Monday, November 10, 2003
WHEREAS, Montgomery County Council Bill 36-03 is based on flawed, faulty, and biased information, and
WHEREAS, this Bill will have a negative effect on Homeland Security and on the delivery of Fire/Rescue Service to the citizens of Montgomery County, and
WHEREAS, this Bill will cost millions and millions of additional tax dollars that Montgomery County does not have and will result in a declining quality of service, and
WHEREAS, Montgomery County's Local Fire and Rescue Departments were Overstaffed with Volunteers on 9/11/01 and have responded to blizzards, summer storms, and hurricanes with full coverage, thereby evidencing the full capability to respond to threats to Homeland Security, and
WHEREAS, the Montgomery County Government has previously attempted, since 9/11/01, to cut the budget for the Fire and Rescue Service, and these service-slashing efforts have been strongly and successfully resisted by the citizen leaders of the Local Fire and Rescue Departments, and
WHEREAS, Bill 36-03 will eliminate meaningful and essential citizen input and expertise at the negotiating table in representing the interests of citizens and communities in Montgomery County, and
WHEREAS, Volunteerism in Montgomery County is under attack by officials in Montgomery County Government,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THAT the Montgomery County Civic Federation, meeting in Delegates Assembly on Monday, November 10, 2003, hereby strongly and vociferously opposes the adoption of Bill 36-03, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT the Federation authorizes and instructs its leaders and representatives to communicate the position of the Federation to all public officials and to lobby all public officials to defeat the adoption of Bill 36-03, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT the Federation authorizes its leaders and representatives to engage in the building of alliances and coalitions with other citizens and community organizations, especially the Community-Based Volunteer Fire and Rescue Departments, to defeat the adoption of Bill 36-03.
Resolution passed during general delegates assembly, November 10, 2003.