By Ben Murphy and Carlos Medrano Araujo
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writers
The Baltimore County Council Monday approved a $134,679 one-year contract with a Phoenix-based consulting firm to examine ways the county Fire Department can improve its services.
Under the terms of the agreement, FACETS Consulting, LLP, will conduct a comprehensive administrative and operational analysis of the department and recommend strategies to help fire officials meet future demands.
The contract covers the county’s 25 career stations and 29 volunteer companies and will include onsite visits and interviews with stakeholders.
The company will also analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the department, including its staffing levels, management approach, recruitment efforts, training, and progress toward diversity, equity and inclusion.
The contract can be extended by six months, but it cannot exceed $134,679.
In other action, the council voted unanimously to pass a bill that would require certain food service facilities to install grease interceptors in their facilities.
The bill revises the County Code by switching the enforcement of grease interceptor maintenance requirements from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Department of Public Works.
Grease interceptors are plumbing attachments implemented into facility drainage systems to catch “free-falling oil and grease” (FOG) from wastewater discharges.
When left untreated, FOG can clog pipes and cause blockages. Large amounts of FOG in restaurants can overuse a septic tank and cause untreated sewer waste to be released into the environment. The requirement of these grease interceptors will help with the proper and safe disposal of waste and FOG, county officials said.
The oil and grease have been identified by county officials as the main cause of the sewer overflow, as well as the sewer blockage.
“Insufficient grease management can affect neighborhood, businesses and environment,” said D’Andrea Walker, acting director of the county’s Department of Public Works.
County Council member Todd K. Crandell, R-7th District, said there has been no negativity shown toward the bill by restaurant owners.
This bill will be put into effect in 45 days after it is passed.