Chapter 9.

2
Prince William County Fire and Rescue System
Sec. 9.2 - 1. Short Title
This chapter shall be known and cited as the "Prince William County Fire and Rescue
System ("PWCFRS," "System")Ordinance."
Sec. 9.2 - 2. Purpose
The Board of County Supervisors intends to assure adequate public safety, health, and
welfare through a collaborative system for the provision of fire, rescue, and emergency
medical services program that is competent, highly trained, efficiently delivered, and
equitably administered, and that is operated by that Board through the Prince William
County Fire and Rescue System in accordance withthis Chapter. The System should
provide maximum cost-effective performance, promote the county-wide public interest,
account for adequate service levels, provide for sound financial practices involving the
use of public funds, assure transparency in the operation of the System, fairly
communicate and consider all views regarding the provision of these services, provide
for the improvement in training and operational capabilities of all System members, and
develop near- and long-term plans and policies for projected growth and development in
Prince William County ("County') and its public safety requirements.

Sec. 9.2 - 3. Definitions

A. "Administrative Member" means the personnel who do not directly provide fire
fighting, EMS and other related emergency public safety services. A member of
PWCFRS fire fighting and/or EMS organization who participates in the business
and administrative duties of their organization; provides indirect support in
emergency situations and prevention activities.

B. "Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee" means the body created to
provide input to the Executive Committee and System Chief regarding the
operating and capital needs of the PWC FRS; the Budget Advisory and Financial
Planning Committee shall have the duties and responsibilities as outlined in
Section 9.2-4.D.

C. "Department"means Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue

established pursuant to Va. Code Title 27 for the purpose of the provision of fire
fightingand EMS services. This departmentshall also be knownas the
"Departmentof Fire and Rescue" or "DFR."

D. "Executive Committee" means the body created to provide input to the System
Chief regarding the development of policies and procedures; the Executive
Committee shall have the membership, duties, and responsibilities as outlined in
Section 9.2-4.C.

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 E. "Operational Medical Director ("OMD")" or "Medical Director" means the licensed
medical physician who under his/her licensure is responsible for providing
medical advice, guidance, and direction for the emergency medical services
programs and activities managed by the PWCFRS on behalf of the County
government.

F. "Operational Membed' means the system personnel who provide fire-fighting,

EMS and other related emergency public safety services who are authorized to
respond to emergency incidents; a member of PWCFRS fire-fighting and/or EMS
organization who meets or exceeds the training and certification standards for
their rank or operational position as set forth in policy and/or procedure issued by
the System Chief.

G. "PWCFRS" means the combined Prince William County Fire and Rescue System
to include every volunteer fire fighting and EMS organization formed pursuant to
Virginia Code Title 27 and authorized by the Board of County Supervisors
through a contract to operate as a fire fighting and/or EMS organization within the
geographic boundaries of the County or any of its incorporated towns, as well as
the DFR.
H. "System Chief" means the individual who has the responsibility of overseeing
and leading the PWCFRS, with the duties and responsibilities as outlined in this
Chapter and who is the department head of the DFR. The System Chief shall be
appointed by the Board of County Supervisors and shall report to the County
Executive.

l. "Volunteer Chief' means the individual selected by a volunteer company to serve

as the leader of a volunteer fire-fighting or EMS organization pursuant to Virginia
Code Title 27.

J. "Volunteer Company" means a volunteer fire fighting or EMS organization formed

pursuant to Virginia Code S 27-8 within the geographic boundaries of the County
and authorized by the Board of County Supervisors through a contract, in
accordance with Virginia Code Title 27.

Sec. 9.2 - 4. Governance Structure

A. System Chief Position Established. The position of System Chief is hereby
established, and shall possess operational and administrative authority pursuant
to Virginia Code Title 27.

1. The System Chief shall be appointed by the Board of County Supervisors

upon recommendation of the County Executive.

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 2. The System Chief shall reportdirectly to the County Executive.

3. The System Chief shall serve as the head of the PWCFRS and as the
chief executive of the PWCFRS governance structure as defined under
this Chapter.
4. The System Chief shall supervise and manage the duties and
responsibilities of the career personnel of the DFR in accordance with
applicable policies.

5. The System Chief shall have the authority,duties and responsibilities as

established by this Chapter with respect to the PWCFRS in the following
areas:

Full scope of fire preventionfire suppression, hazardous materials,

emergency medical services, emergency management and other
related public safety operational and management functions,
provided to the County and its incorporated towns by the PWCFRS,
pursuant to this Chapter.

ii. Formulation, implementation, administration and enforcement of the

rules, regulations, policies and procedures as established by the
PWCFRS governance structure including, but not limited to,
disciplinary actions pertaining to service in the system.

iii. Executive management and administrationof the PWCFRS

governance structure including working in conjunction with the
Executive Committee.

iv. Function as the highest appeal hearing officer for PWCFRS

disciplinarycases.
v. Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the County
Executive or the Board of County Supervisors with regard to the
provision of fire and rescue services, and emergency management.

B. Appeals Process: In the event the System Chief issues a new policy or
procedure, a member of the Executive Committee may appeal the policy or
procedure to the County Executive pursuant to this section.
1. A member of the Executive Committee, on his own or another PWCFRS
member's behalf, must submit the appeal to the County Executive within
seven calendar days of the issuance of the new policy or procedure.

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 2. The appeal shall be submitted in writing, and shall identifythe policy or
procedure being appealed and the reason/s the policy or procedure is
being appealed.

