DOVER — Kent County Levy Court commissioners talked in their committee meeting this week about utilizing county funds to support local law enforcement through a grant program, developing a paramedic-recruitment incentive initiative and implementing a remote work policy.

Levy Court President Terry Pepper asked the panel to consider allocating $300,000 from the county’s unrestricted funds to a grant that would support local law enforcement — $100,000 would go to the Delaware State Police and the remaining $200,000 would be divvied up among municipal departments, similar to the last time a grant program was established, in 2014.

Commissioner Pepper said Dover’s police force could use the money to purchase more K-9s and the town of Viola could fund a startup police agency, for example.

Six of the seven commissioners — Commissioner Eric Buckson briefly stepped outside the hearing room — voted in favor of moving the grant forward to the consent agenda for their next meeting May 11.

“I think it would be good faith on our part if we did these grants,” Commissioner Pepper said.

Commissioner Allan Angel said that in 2014, the money was used for police horses, motorcycle radar equipment and body armor. This time, the funds will likely be used to purchase body cameras, armor and police dogs.

“The world is definitely changing, and now is the time, I think, they could use the extra funds for their assistance,” Commissioner Angel said.

While he said he is not opposed to offering financial assistance to police, Commissioner Buckson suggested the commissioners see if they can use federal funding instead of county funds.

Commissioner Glen Howell aired on the side of waiting for federal funding to come down to the county, as well, saying he was not against holding off on a vote for at least a month.

County Administrator Michael Petit de Mange added that the county has the fund balance to support this program and would not be “deficit spending” to fund it.

“So we’re making our money that we have in savings work for us throughout the year,” Commissioner Pepper said. “By the end of the year, that money is replaced with funds that come in.”

Commissioner Joanne Masten also voiced her support for the program saying, “I think the people of the county would like it.”

In other action, the commissioners reviewed a proposed policy for remote work. While the body voted unanimously to move the policy forward, there was discussion about the necessity of the policy and its fairness.

Of the total number of county employees, about 42% are able to work from home. Speaking from his work experience, Commissioner Jeffrey Hall said this policy will help bring the county “into the 21st century.”

“I don’t see that as a drawback,” he said.

Saying “there is not going to be another pandemic again,” Commissioner Jody Sweeney said he is against a policy, as it is only applicable to less than half of the county’s workforce.

Commissioner Masten said telecommuting can be successful, but managers need to be aware of where their employees are and what work is being done. Ultimately, she spoke in favor of implementing a policy.

“Telecommuting only works with good managers,” she said. “It only takes one or two people to ruin it.”

Mr. Petit de Mange said the policy is written so that department heads will address situations where employees are not being productive while working from home.

“The expectation is that the job continues (when telecommuting),” he said.

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, Sarah Keifer, director of the Department of Planning Services, came before the commissioners with the option to extend a contract, not to exceed $100,000, with First State Inspection Agency for the next fiscal year.

She said the county entered into a contract with the company last October to “augment in inspections and plan review.” Ms. Keifer said the county allocated $100,000 for contractual services in its fiscal year 2021-22 budget.

Commissioner Sweeney raised a concern of contracting out services that could be completed by county employees.

Ms. Keifer said that from November to January, the county spent “just under” $28,000 for the agency’s services and about $1,400 in April. She said the building industry is becoming unpredictable with building permits increasing but supplies going down.

Commissioner Buckson said he received a letter from a contractor who wrote that the county’s planning department is “understaffed and underfunded.”

In response, Ms. Keifer said it would be helpful to have a building inspector position funded and a smaller contract with First State Inspection Agency for when there is a surge, during holidays or when staff are on vacations.

Commissioner Sweeney asked if employees within the planning department are working from home and not completing as much work as they are able.

“What I’m trying to get at is, I don’t want to assign the tasks of permit inspection and plan review to an outside company when we have people who can do it inside, but they don’t seem to be doing it inside because they’re (saying), ‘Well, I’m working from home,’” he said.

Ms. Keifer said there are three people in the department working from home. She said she has weekly metrics showing that employees who do telecommute are being productive.

The commissioners unanimously approved moving the First State Inspection Agency contract forward to the consent agenda. It will be reviewed during their next meeting May 11.

Also during this week’s meeting, Chief Colin Faulkner, director of the county Department of Public Safety, came before the commissioners with a request for a paramedic-recruitment incentive program.

The proposal also will move forward for discussion during the next business meeting.

Chief Faulkner said the county prefers hiring Delawareans as paramedics, but the only source for those is Delaware Technical Community College. Further, Kent County is competing with the other two counties for new hires.

“Supply does not meet the demand,” he said.

Due to limited staff, Chief Faulkner said some paramedics are having to work overtime and triple shifts, which can total 36 hours.

“They do the best they can, but it seems unhealthy,” he said.

The commissioners debated some ideas, like hiring people before they graduate or asking paramedics who’ve retired to come back and fill in shifts. Chief Faulkner also said that advertising open positions on social media can help in recruitment efforts.

Another challenge Commissioner Pepper noted is offering competitive salaries. He said paramedics earn between $10,000 to $12,000 less annually than those who complete a four-year nursing degree.

The commissioners also unanimously approved moving a request from the Kent Conservation District to the consent agenda for next week’s business meeting.

The request is to use unexpended stormwater-management funds to hire a part-time employee who would be tasked with handling drainage calls. The new position would also help free up other staff.

In addition, the commissioners approved putting the purchase of a $135,718 replacement pump on the agenda for the next meeting.

Each item that moved forward will be taken up for vote during Levy Court’s next business meeting at 7 p.m. May 11 in the Levy Court Chamber. The meetings are open to the public, but capacity is limited due to social distancing. The public also is invited to view the meeting online via Webex. More information is available here.