Title
Vote to amend Franchise Ordinance regulating emergency medical, first responder, and rescue Services and granting of franchises and contracts for operations in the County of Chatham
Abstract
Action Requested:
Vote to approve amended Franchise Ordinance.
Introduction & Background:
On June 26, 1997, the Board of Commissioners adopted an Ordinance regulating emergency medical, first responders, and rescue services by requiring a franchise and contract for emergency services provided by local fire departments and First Health of the Carolinas, Inc.
The current Franchise Ordinance requires that persons or entities providing one or more of the Franchised Services make an application to the County and meet certain requirements in the Franchise Ordinance.
Discussion & Analysis:
The Fire Contracts and the First Health Contract has or will enter into contracts or agreements with volunteer fire departments and local governments to provide fire protection services within the fire districts therein defined, which by contract or agreement grants to the contracting parties the right, at their option, to provide rescue and emergency medical responder services.
The Fire Contracts and the First Health Contracts require that the persons or entities provided essentially the same requirement as the Franchise Ordinance, and therefore it would be redundant and create additional work for emergency services providers and the County to require such providers to secure a franchise.
Staff is asking that the Franchise Ordinance be amended to add a new Subsection 2.4(c) to provide that no franchise shall be required for any person or entity under the contract with the County to provide the services covered by the Franchise Ordinance.
Budgetary Impact:
None
Recommendation:
Vote to approve amended Ordinance