3. Upon receipt of a properly submitted appeal, the County Executive shall

determine the following items, and provide notice of his conclusions and
requests along with a summary of the Appeal to the System Chief and
Executive Committee within 7 calendar days:

a. Date and time of the hearing where a hearing is deemed

necessary by the County Executive;

b. Identification of requested information, if any (testimony,

documents, policies, records, statements, etc.); and when,
where, and by whom such informationshall be provided;

c. Any other items deemed necessary and relevant by the County

Executive to the appeal.

4. When a hearing is held, the County Executive shall render a decision and
provide it to the System Chief and the Executive Committee within 10
calendar days of the hearing.

5. When no hearing is held, the County Executive shall render a decision

and provide it to System Chief and the Executive Committee as soon as
practicable, but in no event later than 30 calendar days from the date the
appeal was submitted.

6. During the pendency of the appeal, the policy or procedure being

appealed shall remain in full force and effect unless the County Executive
directs otherwise.

C. Executive Committee Established

1. The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the following seven (7)

members appointed and/or elected for a two year term:

a. Volunteer Chief, elected by a quorum of volunteer fire and rescue

chiefs;

b. Volunteer Chief, elected by a quorum of volunteer fire and rescue

chiefs;

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 c. Volunteer Chief, elected by a quorum of volunteer fire and rescue
chiefs;

d. The Operational Medical Director;

e. DFR deputy chief, or other career employee designee as appointed

by the System Chief;

f. DFR assistant chief, or other career employee designee as

appointed by the System Chief;

g. DFR assistant chief, or other career employee designee as

appointed by the System Chief.

2. Chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Executive Committee shall be

elected by the Executive Committee members.

3. The Chairperson, or his designee, shall have regular meetings with the
System Chief to discuss PWCFRS matters.

4. The Executive Committee shall provide advice and counsel to the System
Chief with regard to policies, procedures, strategic planning, finances,
audits, training requirements and PWCFRS-wide discipline of volunteer
members and any other duties as assigned by the System Chief.

5. The Executive Committee may create committees, work groups and task
forces, as necessary, to assist with its work.

6. Members of the Executive Committee shall not serve on the Budget

Advisory and Financial Planning Committee; they may serve on any other
committee, work group or task force created by the Executive Committee
but cannot serve as Chairperson.

7. The Executive Committee shall not have involvement in the rules,

regulations, or policies of individual volunteer companies, DFR, or County
government except where these directly conflict with the PWCFRS
mission, goals and objectives as defined by the PWCFRS governance
structure.

D. Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee Established

1. The Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee shall review and
provide advice and counsel to the Executive Committeeand System Chief
on the operating and capital needs of the PWCFRS consistent with the
countywide annual budget and capital planning process as directed by the
Office of Management and Budget and the County Executive.

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 2. The Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee may review
financial documents of the PWCFRS, to include funding sources and
reserve balances, and may provide advice and counsel to the Executive
Committee and System Chief in the interest of the financial health of the
PVVCFRS.

Sec. 9.2 - 5. Planning, budgeting, accountability and purchasing.

A. All members of the PWCFRS shall comply with the following: Prince William
County Code Article l, S 2-1 , government services planning, budgeting and
accountability, as it may be amended, which is hereby incorporated by reference;
those principals of sound financial management as promulgated by the Director
of Finance; and administrative policies and procedures that may be issued from
time to time by the County Executive and/or the Director of Finance.

B. All members of the PWCFRS shall comply with the provisions of the Prince
William County Purchasing Regulations with respect to procurements,
dispositions, or purchases involving the expenditure of public funds.

C. No public funds derived from any Prince William County tax, or any fire and
rescue levy which may be imposed by the Board of County Supervisors, shall be
appropriated or reimbursed to, or paid on behalf of, any volunteer company
which is not a member of the PWCFRS.

Sec. 9.2 - 6. Recognized Fire and Rescue Departments

A. The following volunteer agencies who have entered into and are parties to a valid
and current contract with the Board of County Supervisors, are deemed
instrumentalities of the County and recognized members of the Prince William
County Fire and Rescue System:

1. Buckhall Volunteer Fire Department

2. Dale City VolunteerFire Department
3. Dumfries Triangle Volunteer Fire Department
4. DumfriesTriangle Rescue Squad
5. Lake Jackson Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department
6. Nokesville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department
7. Stonewall Jackson VolunteerFire Departmentand Rescue Squad
8. OWL Volunteer Fire Department
9. Yorkshire Volunteer Fire Department

B. The Prince William County Departmentof Fire and Rescue is recognized as a

member of the Prince William County Fire and Rescue System.

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 C. All members of the PWCFRS shall enjoy operational and administrative
independence from the PWCFRS with the exception of when the member's rules,
regulations or policies directly conflict with the PWCFS's mission, goals, or
objectives as defined by the PWCFRS Governance Structure.

Sec. 9.2 - 7. Chain of Command/CertificationStandards

A. The System Chief shall establish an integratedchain of command for volunteer
members of the PWCFRS and career employees of the DFR.

1. The System Chief, under the advice of the Executive Committee, shall utilize
the training and certification standards for all duly qualified career and
volunteer fire and EMS officers and ranks as set forth in the policy and/or
procedure for determining operational eligibility.

2. Qualifications for operational certification at each rank for career and

volunteer personnel shall be in accordance with policies and/or procedures
established by the System Chief with the advice and counsel of the Executive
Committee.

B. Volunteer companies may appoint administrative members to serve on

committees, work groups and task forces.

C. Administrative members shall be recognized at the appropriate level for which

they qualify as an operational member when performing emergency public safety
services duties.

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