SPIRO T. AGNEW, Governor                      1607

No. 35
(House Joint Resolution 25)

House Joint Resolution requesting the Board of County Commis-
sioners of Allegany County to appoint a Commission to study
the annual appropriations to the several volunteer fire companies
in Allegany County.

Whereas, There has been continued discussion and uncertainty
in Allegany County on the general subject of county appropriations
to volunteer fire companies in the County.

The only paid fire department in Allegany County is supported
by the City of Cumberland. Other fire departments are operated
on a volunteer basis in a number of communities throughout the
county.

For many years the county has made appropriations to the sev-
eral volunteer fire companies in order to assist in their support.
These payments have raised some question as to the proper
amounts paid to the various companies and as to whether the City
of Cumberland should not also be included since the residents and
taxpayers in that City are county taxpayers and this way are
supporting not only their own paid fire department but also as-
sisting in the support of the several volunteer fire companies else-
where in the county.

The General Assembly of Maryland suggests that the solution to
these pressing questions be sought by a special commission to be
appointed by the Board of County Commissioners and to report to
that board and also to the Allegany County Delegation in the
General Assembly of Maryland; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the Board
of County Commissioners is requested to appoint a special commis-
sion to study the subject of cost appropriations to the several
volunteer fire companies in that county and to include in the study
some determination about the special circumstances applying to
the City of Cumberland and its paid fire department; and be it
further

Resolved, That the General Assembly suggests that membership
on the special commission include a representative of the Allegany-
Garrett County Volunteer Firemen's Association residing in Allegany
County, a representative of the special fire tax areas in the county,
an employee of Allegany County, the Police and Fire Commis-
sioner of the City of Cumberland, and a representative of the public
from the county at large; and be it further

Resolved, That this commission, when appointed, is requested to
meet and organize promptly to study the problems outlined in this
resolution and prior to January 1, 1969 to report to the Board of
County Commissioners of Allegany County and the members of
the Allegany County Delegation in the General Assembly of Mary-
land.

Approved May 7, 1968.