By Matt Hubbard
Baltimore Sun
HARFORD COUNTY, Md. — Harford County will raise monthly benefits for longtime volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel after the County Council voted 5-1 Tuesday to override a veto from County Executive Bob Cassilly, who argued the increase skipped a legally required review process.
Council Vice President Tony Giangiordano, a strong supporter of Cassilly, cast the only dissenting vote.
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In a message to the council on June 29, Cassilly said he vetoed the bill due to its violation of the legal process for changing pension and Length of Service Award Program benefits outlined in the county code.
“The county code establishes a clear, logical and legally essential process for reviewing and implementing changes to [Length of Service Award Program] benefits, which was not followed,” Cassilly’s letter said.
One of the first steps in changing the LOSAP benefits would include a study of the proposed changes. Council President Patrick Vincenti, who lost the Republican primary for the County Executive seat to Cassilly last month, said during a Tuesday special council session that the code does not require an “actuarial study” for a change in benefits to be made.
Council member Nolanda Robert, the only council member to win her primary race, attributed much of the controversy surrounding the LOSAP amendments to poor communication.
“This disagreement has not been about the benefits themselves, but about the process outlining the county code, and my theory at this point, these communications between everyone needs to get better, stronger so it will be less confusing and avoid scenarios like this,” Robert said.
The legislation increases the amount paid to volunteers 50 or older with 25 or more years of service from $325 to $375 per month.
For service members 60 or older who completed five continuous years of service and 10 years of certified active volunteer service, the legislation entitles them to a monthly benefit of the number of years certified multiplied by $15, instead of $13.
In a social media video prior to the council’s Tuesday night meeting, Cassilly said the legislation was “very flawed” and didn’t outline funding for the increase.
“The council didn’t follow the legal process, and they also failed to include funding necessary to support increased benefits in the budget they just passed,” Cassilly said. “I am working now with the volunteer fire association to increase these LOSAP benefits as soon as possible.”
However, Vincenti said that there are 787 volunteers who receive LOSAP benefits and that the county can afford the increases, based on information he received from the county auditor and the county treasurer.
“Over the past several years, we know that there’s $47 million left in this account,” Vincenti said. “Our $50 increase proposed will cost the county an additional $550,000.”
Vincenti noted that Harford County has made a lot of recent investments in fire and emergency medical services in the past few years, funding things like new fire halls, equipment and programs, and said the council remains committed to its support of volunteers.
County officials met with the Harford County Volunteer Fire Association on Wednesday regarding changes to the LOSAP benefits.
According to Cassilly, once the work group had finalized its recommendations, his administration was planning to submit legislation that “properly implements” the agreed-upon changes to “ensure the long-term stability of the LOSAP program” as quickly as possible. According to the county’s Public Information Officer Matt Button, Cassilly is “reviewing the council’s actions” at this time.
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