Stokes said he was also proud of his efforts to more closely integrate paramedics into fire operations, which he said stemmed a tide of paramedics leaving for other agencies. He said the agency hadn't lost a paramedic to another county in a year.
"This is a tough job, but it's a fun job," Stokes said, turning to Ray: "You have great people, and I'm sure you'll do a great job."
Council Chairwoman Cathleen M. Vitale, a Republican whose husband is a lieutenant in the Fire Department, said the agency has "enjoyed a relationship of mutual respect and admiration, on and off the job, that I put squarely at the feet of Chief Stokes."
Ray, an Arnold resident, joined the department in 1977 and said it has been a "dream" to lead the agency, which consists of 1,700 career and volunteer firefighters and civilian personnel, and carries a $100 million budget.
He is in charge of logistics for the department, and previously served as a county department head when he was appointed to lead the Department of Inspections and Permits in 2002.
"I feel like a very lucky guy at this point," said Ray, 52. "I couldn't be taking over a department in better shape than Chief Stokes has left it."
Fire union president Craig Oldershaw praised Stokes' leadership, though he said Ray would have to address staffing shortages. He said the department is falling below national safety standards for the number of personnel who respond on ladder trucks.
He said a change from four battalions to three larger ones - eliminating the one that responded to calls in the western part of the county - has left junior officers handling many emergency situations.
Oldershaw said the department's $300,000 overtime savings and overall $2 million budget surplus was commendable but might be better spent on beefing up staff.
"It's a systemic problem, and we've made do with what we had," Oldershaw said.
Meanwhile, Dillon said he might try to revive an effort to revamp the pension system now that Stokes would not find himself in the middle of any debate. He said he abandoned the idea because he "did not want to create an environment that was hostile to the chief."
justin.fenton@baltsun.com
