next Task Force meeting will be 7 p.m. on January 14th at Rockland Woods Elementary School.
