2282                                County Local Laws

be fixed by them, conditioned upon faithful discharge of the duties of the
treasurer.

(4)    Purchasing. Under the direction of the fire board, each fire
department and rescue squad shall establish a fiscal policy and purchasing
system for the expenditure of all tax monies received from the county,
which policy and system shall conform to Section 84-11 through 84-23
of this Code as now in existence, or as amended under the provisions of
Section 314, Montgomery County Charter.

(5)    Audit. The fire board shall engage a certified public accountant
or a recognized public accounting firm annually to audit all tax funds re-
ceived by the departments and squads. Each annual audit shall be sub-
mitted to the fire board for further submission to the county. The audit
shall be available for the public hearings on the budgets.

(e)    Fire Tax Districts Study.

As soon as possible after the establishment of the fire board as pro-
vided hereunder, the board shall select with the cooperation and assistance
of the council a qualified, independent consultant or consulting firm to
make a study under the direction of the board on the financing of the
fire and rescue service operations of the county. Such study shall be com-
pleted and reported to the council within six months from the effective
date of this act.

(f)    Personnel.

The chairman of the fire board shall appoint a personnel committee
of seven members, including a chairman. The committee shall include at
least two paid firemen who shall not be members of the fire board. The
appointments shall be subject to board approval.

(1) Personnel System, for Paid Employees of Fire Departments and
Rescue Squads.

(A)    The personnel committee shall prepare and adopt, subject to the
approval of the fire board, personnel regulations generally consistent with
county merit system personnel regulations, which regulations shall cover
all paid employees of the fire departments, and rescue squads. These regu-
lations shall include provision for uniform minimum entrance require-
ments, uniform minimum medical standards and common eligible lists for
entrance level positions. The committee shall consult with the county's
personnel director and the county personnel board in the preparation of
personnel regulations and minimum standards, including promotions and
pay standards.

(B)    The personnel committee, subject to approval of the fire board
and the availability of funds, shall establish a program of uniform fringe
benefits for paid employees equivalent to that accorded to county merit
system employees which shall include a system of leave, retirement pay,
life insurance protection, group hospitalization and medical program,
Workmen's Compensation coverage, Social Security coverage, and profes-
sional development programs.

(C)    Any employee with career status under the personnel regula-
tions who is removed, demoted, or suspended, shall have as a matter of
right an opportunity for a hearing before the personnel board of the county,
and in such event, the charges against him shall be stated in writing in
such form as the personnel board may require. The decision of the per-