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Bill of Rights This is the statement President Russell made to the Prince George's County Council on Tuesday, July 8, 2008. The PGVFRA request that the County Council and the County Executive's Office support the Volunteer Firefighter Bill of Rights. A Volunteer Firefighter Bill of Rights that includes Due Process, Fair Treatment, Rights to a Speedy Process; and, Rights to an Objective Binding Appeal Process by an independent group and/or Arbitration separate from the County Fire Chief's Office. All stated with the understanding that there is one County Fire Chief over the County's Volunteer and Career fire and EMS services. The current Emergency Operations Chain of Command / Authority of the Fire Chief are not being challenged nor was it ever the intention of the Volunteer Firefighter Bill of Rights. Though it may have been interpreted, we have never suggested that there be anything other than one County Fire Chief as authorized by the County Charter. We ask the County Council and the County Executive's Office to understand that the proposed Subtitle 11 Section revisions at the beginning of the Volunteer Firefighter Bill of Rights were included to bring the 1970's, vague language, current with other subsequent Subtitle 11 Sections established in 1982 and 1994. We are in discussions with several members of the County Council and the County Executive's Office in combined efforts to have legislation presented in September when the Council returns to Session. The volunteers ask that information received by your offices during these upcoming summer months be reviewed, so that this Council will be able to add the Volunteer Firefighter Bill of Rights to their list of successful legislation for the benefit of the volunteer Citizens that serve Prince George’s County.
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