Changes loom for fire and rescue

A committee formed in January to tighten Prince William's control over the Fire and Rescue Association will have its findings presented to the Board of Supervisors at 7:30 p.m. at the McCoart Administration Building.

Supervisors created the committee in January and tasked members to address a variety of issues, "many of which were outlined in the [volunteer fired department] audit," according to background documents to the board. One committee proposal would subject all Fire and Rescue Association members to the "county's purchasing, planning, budgeting and accounting processes," the background documents state. Another would require the FRA to give quarterly updates to the supervisors on matters related to staff, employee ranking and policy.

Supervisors in January dissolved the Gainesville District Volunteer Fire Department after a county audit showed the company failed to follow policies and procedures, failed to control spending, failed to respond to citizens' concerns, failed to adhere to its own bylaws and had ineffective governance and oversight by the Prince William Fire and Rescue Association.

That led to a review of all the county's 11 fire companies and 21 stations and how they operate.

Also during the board's 2 p.m. session, supervisors will receive the audit schedule for the coming year from Robin Howard, the county's director of audit services. Board members have to approve the plan, which includes audits of more than a county dozen departments.

Topping the list are finance's accounts payable and disbursement processes, development services, and the clerk of court, to include a look at the controls in place in the evidence room. Also scheduled are audits of the offices of county attorney and county executive; these are standard exit audits, as both these officials are leaving their county positions in the coming weeks.

In other matters today, the board will hear from the public on the conveyance of the Silver Lake property to the Park Authority, as well as on the adoption of an amendment to county code concerning graffiti.

One more item of interest: Supervisors are due to receive another presentation about a proposal to create an animal advisory committee. The board considered this issue months ago but decided against its creation, in part because of concerns with the perceived costs of tasking staff to help with its mission.

Staff writer Cheryl Chumley can be reached at 703-670-1907.