2280                                  County Local Laws

(c) Duties, responsibilities and authority.

(1) Fire Board. The fire board shall have the following duties,
responsibilities and authority:

(A)    It shall approve the response areas of the fire and rescue serv-
ices after recommendation by executive committee.

(B)    It shall prepare and maintain a map of the county showing the
fire, rescue, and ambulance service areas based on the closest companies.

(C)    It shall investigate, plan and approve new and relocated fire
and rescue station locations and make appropriate recommendations to
meet service needs; provided that final approval of locations, shall be sub-
ject to approval of the council in accordance with Section 2-137 and Sec-
tion 27-2 of this Code.

(D)    It shall establish minimum training standards for volunteer and
paid personnel.

(E)    It shall establish plans and procedures for the utilization of
facilities by the fire and rescue services at any fire training center.

(F)    It shall establish uniform operational procedures relating to
fire and rescue services communications.

(G)    It shall work with and coordinate with the Maryland Fire
Underwriters Rating Bureau in matters pertaining to the fire and rescue
services.

(H) It shall recommend by report to the council within one (1) year
from the effective date of this act procedures for centralized purchasing
for all departments and squads.

(I)    It shall establish uniform budget procedures to be followed by
each department and squad.

(J) It shall make provision and have the authority to adopt appro-
priate rules and regulations to enforce compliance with all standards
adopted by the board.

(K) It shall have the authority to adopt rules of procedure and
amendments to its bylaws and appoint such committees as may be neces-
sary for the carrying out of its duties and responsibilities. Except for the
executive committee, membership of committees is not limited to members
of the fire board.

(L) The fire board through its executive committee shall furnish to
the council semi-annually a report setting forth actions of the fire board in
carrying out its responsibilities and authority delegated to it under this act.

(M) It shall be authorized to define and to delegate duties and re-
sponsibilities to the executive committee not in conflict with the provisions
of this act.

(2)    Executive Committee. The executive committee shall have the
following duties, responsibilities and authority:

(A)    Act in emergencies (non-operational) in the interest of the fire
and rescue services and to report such action at the next meeting of the
fire board.

(B)    Establish fire and rescue response areas subject to approval of
the fire board.