After months of consideration and discussion, the Representative Town Meeting Public Protection and Safety Standing Committee held a public hearing on the volunteer firefighter and fire police incentive program ordinance as drafted by the town labor attorney and town attorney. As a result of the hearing, there were a few corrections to the ordinance voted on by the committee members present. A draft of the ordinance with these corrections has been sent to members for consideration at the next meeting of the standing committee.

The proposed ordinance makes the incentive program retroactive to July 1. The Director of Fire Services is already keeping the records necessary for program implementation upon passage of the ordinance. Although not yet scheduled when this column was written, it is anticipated that the committee will meet before the Oct. 5 RTM meeting to consider the revised ordinance and forward to the RTM for final approval. If passed, it would become effective 15 days after the Oct. 20 RTM meeting.

The ordinance defines a volunteer member in good standing as a certified firefighter who has participated in the minimum training sessions designated by the Director of Fire Services or a member of the fire police who has participated in the minimum training sessions designated by the Director of Fire Services. It further defines an active volunteer member who would be eligible for the volunteer stipend.

The ordinance then outlines the various qualifications and training required to be the active volunteer. It then defines the stipend as the amount of money awarded to the active volunteer based on the number of points that represent the participation by the volunteer in fire response or approved training drills.

It specifically states the volunteers or employees of the Waterford Ambulance Service when responding to an incident will not receive points related to the incident.

The stipends will be issued on a quarterly basis in October, January, April, and July for the preceding quarter.

The ordinance then outlines the reporting requirements needed to document eligible incidents and volunteer attendance at the incident. The Director of Fire Services is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the documentation and reporting to the Human Resources Director the necessary information to pay the quarterly stipend and to the RTM the status of the program.

To earn a stipend, an active volunteer firefighter or fire police member must accumulate a minimum of 50 points. Once the volunteer reaches the 50-point mark, the volunteer will receive a stipend of $7 for each point, including the 50 earned to become eligible for the stipend. The ordinance gives an example that a volunteer who earns 55 points would receive a stipend payment of $385. The Director of Fire Services may propose changes to the mandatory/minimum eligibility criteria, point value, or stipend rate to the RTM.

In its consideration of such changes, the RTM must evaluate continued compliance with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and then approve by a majority vote.

If the Director of Fire Services awards points for reasons that are not expressly set forth in the ordinance, the decision must be documented in the quarterly reports.

In addition, active volunteer firefighters who are certified fire officers who have had additional training requirements as outlined in the ordinance will receive an additional $150 annually. The Director of Fire Services may propose changes to the higher level of training stipend to the RTM for approval by majority vote.

The ordinance then has a paragraph discussing ineligibility due to misconduct or separation from the Waterford Fire Department. The ordinance “incorporates by reference the Waterford Fire Department Policy 103 – Disciplinary Procedures, as may be renumbered and/or amended from time to time.”

The stipend will be funded through the annual budget process. This process “shall determine whether or not to fund the program and, if so, in what amount.” As is normal for budgeted amounts from the general fund, portions not expended during the fiscal year do not carry over to the next fiscal year.

If total expenses of the program exceed the annual approved appropriation, the stipends for the current quarter will be prorated to reflect the amount available for distribution for that quarter and if not the final quarter of the fiscal year, the program may be unfunded for quarters following the prorated quarter. The ordinance does not prohibit or require the Director of Fire Services to request an additional appropriation to keep the program funded during a fiscal year.

Finally, the ordinance requires that modifications under the ordinance that are allowed without an ordinance change will be recorded in an annual program update each July and maintained on file in the office of the Director of Fire Services. The ordinance also notes that the RTM may terminate the program though the normal ordinance process.

It is possible there will be other changes, either by the Public Protection and Safety Standing Committee or the RTM before the final approval of the ordinance. I am sure that the volunteer firefighters will be in attendance at the October RTM meeting if it is on the agenda.

John W. “Bill” Sheehan is a member of the Waterford Board of Finance.