Caroline County Sheriff Donnie Baker talking about a potential MOU with Federalsburg.
Federalsburg Police Station.
Councilmember Brandi James discussing Caroline County Sheriffs Office MOU.
FEDERALSBURG 鈥 While an agreement has not yet been signed, Federalsburg officials said the Caroline County Sheriff's Office will absorb the Federalsburg Police Department, taking over policing duties for the town.
The Town Council had yet to work out the exact details of a memorandum of understanding with the Sheriff's Office at the town's meeting Monday evening. The council did not vote on the matter, but they indicated they planned to sign an agreement for one year of policing services.
According to council member Brandi James, all Federalsburg Police Department staff will move to the Caroline County Sheriff's Office when the agreement is signed. The Sheriff's Office will use the current Federalsburg Police Department as a substation.
The decision comes as the town tries to tackle $5 million in debt.聽
James said the police department takes up half of the town's budget. At Federalsburg Public Forum on July 21, council member Ian Furgerson said if the town were to sign an MOU with the Sheriff鈥檚 Office, it would save the town between $300,000 and $500,000 per year.
Multiple items in the MOU are still being discussed, but the current draft includes five deputies to be assigned to the town. Town Attorney Lyndsey Ryan made it clear to the public the MOU is still a work-in-progress, and the number of officers has not been confirmed.
"I also want to add that while there's been discussions about the number of officers to include in an MOU, there will be an MOU once it's kind of ironed out and reviewed and everything on a Federalsburg agenda, and there will be a public hearing on it," Ryan said.
"The decision has not been made as of now. I think that's the direction that they're going, but there still will be an actual agreement on an agenda for a public comment and a vote."
James said this is the best decision for the town and the officers.
鈥淚t actually giving these officers what they so much needed, which is increase in salary,鈥 James said. 鈥淭hey get access to le-ops, they get more than what we as a town can provide to them. Police and is very competitive, and Federalsburg is one of the lowest paid agencies. So we felt as we wanted to give this MOU situation a try for a year, and throughout that year we want to have quarterly meetings with the public.鈥
The MOU will have a public hearing at a future Federalsburg Town Council meeting.
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