By Duncan Adams
The Roanoke Times
ROANOKE, Va. — Botetourt County announced Thursday that “after careful consideration and a methodical search process spanning a two month period” it has filled a controversial new position — director of emergency services.
Carr Boyd, 38, currently a captain and an acting battalion chief with the fire department in Charlotte, N.C., is expected to begin work in Botetourt on May 8. Boyd’s hiring was described in a news release as “one of the final major decisions made for Botetourt County” by former County Administrator Jerry Burgess, who retired March 15 after nearly 20 years in that role.
The advertised salary range for the director’s job was $54,346 to $80,865. Boyd’s annual salary will be $70,000. On Jan. 24, the county’s board of supervisors voted unanimously to establish a new department of emergency services.
It combined into one department all existing fire and emergency medical services, volunteers and paid staff, and created the new post of emergency services director. When the new position’s duties and authorities were drafted, one item in particular elicited concern among some volunteer firefighters.
Specifically, volunteer chiefs for both the Troutville and Buchanan volunteer fire departments expressed concern that the new director of emergency services would have the authority to appear at an emergency scene and take over running the scene.
Billy Joe Carter, chief of the Buchanan VFD, was especially vocal about his opposition to that potential takeover. He suggested that if the director assumed control of a scene, “there are going to be a lot of hurt feelings and busted noses.”
County officials and other volunteer firefighters responded that they believed such takeovers would rarely occur and when they did, it likely would benefit the safety of both emergency personnel and the public.
On Friday, Carter said he cannot understand why the county is hiring a new director and paying him $70,000 when Botetourt faces a $3 million budget shortfall for the coming fiscal year and is contemplating cuts in services.
“How can they justify this position?” Carter said.
The county said a field of more than 70 candidates was initially screened by a five-member selection advisory committee that included representatives from volunteer fire and rescue departments, citizens and county staff. The committee submitted a small group of finalists to Burgess.
The hiring announcement said Boyd has a 19-year career in fire and emergency medical services, including volunteer experience in Virginia. In his current job, “he actively participates in both call response and administration,” according to the news release.
The county said Boyd is a nationally registered paramedic and an adjunct faculty member of the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md. In addition, he holds advanced degrees in public administration and public policy from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. He is married, with three children.
In a statement released Friday, Carr said he and his family are excited to be headed to Botetourt County.
“I look forward to working with volunteer and career staff, as well as with citizens and public officials, to build on an already strong fire and EMS system in challenging budgetary times,” Carr said. “I feel that my background in both volunteer and career systems has prepared me well for this challenge.”
Spencer Suter, assistant county administrator, has been the county’s de facto coordinator of emergency services. “I think that he is a great hire and will be an excellent fit for our system,” Suter said.
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