Counties and State Mark Progress on Statewide Radio System with Ceremonial “Second Call”

photo 1
Governor O’Malley makes the ceremonial second call with Delegates Jeanne Haddaway-Riccio and Addie Eckardt and Talbot County officials listening in.
photo 2
MACo President Tom Duncan speaks on the importance of the interoperable radio system.
photo 3
From Left to Right: Queen Anne’s Department of Emergency Services Director Chief J. Kevin Aftung, Cecil County Department of Emergency Services Director Richard Brooks, and Kent County Emergency Management Director Wayne Darrell catch up with Statewide Interoperability Director Ray Lehr following the call.

As reported in MyEasternShoreMD, Maryland’s Eastern Shore is now officially “hooked up” and Gov. Martin O’Malley was surrounded by an entourage of officials when he made a ceremonial call marking the completion of the connection in front of the Talbot County Community Center Friday afternoon, July 18.

The Governor described the new radio board that includes local participation in the governance of the system during his remarks Friday.  Creation of this Board was a MACO initiative and a part of the Governor’s Legislative Package for the 2014 legislative session.  The governance body will include five representatives of local governments that use the MD FiRST system.

MACo President Tom Duncan gave the closing remarks at the ceremony Friday, and several local emergency managers were in attendance.

As described in MyEasternShoreMD,

The governor’s ceremonial call began with talking to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency at Camp Fretterd in Reisterstown. Then he talked to Maryland State Police at Barrack S in Centreville, the State Highway Administration Eastern Division, the Department of Natural Resources facility on Deal Island, and officials in Ocean City, all on the same call.

For more information, see the full story from MyEasternShoreMD.