§ 12-42. Compensation for volunteer and paid firefighters.

(a)

All volunteer members of the fire department may participate in the medical, dental and vision care insurance made available through the town. The cost of such insurance shall be paid by each firefighter (members on record prior to June 12, 2013 shall be covered by medical insurance made available through the town. The cost of insurance or a percentage thereof as determined in the sole discretion of the town shall be paid by the volunteer). If required by the insurance carrier providing the insurance, the town will pay the required premiums to the insurance carrier and collect the premiums so paid from each firefighter. The town will adopt rules specifying the manner by which firemen will make payments of premiums due for the medical care insurance.

(b)

All volunteer members will be compensated with the following salaries:

Tier 1 volunteer:	$0.00 per month. Six month probation.
Tier 2 volunteer:	$50.00 per month until satisfactory completion of 43 hours of required beginning firefighter and hazardous materials courses.
Tier 3 volunteer:	$385.00 per month upon completion of tier 2 and six months.
Tier 4 volunteer:	$450.00 per month completion of six NFPA 1403 courses.
Tier 5 volunteer:	$500.00 per month upon satisfactory completion of all NFPA 1403 courses (currently 11).
Tier 6 volunteer:	$525.00 per month upon successful completion of first five firefighter II courses.
Tier 7 volunteer:	$550.00 per month upon successful completion of the final four firefighter II courses.
Fire chief	$600.00 per month.

 

Compensation begins after the six month probationary period. All compensation shall be adjusted yearly per any budget COLA (cost of living adjustment). Any member on record as of June 12, 2013 may elect only one form of compensation—medical insurance or salary.

(c)

Any firefighter who elects not to be compensated must sign a waiver indicating that the firefighter does not want compensation. At any time the waiver may be withdrawn by the firefighter.

(d)

Any firefighter who fails to pay the required premiums when due will be withdrawn from the town's medical insurance plan and will not be eligible to join until the next open enrollment period as determined by the town's insurance carrier (any member on record as of June 12, 2014 that fails to pay their portion of the insurance cost when due will be withdrawn from the town's medical insurance plan and compensated per subsection 12-42(b)).

(e)

Any member may request in writing a leave of absence. All leave of absence requests must explain in detail the reason for such a request. The leave of absence must first be approved by the fire chief and then by the town manager. The first two weeks of the member's leave of absence will be compensated per subsections 12-42(a) or (b). Additional leave beyond two weeks will be uncompensated leave. Any member enrolled in the town's insurance plans may continue insurance coverage provided the member assumes all insurance costs while on leave beyond the first two weeks until the leave of absence is completed. The member shall pay all assumed insurance costs within 30 days after returning from the leave of absence. Failure to reimburse the town for the insurance costs within the 30 days shall result in termination of medical insurance coverage and the suspension of the firefighter's membership until the reimbursement has been paid.

(f)

If a full-time employee of the town is also a volunteer member of the fire department, the town may, in the sole discretion of the board of commissioners, provide health insurance coverage for the dependents of such member not to exceed 50 percent of the premium rates or the full-time employee may elect to be compensated with a stipend equal to 50 percent of the premium rates.

(g)

The board of commissioners may authorize up to three hourly part time paid firemen. No part time hourly paid firemen shall be authorized to work more than 32 hours per week. The hourly paid firemen shall not be eligible for any other compensation or town insurance plans. These three positions must meet all other requirements per section 12-36.

(Code 1990, § 6-33; Ord. No. 94-005, § 1, 12-14-1994; Ord. No. 00-009, § 8, 12-13-2000; Ord. of 7-18-2013(1))