By Greg Ellison

(Dec. 17, 2020) Local fire and EMS companies, having lost out on CARES Act financial relief because of shifting requirements and confusing paperwork, got a sympathetic hearing from the Worcester County Commissioners in a special session last Wednesday in Snow Hill.

Demonstrating that sympathy, County Commissioner President Joe Mitrecic opened the meeting at the Snow Hill Volunteer Fire Department with a clear message.

“We want to give you the money,” he said.

The commissioners allocated the roughly $30,000 remaining balance of $4.5 million the county received in CARES Act funds for fire companies during its Dec. 1 meeting.

Worcester Chief Administrative Officer Harold Higgins indicated at that time that county staff was compiling data on payroll reimbursement for fire and EMS companies, which he estimated at roughly $50,000.

Higgins also told fire company representatives that county officials plan to meet with fire department leaders to examine fiscal shortfalls.

Despite those recent assurances, numerous company representatives expressed frustration after filing funding requests months ago that remain unfilled today.

Commissioners Jim Bunting shared those sentiments.

“I’ve been disgusted for two months now,” he said.

Bunting said over the last few months he has received a steady steam of emails from fire companies throughout Worcester unable to find answers about CARES Act funding reimbursements and what expenses qualify.

“I keep getting the same runaround you’ve been getting,” he said.

Mitrecic said funding procedures were initially confounding for many.

“Back in May and June, I don’t know if anybody knew what you had to do anywhere in the state of Maryland, let alone Worcester County,” he said.

Mitrecic said the cloud of confusion surrounding application paperwork and qualified costs should have dissipated since that time.

“By September or October, we should have been able to hone in on it,” he said. “You should have gotten your money.”

Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said the majority of the $4.5 million CARES Act funds awarded to Worcester County had been allocated, with remaining balances to be returned to the state on Dec. 15 and ultimately to the federal government if not spent by Dec. 31.

“Going into 2021, we’re not going to have CARES money,” he said. “There’s no answer for that.”

Mitrecic and Young promised to begin immediately consulting about paperwork requirements to assure all justified funding requests are filled this month.

“I apologize that it’s come to this,” he said.