East Jefferson Fire Rescue may take over the management of Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue if commissioners for the two departments can find agreement on a proposed contract.

Port Ludlow fire commissioners reviewed a draft proposal for an interlocal agreement at their last meeting.

The contract would see East Jefferson Fire Rescue handle administrative and management services for Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue, a department that had 19 employees and expenditures of $2.6 million at the time of its last state audit.

Under the four-page fire services proposal, East Jefferson employees would “direct, control and support” Port Ludlow’s operations. That would include firefighting operations, fire protection and prevention, rescues, and hazardous material responses.

East Jefferson’s fire chief would have managing authority over staffing and employee responsibilities, day-to-day operations, union agreements, employee discipline, allocation of resources, and implementation of policies and procedures.

Port Ludlow would pay East Jefferson Fire Rescue $175,000 a year.

Port Ludlow fire commissioners hope to have the new contract start Sept. 1.

Each fire department would continue to have its own taxing district, and remain independent governments governed by a board of fire commissioners.

Gene Carmody, chairman of the Port Ludlow board of fire commissioners, told his fellow commissioners at their meeting last week that the contract proposal had been sent to East Jefferson officials “to take a look at to see if we’re in the ballpark.”

Carmody noted he had talked to East Jefferson Fire Chief Bret Black the week before, adding that he talked again with the chief May 17.

“He said the agreement looks good,” Carmody said.

Carmody said East Jefferson officials would continue to review the proposal.

One issue, he noted, is the proposal for the changeover to start Sept. 1.

Carmody noted that Black suggested a phased approach to having East Jefferson take over management of the Port Ludlow department.

“He suggests incrementally doing it,” Carmody said. “I thought that makes sense.”

Officials with the two departments are expected to talk further about a staggered startup in September.

Black visited Port Ludlow’s Station 31 on May 12 on his way home from work and met with the duty crew.

The employees appreciated the visit, Tanya Cray, the department’s administrative assistant, told commissioners during their meeting last week.

“It was nice to get to know him a little bit,” Cray added.